QT before setup is finished

[jmann124]

I am finishing the final touches before mixing and adding saltwater. Can I go ahead and get a QT going with 2 O Clowns in it so that they will be through QT'ing shortly after the cycle?

[Uncle Salty 05]

What are you going to use for biological filtration in the QT tank?

[ken55]

It can be done but you are treading dangerously close to overloading the bioload capability of the new tank. Just be prepared to deal with a secondary ammo spike after those two fish are added to DT. (your bioload capability will be low after the cycle). Most people add cleaning crew first to help deal with the uneaten food and poop created by the fish. And most certainly wait several weeks before adding anything else if you do put the clowns in first. I wont say you can't do it but be careful.

[chad316]

I think most will recommend cycling fully then QTing... not QTing while cycling. Add CUC after cycle.

[Uncle Salty 05]

+ 1

Add something like this to your DT while you are cycling it.
Then when you set up your QT move it there so you don't have an ammonia spike in your QT.

http://www.aquariumguys.com/hydro-4-...562_a_7c248271

[jmann124]

So just clip a sponge like that in my DT while cycling? Then would I put that in a small filter(like the cheapos at walmart) in the QT?

Also, I thought that a CUC would not have anything to eat/clean until there is some livestock in the DT.

[chad316]

Originally Posted by jmann124

So just clip a sponge like that in my DT while cycling? Yes, the sponge will built up bacteria to help "insta cycle" your QT for your new fish Then would I put that in a small filter(like the cheapos at walmart) in the QT? I take the HOB sponge and keep it in my DT and transfer accordingly....to help with ammonia fluctuations of the QT...ergo "insta cycle" in a sense

Also, I thought that a CUC would not have anything to eat/clean until there is some livestock in the DT. A few pinches of flake food daily would be okay for them if you are worried about their survival.

I would recommend, if you haven't already, purchasing an seachem ammo alert for your QT for easy monitoring for water change times.

[Uncle Salty 05]

No. You connect a small air pump to the filter shown creating a current that draws water through the sponge.
When your DT has cycled, the filter shown should have as well.
Move both the foam filter and the small air pump to the QT tank.

If you ever rinse the foam (don't until it gets funky) always use tank water.
You don't want to kill the bacteria residing in the sponge.

[sponger0]

I also say cycle it before putting anything in there

[Uncle Salty 05]

Originally Posted by chad316

I would recommend, if you haven't already, purchasing an seachem ammo alert for your QT for easy monitoring for water change times.

Get the ammo alert, but if there is a biological filter in the QT it should always read safe.

[Angel85]

You can get the fish in qt while dt is still cycling, but be very careful to monitor ammonia spikes since your qt is not fully cycled. There is a sticky called "what to do while you cycle" by sk8r that has some good info in it. Cuc goes in after cycle in your dt. There should be some amount of algae during and after cycle. Cuc will feed off of that. There is more detail about this in that sticky mentioned.