What do you use?

buddhafish · 07/25/2015, 05:21 PM

So I read an article on quarantine tanks, and was just wondering what you all do with yours. The article suggested using a cycled sponge filter from your main display. Do any of you keep your quarantine up all the time? Let me know how you guys go about it.

tennesseebob · 07/25/2015, 05:30 PM

I am incredibly lax about mine, it isn't set up permanently, but I have a small bag of bioballs in my sump for quarantine setup, I just made a 10g all in one that I think may be my new quarantine tank from now on.

gone fishin · 07/25/2015, 05:30 PM

I typically do not cycle or use the sponge filters. I rely on WC's and prime if needed. My QT consists of a seachem ammonia alert badge, heater and air stone as well as some pvc fittings in a 29g tank. When I was doing my initial stocking the QT was running continuously. Now I add a couple fish a year.

Many folks will use the sponge filters or hob filter.

GhostCon1 · 07/25/2015, 05:31 PM

I use a QT tank for my corals and inverts. I used some sand and live rock from an established tank to get the beneficial bacteria. I leave it running all the time. Actually, I left it running for about 9 months with no light, no food, nothing added to it. When it came time to to QT some new corals I was amazed at all the sponges and tunicates in there.

So my vote is to leave it running all the time.

For a fish QT tank, I've heard a simple HOB and seeded sponge will do fine. Provide some PVC pipe for hide outs.

homer1475 · 07/25/2015, 05:44 PM

I only use my QT when needed.

I keep a small bag of seachem matrix media in the back of my DT(biocube) for bacteria when needed. Plop them in a HOB filter, with a heater, airstone, and an ammonia badge, were good to go. I do dose stability for a week, and keep plenty of prime on hand, but have never had an ammonia problem.

Sapelo · 07/25/2015, 06:08 PM

So in comparison to your other responses, I am a baby/beginner but I am also stocking a new tank and a bit compulsive about buying both fish and coral and I insist on QT for all(yes, learned the hard way)
So I keep an empty tank running all of the time and usually cycle a media filter in my canister in case I need it.
I start all fish on TTM so with only 3 days into a tank (and I usually do 5 on the first just to acclimate and then 4 transfers) I don't worry too much about spikes
I do test and monitor but in general have not had a bioload problem even in an overstocked hospital tank.

RGS2 · 07/25/2015, 06:32 PM

I run a 40 breeder full time as a QT even though I only buy a couple fish per year. Doesn't really cost anything to run and with a glass lid evap is almost nothing. I like having it available for emergencies also.

whosurcaddie · 07/25/2015, 06:57 PM

I run a 60 gal QT all the time. For the biofilter I use Seachem matrix and some various other biological media. I use a cheap 1300gph powerhead for flow. I have two large PVC pipes an airstone and a heater.

If there are no fish in the tank I will feed it once a week to keep the bio filter going.

pyithar · 07/26/2015, 02:42 AM

i run a 15G qt and 20G qt full time.

kmbyrnes · 07/27/2015, 07:46 PM

I too learned my lesson the hard way.
I now have a fully cycled 40B for QT that runs full time
And pairs of 5, 10, and 20 g for TTM depending on the fish. These get setup uncycled as needed.
Seems like a lot of stuff, but under $200 total investment with the $1 a gallon sale.
I keep filter pads in my sumps.

Silly clownfish · 07/27/2015, 07:58 PM

Check out the fish disease forum fior a lot of great QT info.

I use 2 10g for TTM, then keep the fish in one of those tanks for the remainder of the quarantineeriod with frequent water chages. for the TTM i keep a large fistful of filter floos in my DT sump and use gobs of that in a corner box filter with an airpump (I have one for each tank). After the TTM part of the quartine is done I use penguin HOB filter with a cartridge that was seeded in my DT sump.

When I am not QTing a fish, the 10g tanks go to the basement. If I were to need to QT/treat on short notice, I would use the filter floss for quick bacteria seeding of the QT. properly quarantining new arrivals greatly reduces the chance of needing an emergency hospital tank.

Salty Cracker · 07/27/2015, 08:30 PM

Simple. 29 gallon tank from petco sale. Small power head, hob filter with no carbon, and copper safe. Dry sand and some Pvc. All in all cost.. $60. I paid more than that for a frag.

buddhafish · 07/27/2015, 09:12 PM

Awesome to see all the different set ups being used!

07/25/2015, 05:21 PM	#1
buddhafish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 82	What do you use? So I read an article on quarantine tanks, and was just wondering what you all do with yours. The article suggested using a cycled sponge filter from your main display. Do any of you keep your quarantine up all the time? Let me know how you guys go about it.

07/25/2015, 05:30 PM	#2
tennesseebob Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Tennessee Posts: 423	I am incredibly lax about mine, it isn't set up permanently, but I have a small bag of bioballs in my sump for quarantine setup, I just made a 10g all in one that I think may be my new quarantine tank from now on. __________________ 150g tall D/T (48x24x30), 40b Sump 2 Arctic t247 LEDs 2 Jebao RW-8, 2 RW-4 Skimz Monzter SM201 Current Tank Info: 48",24",30" 150g tall

07/25/2015, 05:30 PM	#3
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	I typically do not cycle or use the sponge filters. I rely on WC's and prime if needed. My QT consists of a seachem ammonia alert badge, heater and air stone as well as some pvc fittings in a 29g tank. When I was doing my initial stocking the QT was running continuously. Now I add a couple fish a year. Many folks will use the sponge filters or hob filter. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

07/25/2015, 05:31 PM	#4
GhostCon1 Rebmem Deretsiger Join Date: May 2010 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,590	I use a QT tank for my corals and inverts. I used some sand and live rock from an established tank to get the beneficial bacteria. I leave it running all the time. Actually, I left it running for about 9 months with no light, no food, nothing added to it. When it came time to to QT some new corals I was amazed at all the sponges and tunicates in there. So my vote is to leave it running all the time. For a fish QT tank, I've heard a simple HOB and seeded sponge will do fine. Provide some PVC pipe for hide outs. __________________ In the works Current Tank Info: Getting a big'un

07/25/2015, 05:44 PM	#5
homer1475 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 5,313	I only use my QT when needed. I keep a small bag of seachem matrix media in the back of my DT(biocube) for bacteria when needed. Plop them in a HOB filter, with a heater, airstone, and an ammonia badge, were good to go. I do dose stability for a week, and keep plenty of prime on hand, but have never had an ammonia problem. __________________ 80G SCA Build: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2560256 Originally posted by der_wille_zur_macht: "He's just taking his lunch to work"

07/25/2015, 06:08 PM	#6
Sapelo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: North Georgia Posts: 869	So in comparison to your other responses, I am a baby/beginner but I am also stocking a new tank and a bit compulsive about buying both fish and coral and I insist on QT for all(yes, learned the hard way) So I keep an empty tank running all of the time and usually cycle a media filter in my canister in case I need it. I start all fish on TTM so with only 3 days into a tank (and I usually do 5 on the first just to acclimate and then 4 transfers) I don't worry too much about spikes I do test and monitor but in general have not had a bioload problem even in an overstocked hospital tank.

07/25/2015, 06:32 PM	#7
RGS2 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 139	I run a 40 breeder full time as a QT even though I only buy a couple fish per year. Doesn't really cost anything to run and with a glass lid evap is almost nothing. I like having it available for emergencies also.

07/25/2015, 06:57 PM	#8
whosurcaddie Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,354	I run a 60 gal QT all the time. For the biofilter I use Seachem matrix and some various other biological media. I use a cheap 1300gph powerhead for flow. I have two large PVC pipes an airstone and a heater. If there are no fish in the tank I will feed it once a week to keep the bio filter going.

07/26/2015, 02:42 AM	#9
pyithar Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: yangon,burma(myanmar) Posts: 1,786	i run a 15G qt and 20G qt full time. __________________ take it easy, pyithar Current Tank Info: 150G display, 50G sump, mixed reef

07/27/2015, 07:46 PM	#10
kmbyrnes Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Mesa AZ Posts: 2,055	I too learned my lesson the hard way. I now have a fully cycled 40B for QT that runs full time And pairs of 5, 10, and 20 g for TTM depending on the fish. These get setup uncycled as needed. Seems like a lot of stuff, but under $200 total investment with the $1 a gallon sale. I keep filter pads in my sumps. __________________ 125g Mixed Reef 5/26/2015; 350 Butterfly Dominated FOWLR 11/26/2015 - 11/17/20217 & 07/31/18 to ??? ; 100g Mixed Reef 11/16/2013 to 06/16/2017 Current Tank Info: Too small

07/27/2015, 07:58 PM	#11
Silly clownfish Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Southeast Pennsylvania Posts: 488	Check out the fish disease forum fior a lot of great QT info. I use 2 10g for TTM, then keep the fish in one of those tanks for the remainder of the quarantineeriod with frequent water chages. for the TTM i keep a large fistful of filter floos in my DT sump and use gobs of that in a corner box filter with an airpump (I have one for each tank). After the TTM part of the quartine is done I use penguin HOB filter with a cartridge that was seeded in my DT sump. When I am not QTing a fish, the 10g tanks go to the basement. If I were to need to QT/treat on short notice, I would use the filter floss for quick bacteria seeding of the QT. properly quarantining new arrivals greatly reduces the chance of needing an emergency hospital tank. __________________ 75g mixed reef, 20g sump, ocelaris clownfish (20+yrs old), flame hawk, one spot foxface rabbitfish, green mandarin, Bicolor Blenny, Coral Beauty;30g sumpless with Spotcinctus pair with RBTA Current Tank Info: 75g mixed reef, 20g sump, ocelaris clownfish (20+yrs old), flame hawk, one spot foxface rabbitfish, green mandarin, Bicolor Blenny, Coral Beauty;30g sumpless with Spotcinctus pair

07/27/2015, 08:30 PM	#12
Salty Cracker Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 218	Simple. 29 gallon tank from petco sale. Small power head, hob filter with no carbon, and copper safe. Dry sand and some Pvc. All in all cost.. $60. I paid more than that for a frag.

07/27/2015, 09:12 PM	#13
buddhafish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 82	Awesome to see all the different set ups being used!