Few questions about a quarantine tank? help please? lol

charmanderzor · 03/30/2010, 02:27 AM

okay i have few questions about quarantine tanks.

1) quarantine tanks are basically used to see a fish and if its diseased etc right? how do you know whens the right time to put it in ur main tank?

2) why don't people use live sand/rock in a quarantine tank?

3) in a quarantine tank is lighting necessary?

4) what basic equipment do u use in a quarantine tank? do u need a protein skimmer, uv sterilizer etc in a quarantine?

5) i plan to start a really small tank like 50g, and my quarantine tank will only be like 10-15g, and ill only keep 1 fish in it when quarantined, once theres no fishes in my quarantine what do i do with the water? if the fish wasnt sick can i put it in my main tank back? can i just keep the water in quarantined tank for the next fish?

-----------

im new to all this, but i really want a sump for my 50g that i plan to get

1) what's a overflow box? is it hard to install im very new to all this.. how much do they cost usaully?

2) a sump tank how much do these cost? are they hard to setup i really stink at setting things up.

3) overrall is setting a sump up difficult? can u tell me everything i will need in a very basic way please?

4) what r the stages of sump in basic terms how does it work? like stage 1, water comes in from the overflow, stage 2 water goes into a thingy to get rid of air bubbles n goes up this thingy then moves to stage 2 where protein skimmer skims the water n drops the water into stage 3 n lastly the water runs through lots of plants or something that get rid of nitrates n it goes back up into the tank. ( i really dont know how sumps work, but this is how i think it sorta works? could u tell me how it works the stages) and some people have quarantine part in their sump how does that work?

shifty51008 · 03/30/2010, 03:12 AM

to start off with sumps go to melevesreef.com he has a section all about what a sump is, how they work, how to built, ect. great place.

as for the 1st few questions.
1. yes they are made to observe fish and corals and be able to treat them before they infect your main tank. usually 4-6 weeks is about a good time to watch them and by then you will know they are safe or not.

2. live sand and rock are not placed in a QT due to if they need to treat the fish or coral it can react to the meds and also if you end up treating the QT then the rock and sand will be no good to put back into the main tank.

3. a standard florecesant bulb is good enough for fish just so you can watch them however if or when you do corals you will need the correct lighting to sustain their lighting needs.

4. the basic equipment in a QT are. tank, heater, light, and filter. usually ppl. will set a new filter in their main tank to get bacteria on the filter so when it is time to setup a qt all they need to do is add water from the main tank and transfer the filter so the cycle is ready.

5. once you have no fish in the Qt i suggest just dumpping the water and starting with new each time. not worth the chance of Qting the fish and then dumping the QT water back in the main tank and have something go wrong. also each time you set the tank up you will be doing a small water change on your main tank. or you can keep it setup and running for the next fish but really not worth wasting the elect. on keeping it going.

jauld · 03/30/2010, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charmanderzor

okay i have few questions about quarantine tanks.

1) quarantine tanks are basically used to see a fish and if its diseased etc right? how do you know whens the right time to put it in ur main tank?

2) why don't people use live sand/rock in a quarantine tank?

3) in a quarantine tank is lighting necessary?

4) what basic equipment do u use in a quarantine tank? do u need a protein skimmer, uv sterilizer etc in a quarantine?

5) i plan to start a really small tank like 50g, and my quarantine tank will only be like 10-15g, and ill only keep 1 fish in it when quarantined, once theres no fishes in my quarantine what do i do with the water? if the fish wasnt sick can i put it in my main tank back? can i just keep the water in quarantined tank for the next fish?

-----------

im new to all this, but i really want a sump for my 50g that i plan to get

1) what's a overflow box? is it hard to install im very new to all this.. how much do they cost usaully?

2) a sump tank how much do these cost? are they hard to setup i really stink at setting things up.

3) overrall is setting a sump up difficult? can u tell me everything i will need in a very basic way please?

4) what r the stages of sump in basic terms how does it work? like stage 1, water comes in from the overflow, stage 2 water goes into a thingy to get rid of air bubbles n goes up this thingy then moves to stage 2 where protein skimmer skims the water n drops the water into stage 3 n lastly the water runs through lots of plants or something that get rid of nitrates n it goes back up into the tank. ( i really dont know how sumps work, but this is how i think it sorta works? could u tell me how it works the stages) and some people have quarantine part in their sump how does that work?

I can tell that you have been doing a lot of research, good start! shifty51008 pretty much nailed it on the QT tank. The only things that I would add to his description is that you should never QT fish and inverts/corals/rock/sand together as the medicine used to treat the fish is poison to these other creatures. Also, never re-use QT water. finally, only QT 1 specimen at a time.

1) An overflow is something that is used on every aquarium that uses a sump. Some tanks have built in over flows like this:

How this type works is, some pvc piping is installed into the pre cut holes in the bottom of the aquarium, one for the drain into the sump (labeled 2 in the picture), and one for the return to the tank from the sump (labeled 3 in the picture). Fairly simple and clean looking. This is the ideal setup.

next is the over flow box.

This type uses 2 boxes. One inside the display of the aquarium for water to overflow into. once in the box, the U-tube you see pictured in blue, creates a siphon pulling water from the first box to the second box, which then fills up and goes through the yellow drain to the sump. The water is then pumped from the sump back to the aquarium creating a loop. Overflow boxes are rated for up to a certain gallon per hour, so the pump that you choose to return the water from the sump cannot exceed this, our your tank will overflow.

2) sumps that you can buy commercially are usually very expensive, and depending on what your plans are with this tank, may not be the best option. A lot of the sumps that I have seen from companies like proclear, make sumps with bio balls, which are great for Fish only tanks, but not the best for reefs. here is an example of the one i used to use. http://www.google.com/products/catal...wAw#ps-sellers This one comes with the overflow box and instructions how to set it up, but pretty darn expensive.

3) Setting up a sump is not very difficult. A lot of people on here with expensive setups usually have a spider web of pipes under their tansk making things look overwhelming and confusing. for this part, I will show you how my tank is set up:

the hose in yellow is the tube that is connected to my overflow box. the water over flows from the aquarium down that hose, into the first chamber of my sump. then the water follows the green lines, through what is called a bubble trap, and into the center chamber. Then, the water is pumped from the center chamber through the pvc outlined in red, back to the aquarium. fairly simple.

4) looking at the picture above should give you a good indication on how a sumps flow works. In my set up, the area where the tube outlined in yellow flows to, is where my protein skimmer goes. protein skimmers that go in water need the water level to be constant, and in this area, the water level never goes below the first glass wall (aka baffle). Evaporation occurs where the tube outlined in red is.

Also, if you look closely at the tube outlines in red, you will see that there is another tube connected, which leads to whats called a refugium. This is where the plants that reduce nitrates go. This area of the sump, if you choose to include one, is used as a biological filter - read up on it. You may have been confused as some people use their refugiums as quarantine for invertebrates or fish that cause trouble in their aquariums, but not for new fish. The whole point of the quarantine is to keep it separate from the main tank so that no diseases from the new inhabitants you buy are introduced to the aquarium.

this should answer some of your questions...hopefully i didnt confuse you further.

charmanderzor · 03/30/2010, 03:20 PM

Hey man thanks so much for the long helpful post I really appreciate it. =]

I kinda get it but I have a few questions though:

1) You keep your protein skimmer in your baffle(first chamber) ok so the protein skimmer does its work, and where does the water go out from the protein skimmer? Does it just drop back into the first chamber and go through the green lines? because I seen a sump where they just let the water go through the first chamber and up the bubble trap, then in the second chamber they put their protein skimmer and the protein skimmer water drops into the third chamber that returns the water into the main tank. im kinda confused a little about where the place the protein skimmer.

2) When evaporation occurs in your sump what do u do? Cause if theres missing water, doesn't the overflow on top stop working since theres missing amount of water and no water can get into the overflow?

3) okay, in ur sump, the refugium part all the way on the left i have a question. okay so u grow plants there that reduce nitrates, why is that area completely blocked off from everything y dont u let water go through there lastly then go up the return since the plants there reduce nitrates?

4) do u think u could go more into detail for what u use ur refugium really for if its blocked off from everything.. i no it reduces nitrates but the water doesnt go into the main tank so whats it use then? in ur second chamber, the water returns up into ur main tank, how do u get water into ur refugium when u want to? do u just press that red looking button to drop water into ur refugium or something?

5) okay, so a refugium can be mistaken for a quarantine, but it really isn't, people just put a fish thats causing trouble in their refugium to separate it from others.(the refugium though is not a quarantine, but can be mistaken for one?) so even if i have a sump, i'll need to buy a new separate tank thats a quarantine to put new fishes in cause u dont put new fishes in a refugium, only fishes that are causing trouble etc?

thanks man i hope u answer, ur post was really helpful i get how a sump works sorta =p

shifty51008 · 03/30/2010, 03:45 PM

1. ok i will try to go on from his last post. usually in a sump you will have 3 chambers a refugium, return, and skimmer sections.how you have it setup is up to you on my tankl I have it setup like refugium---->return<-----skimmer and I have my drain line T'ed off so the drain goes into the refugium and skimmer section seperatly however you can set it up as skimmer---->refugium---->return. the green lines on his pics are just a bubble trap to keep micro bubbles from getting into the return section. and it also regulates the water level in the skimmer section.

2. as for evaporation in your sump the only place the water level will change is in the return section. the skimmer, main tank and refugium area's will all stay a constant level.

3. you do want water going through your refugium some ppl prefer raw water straight from the main tank and others like it clean water (water from the skimmer section).

4. kinda explain in the other answers.

5. yes you will still need a seperate tank for a QT. and use the refugium for troble fish, crabs, ect.

03/30/2010, 02:27 AM	#1
charmanderzor Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 3	Few questions about a quarantine tank? help please? lol okay i have few questions about quarantine tanks. 1) quarantine tanks are basically used to see a fish and if its diseased etc right? how do you know whens the right time to put it in ur main tank? 2) why don't people use live sand/rock in a quarantine tank? 3) in a quarantine tank is lighting necessary? 4) what basic equipment do u use in a quarantine tank? do u need a protein skimmer, uv sterilizer etc in a quarantine? 5) i plan to start a really small tank like 50g, and my quarantine tank will only be like 10-15g, and ill only keep 1 fish in it when quarantined, once theres no fishes in my quarantine what do i do with the water? if the fish wasnt sick can i put it in my main tank back? can i just keep the water in quarantined tank for the next fish? ----------- im new to all this, but i really want a sump for my 50g that i plan to get 1) what's a overflow box? is it hard to install im very new to all this.. how much do they cost usaully? 2) a sump tank how much do these cost? are they hard to setup i really stink at setting things up. 3) overrall is setting a sump up difficult? can u tell me everything i will need in a very basic way please? 4) what r the stages of sump in basic terms how does it work? like stage 1, water comes in from the overflow, stage 2 water goes into a thingy to get rid of air bubbles n goes up this thingy then moves to stage 2 where protein skimmer skims the water n drops the water into stage 3 n lastly the water runs through lots of plants or something that get rid of nitrates n it goes back up into the tank. ( i really dont know how sumps work, but this is how i think it sorta works? could u tell me how it works the stages) and some people have quarantine part in their sump how does that work?

03/30/2010, 03:12 AM	#2
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	to start off with sumps go to melevesreef.com he has a section all about what a sump is, how they work, how to built, ect. great place. as for the 1st few questions. 1. yes they are made to observe fish and corals and be able to treat them before they infect your main tank. usually 4-6 weeks is about a good time to watch them and by then you will know they are safe or not. 2. live sand and rock are not placed in a QT due to if they need to treat the fish or coral it can react to the meds and also if you end up treating the QT then the rock and sand will be no good to put back into the main tank. 3. a standard florecesant bulb is good enough for fish just so you can watch them however if or when you do corals you will need the correct lighting to sustain their lighting needs. 4. the basic equipment in a QT are. tank, heater, light, and filter. usually ppl. will set a new filter in their main tank to get bacteria on the filter so when it is time to setup a qt all they need to do is add water from the main tank and transfer the filter so the cycle is ready. 5. once you have no fish in the Qt i suggest just dumpping the water and starting with new each time. not worth the chance of Qting the fish and then dumping the QT water back in the main tank and have something go wrong. also each time you set the tank up you will be doing a small water change on your main tank. or you can keep it setup and running for the next fish but really not worth wasting the elect. on keeping it going.

03/30/2010, 03:20 PM	#4
charmanderzor Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 3	Hey man thanks so much for the long helpful post I really appreciate it. =] I kinda get it but I have a few questions though: 1) You keep your protein skimmer in your baffle(first chamber) ok so the protein skimmer does its work, and where does the water go out from the protein skimmer? Does it just drop back into the first chamber and go through the green lines? because I seen a sump where they just let the water go through the first chamber and up the bubble trap, then in the second chamber they put their protein skimmer and the protein skimmer water drops into the third chamber that returns the water into the main tank. im kinda confused a little about where the place the protein skimmer. 2) When evaporation occurs in your sump what do u do? Cause if theres missing water, doesn't the overflow on top stop working since theres missing amount of water and no water can get into the overflow? 3) okay, in ur sump, the refugium part all the way on the left i have a question. okay so u grow plants there that reduce nitrates, why is that area completely blocked off from everything y dont u let water go through there lastly then go up the return since the plants there reduce nitrates? 4) do u think u could go more into detail for what u use ur refugium really for if its blocked off from everything.. i no it reduces nitrates but the water doesnt go into the main tank so whats it use then? in ur second chamber, the water returns up into ur main tank, how do u get water into ur refugium when u want to? do u just press that red looking button to drop water into ur refugium or something? 5) okay, so a refugium can be mistaken for a quarantine, but it really isn't, people just put a fish thats causing trouble in their refugium to separate it from others.(the refugium though is not a quarantine, but can be mistaken for one?) so even if i have a sump, i'll need to buy a new separate tank thats a quarantine to put new fishes in cause u dont put new fishes in a refugium, only fishes that are causing trouble etc? thanks man i hope u answer, ur post was really helpful i get how a sump works sorta =p

03/30/2010, 03:45 PM	#5
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	1. ok i will try to go on from his last post. usually in a sump you will have 3 chambers a refugium, return, and skimmer sections.how you have it setup is up to you on my tankl I have it setup like refugium---->return<-----skimmer and I have my drain line T'ed off so the drain goes into the refugium and skimmer section seperatly however you can set it up as skimmer---->refugium---->return. the green lines on his pics are just a bubble trap to keep micro bubbles from getting into the return section. and it also regulates the water level in the skimmer section. 2. as for evaporation in your sump the only place the water level will change is in the return section. the skimmer, main tank and refugium area's will all stay a constant level. 3. you do want water going through your refugium some ppl prefer raw water straight from the main tank and others like it clean water (water from the skimmer section). 4. kinda explain in the other answers. 5. yes you will still need a seperate tank for a QT. and use the refugium for troble fish, crabs, ect.