keeping a QT running full time.

Ice9Kills · 05/14/2014, 01:48 AM

well simply put is there anything wrong with keeping my 10g qt up and running fulltime. my main tank is only 30g and severely under stocked since its only about 2.5 months old at this point. So I plan on adding things consistently over the summer. meaning something should always be in the qt. Right now I have my second clown in my qt for another week or so.
my main tank only has a cuc and a single juv clown so no ones making much waste that isn't immediately cleaned up.
but at this point my qt is basically turning into another tank. i do water changes along side the main tank and test it daily.

i guess what im getting at is, because im newly stocking a tank. I cant see myself not needing the qt over the next 6-8 months as i add things to the tank. should i break it down between hosts or keep it going if the fish i add seems fine?

tallball158 · 05/14/2014, 03:08 AM

Always a good idea to keep a full time qt, and always qt every fish that you get. You don't want to expose your dt to any diseases or parasites. Don't take that chance!

Nina51 · 05/14/2014, 05:57 AM

mine runs full time. like you, i am stocking a new tank. once my stocking is complete, i will keep it running for a while to use as a hospital tank, should that need ever arise. eventually, i'll drain it and retire it to the back room but i'll keep it handy.

Indymann99 · 05/14/2014, 06:01 AM

I left my QT up for ~2yrs when is was first stocking fish. I would "ghost feed" the Qt a pinch of flake every week when it was fish less.

sponger0 · 05/14/2014, 06:11 AM

Keep it running. Cause youll make that impulse buy then your QT wont be running if its not up and youll have to worry about ammonia. Its not hard to keep it going.

igot2gats · 05/14/2014, 06:30 AM

Another vote for keep it running.

Like Nina pointed out, even when you're done stocking, you can use it as a hospital tank.

scott3569 · 05/14/2014, 06:30 AM

I am sort of on the fence of running a qt full time..I think if you plan on adding things continually then I would say yes, But if there is going to be a lapse of time then no..One good thing about not having it run all the time is maybe it it will stop you from that impulse buy, and making the wrong choice

Nina51 · 05/14/2014, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott3569

maybe it it will stop you from that impulse buy

haha, that might work for you men!!

scott3569 · 05/14/2014, 07:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nina51

haha, that might work for you men!!

LOL, humm that suggests that you would buy on impulse weather you could handle it or not..LOL

zeroalpha · 05/14/2014, 07:10 AM

Another thing to consider is your finances. That's more electricity being used. We're on a tight budget right now and I've seen the upward trend of my electric bill since setting up my main tank. For now, maybe keep it up while you stock the tank, but afterwards you may want to take it down. If you're on a budget of course.

scott3569 · 05/14/2014, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zeroalpha

Another thing to consider is your finances. That's more electricity being used. We're on a tight budget right now and I've seen the upward trend of my electric bill since setting up my main tank. For now, maybe keep it up while you stock the tank, but afterwards you may want to take it down. If you're on a budget of course.

A budget?? whats that?? LOL

igot2gats · 05/14/2014, 07:17 AM

If you don't want to run it all times, you can always do a water change from your DT, and fill up your QT with that water in a pinch....

JMorris271 · 05/14/2014, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sponger0

Keep it running. Cause youll make that impulse buy then your QT wont be running if its not up and youll have to worry about ammonia. Its not hard to keep it going.

Does that include having little live rock in there with something to maintain a bio load and doing water changes in the observation tank.

I was wondering about sanitizing tank after a treated and cured fish has been discharged from the hospital. Is it good practice?

formsix · 05/14/2014, 07:30 AM

I think it really depends on what the purpose of a QT is for you. One concern with a full time QT is that you might inadvertently be transferring some parasite or disease from one fish to the next, if all your doing is observing. I guess if you're only doing observation, and the first fish lives and make it to the DT, then if it had anything the DT will have it so it kinda doesn't matter if the second fish goes into the QT or the DT.

But if a fish dies in QT then I think you would want to take down the whole tank and sterilize it thoroughly (which you might be more reluctant to do if it's a permanent setup). Of if you treat with anything in the QT, you'll probably want to toss any rocks that you used after that fish is done, and change out all the water, kinda defeating the purpose of a permanent QT.

Now, if you have 2 tanks to do TTM and a hospital tank, then having a 4th permanent QT makes a whole lot of sense! By the time fishes get in there for a few weeks of observation they should be ich free, treated for anything else that has appeared, and should be good to go!!

zeroalpha · 05/14/2014, 07:31 AM

Lol, yeah what budget???? This dang hobby....

+1 to igot2gats' post. Excellent for those impulse buys and when your QT is down.

Nina51 · 05/14/2014, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott3569

LOL, humm that suggests that you would buy on impulse weather you could handle it or not..LOL

i shall remain mute.

actually, i did make an impulse buy one time when i was starting back up. learned my lesson. that dirty, rotten scoundrel of a purple striped dottyback now lives in johnike's sump!

sponger0 · 05/14/2014, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by igot2gats

If you don't want to run it all times, you can always do a water change from your DT, and fill up your QT with that water in a pinch....

That doesnt equate to a cycled QT. Bacteria doesnt live in the water

scott3569 · 05/14/2014, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sponger0

That doesnt equate to a cycled QT. Bacteria doesnt live in the water

No I know it doesn't it lives on the rocks, or filter media

PCygni · 05/14/2014, 08:46 AM

Keep it rolling. It can double as a ready hospital tank when it's fallow. I thought a QT was superfluous until ich wiped out my tank. Now I have one running 24/7; and every new acquisition gets 6 to 8 weeks of close observation and/or Cupramine, Paraguard, etc, as needed.

Triggerfish · 05/14/2014, 10:36 AM

........................

Triggerfish · 05/14/2014, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ice9Kills

i guess what im getting at is, because im newly stocking a tank. I cant see myself not needing the qt over the next 6-8 months as i add things to the tank. should i break it down between hosts or keep it going if the fish i add seems fine?

definitely keep it running. when not stocked , occassionaly add a nitrogen source to keep the bacteria going.

Triggerfish · 05/14/2014, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by igot2gats

If you don't want to run it all times, you can always do a water change from your DT, and fill up your QT with that water in a pinch....

yeah..and then what?

sponger0 · 05/14/2014, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triggerfish

yeah..and then what?

Wait for it to cycle lol

oh207 · 05/14/2014, 10:49 AM

keep it running until you are fully stocked.

zeroalpha · 05/14/2014, 11:01 AM

Yeah. I did forget to mention that along with the water from DT you need some kind of bacteria housing object. I have a sponge filter that I use for that. Keep it in your DT then transfer over to the QT. If you shut down the QT afterwards, you'll need a new sponge to put back into your DT. Don't use the same one that you put in the QT.

05/14/2014, 01:48 AM	#1
Ice9Kills Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 34	keeping a QT running full time. well simply put is there anything wrong with keeping my 10g qt up and running fulltime. my main tank is only 30g and severely under stocked since its only about 2.5 months old at this point. So I plan on adding things consistently over the summer. meaning something should always be in the qt. Right now I have my second clown in my qt for another week or so. my main tank only has a cuc and a single juv clown so no ones making much waste that isn't immediately cleaned up. but at this point my qt is basically turning into another tank. i do water changes along side the main tank and test it daily. i guess what im getting at is, because im newly stocking a tank. I cant see myself not needing the qt over the next 6-8 months as i add things to the tank. should i break it down between hosts or keep it going if the fish i add seems fine?

05/14/2014, 05:57 AM	#3
Nina51 biggliest cofveve champ Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: 5th floor, Illinois, gewgaw expert Posts: 3,506	mine runs full time. like you, i am stocking a new tank. once my stocking is complete, i will keep it running for a while to use as a hospital tank, should that need ever arise. eventually, i'll drain it and retire it to the back room but i'll keep it handy. __________________ of all the things i've lost, i miss my gary the most. Never hold your farts in. They travel up your spine into your brain, and that is where crappy ideas come from. Current Tank Info: i gave my reef away and i feel like a bird out of a cage!!

05/14/2014, 06:01 AM	#4
Indymann99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,447	I left my QT up for ~2yrs when is was first stocking fish. I would "ghost feed" the Qt a pinch of flake every week when it was fish less. __________________ 120g DT 100lbs LR / 200 lbs LS, 45g fuge, VectraM1 Return, Herbie drain, 4x RW-8, 2x AI Hydra 26 w AWM, ASM G2, Apex controller, Apex BoB w floats ATO

05/14/2014, 06:30 AM	#6
igot2gats Deeeetroit Basketball! Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 1,063	Another vote for keep it running. Like Nina pointed out, even when you're done stocking, you can use it as a hospital tank. __________________ Jeff Stop being lazy, and use the search function. Seriously. Current Tank Info: 75g DT / 20g sump / 20g QT - Eheim 1250, Tunze Osmolator 3155, GHL Profilux 3, 2 Tunze 6095, Tunze Wavebox, Aqua Illumination Hydra LEDs

05/14/2014, 06:30 AM	#7
scott3569 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Middletown,VA Posts: 929	I am sort of on the fence of running a qt full time..I think if you plan on adding things continually then I would say yes, But if there is going to be a lapse of time then no..One good thing about not having it run all the time is maybe it it will stop you from that impulse buy, and making the wrong choice __________________ I'm in a fishy situation!!! Current Tank Info: 56 gallon 30 x 18 x 22 with a 40gal sump, SCA 302 skimmer, 10 gal QT tank, a hydror 600 power head, 2 enhiem 150 heaters, 49#'s of dry rock, 12#'s of life rock, 40#'s of sand

05/14/2014, 03:08 AM	#2
tallball158 Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: South Carolina Posts: 456	Always a good idea to keep a full time qt, and always qt every fish that you get. You don't want to expose your dt to any diseases or parasites. Don't take that chance!

05/14/2014, 06:11 AM	#5
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	Keep it running. Cause youll make that impulse buy then your QT wont be running if its not up and youll have to worry about ammonia. Its not hard to keep it going.

05/14/2014, 07:10 AM	#10
zeroalpha Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 56	Another thing to consider is your finances. That's more electricity being used. We're on a tight budget right now and I've seen the upward trend of my electric bill since setting up my main tank. For now, maybe keep it up while you stock the tank, but afterwards you may want to take it down. If you're on a budget of course. __________________ "Do or do not, there is no try." Tank: 90G reef, 120lbs of live rock, .5 to 1 inch of medium sand, 2 eBay 165w LEDs, 3 hydor 1150 powerheads, sc302 180 skimmer in a 10g sump, 1 150w heater. Current Tank Info: Livestock: CuC: ~60 snails (Cerith, Nerite, Nassarius), 2 Peppermint Shrimp, 1 dwarf blue leg hermit

05/14/2014, 07:17 AM	#12
igot2gats Deeeetroit Basketball! Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 1,063	If you don't want to run it all times, you can always do a water change from your DT, and fill up your QT with that water in a pinch.... __________________ Jeff Stop being lazy, and use the search function. Seriously. Current Tank Info: 75g DT / 20g sump / 20g QT - Eheim 1250, Tunze Osmolator 3155, GHL Profilux 3, 2 Tunze 6095, Tunze Wavebox, Aqua Illumination Hydra LEDs

05/14/2014, 07:30 AM	#14
formsix Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 341	I think it really depends on what the purpose of a QT is for you. One concern with a full time QT is that you might inadvertently be transferring some parasite or disease from one fish to the next, if all your doing is observing. I guess if you're only doing observation, and the first fish lives and make it to the DT, then if it had anything the DT will have it so it kinda doesn't matter if the second fish goes into the QT or the DT. But if a fish dies in QT then I think you would want to take down the whole tank and sterilize it thoroughly (which you might be more reluctant to do if it's a permanent setup). Of if you treat with anything in the QT, you'll probably want to toss any rocks that you used after that fish is done, and change out all the water, kinda defeating the purpose of a permanent QT. Now, if you have 2 tanks to do TTM and a hospital tank, then having a 4th permanent QT makes a whole lot of sense! By the time fishes get in there for a few weeks of observation they should be ich free, treated for anything else that has appeared, and should be good to go!!

05/14/2014, 07:31 AM	#15
zeroalpha Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 56	Lol, yeah what budget???? This dang hobby.... +1 to igot2gats' post. Excellent for those impulse buys and when your QT is down. __________________ "Do or do not, there is no try." Tank: 90G reef, 120lbs of live rock, .5 to 1 inch of medium sand, 2 eBay 165w LEDs, 3 hydor 1150 powerheads, sc302 180 skimmer in a 10g sump, 1 150w heater. Current Tank Info: Livestock: CuC: ~60 snails (Cerith, Nerite, Nassarius), 2 Peppermint Shrimp, 1 dwarf blue leg hermit

05/14/2014, 08:46 AM	#19
PCygni Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Cabo Wabo Posts: 84	Keep it rolling. It can double as a ready hospital tank when it's fallow. I thought a QT was superfluous until ich wiped out my tank. Now I have one running 24/7; and every new acquisition gets 6 to 8 weeks of close observation and/or Cupramine, Paraguard, etc, as needed.

05/14/2014, 10:36 AM	#20
Triggerfish Registered Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 3,391	........................

05/14/2014, 10:49 AM	#24
oh207 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Amityville, NY Posts: 762	keep it running until you are fully stocked. __________________ -oh207 Current Tank Info: DB 65g RR Tank, 30g Sump w sock & fuge, EHEIM 3000 Rtn. Pump, Araganite 40lbs, 40lbs base rock, 60lbs LR, EHEIM 150W Jager Heater, Ecotech MP40wES & MP10wES Vortech Propeller Pump, Ecotech Radion XR30w LED, Seaside Aquatics Protein Skimmer (CS7-150g)

05/14/2014, 11:01 AM	#25
zeroalpha Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 56	Yeah. I did forget to mention that along with the water from DT you need some kind of bacteria housing object. I have a sponge filter that I use for that. Keep it in your DT then transfer over to the QT. If you shut down the QT afterwards, you'll need a new sponge to put back into your DT. Don't use the same one that you put in the QT. __________________ "Do or do not, there is no try." Tank: 90G reef, 120lbs of live rock, .5 to 1 inch of medium sand, 2 eBay 165w LEDs, 3 hydor 1150 powerheads, sc302 180 skimmer in a 10g sump, 1 150w heater. Current Tank Info: Livestock: CuC: ~60 snails (Cerith, Nerite, Nassarius), 2 Peppermint Shrimp, 1 dwarf blue leg hermit