QT questions

Jesusfreak89 · 09/16/2006, 06:25 PM

Hello all, I have a few questions about QT tanks. Does anybody keep theres running 24/7 or do you set it up only when in use? The reason I'm asking this is because doesnt any tank have to cycle before it is safe for any inhabitants? I guess what I mean is, unless the tank is cycled and running, won't a QT tank just set up for a new arrival build up ammonia and other harmful substances in it?

Thanks for your time and help!

Andrew · 09/16/2006, 06:34 PM

I keep one running all the time just to be on the safe side. If you want to set up a qt fast, than many people will use water from their maintank. What I do to cycle my qt tanks is take newly mixed saltwater and add it to the tank with a chuck of liverock from the display tank. Than once the cycle is complete I remove the rock from the QT.

Jesusfreak89 · 09/16/2006, 07:23 PM

Thanks, I was wondering how that worked.

wigo · 09/16/2006, 08:39 PM

I don't have mine running 24/7. I have heard that the next time it is time to do a water change put the water from the display into the QT and all is well and will last you a couple weeks anyway. I have a 90 gal display and a 20 gal QT so a ~20% water change is good anyway.

meco65 · 09/16/2006, 08:43 PM

Just remember if you take a piece of live rock out of your main tank and use to cycle a QT. If you put the new fish in the QT while the rock is in the tank you do not need to put the LR back in the main tank.

Andrew · 09/16/2006, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by meco65
Just remember if you take a piece of live rock out of your main tank and use to cycle a QT. If you put the new fish in the QT while the rock is in the tank you do not need to put the LR back in the main tank.

You can't perform hypo with liverock or any rock/subtrate in the QT tank.

meco65 · 09/16/2006, 09:05 PM

Good point but some people donâ€™t know that. The question was about cycling a QT tank not hypo.

meco65 · 09/16/2006, 09:10 PM

Andrew please donâ€™t take this wrong but some times old pros in the salt water hobby donâ€™t think of the fact that a lot of mistakes are made because something is not explained good. A some of the newbs go step by step and might not know to take the rock out before putting a ick infected fish in.

wigo · 09/16/2006, 09:13 PM

Not to hijack the conversation but is what the LFS right? Can I just pull water from the display into the QT and all work right. This is what I have been told.

meco65 · 09/16/2006, 09:16 PM

Yes you just have to keep a close watch on the tank and be ready to do a water change fast if needed.

wigo · 09/16/2006, 09:18 PM

I have heard that 2 weeks is the right amount of time for a QT is this correct?

Also should you keep the media from the QT filter in your display sump/wet/dry?

ledford1 · 09/16/2006, 09:30 PM

I used all new water, but had some extra LR in an established tank to use in the QT.

The LR had all the bacteria necessary and so instant filtration. You don't have to use LR though. If you have some foam filter or bio media, keep it in your sump where bacteria can grow. Then when its time to start a QT, you have cycled media ready to roll.

I think 3-4 weeks of disease-free life in QT is good. So if your fish develops something and you have to treat diseaese/parasites, you don't start counting until it's cured.

Andrew · 09/16/2006, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by meco65
Andrew please donâ€™t take this wrong but some times old pros in the salt water hobby donâ€™t think of the fact that a lot of mistakes are made because something is not explained good. A some of the newbs go step by step and might not know to take the rock out before putting a ick infected fish in.

I'm not saying your wrong in any way but just giving another piece of advise that may help.

petoonia · 09/16/2006, 11:46 PM

We keep a small hang on filter running on our tank at all times. If we need the qt we just add water from the main tank and pull the filter off and put it on the qt. Be careful about putting it back on the main tank, especially if you use any type of meds. If you dont use meds you can thoroughly clean the filter, let it dry out and replace the filter media, then put it back on the maintank. . We like this better than keeping a qt running all of the time.

flinka · 09/17/2006, 04:33 AM

I keep some extra filter media in my main tank refugium so that I always have "seeded" material to set up QT or hospital tank imemdiately without any cycle.

doin' fin · 09/17/2006, 02:36 PM

If you use LR from your main tank and you have to treat your fish in the QT/Hospt. tank you may kill off the live on your LR or contaminate it in the least. Then you have a problem putting it back in your main tank or using it when you QT another animal. Most people (imo) use a piece of PVC in the QT tank.

Steven Pro · 09/17/2006, 03:28 PM

Here are my thoughts on quarantine,
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-1...ture/index.php

Jesusfreak89 · 09/17/2006, 07:29 PM

Thanks all, I realy appreciate the advice.

09/16/2006, 06:25 PM	#1
Jesusfreak89 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 15	QT questions Hello all, I have a few questions about QT tanks. Does anybody keep theres running 24/7 or do you set it up only when in use? The reason I'm asking this is because doesnt any tank have to cycle before it is safe for any inhabitants? I guess what I mean is, unless the tank is cycled and running, won't a QT tank just set up for a new arrival build up ammonia and other harmful substances in it? Thanks for your time and help!

09/16/2006, 11:46 PM	#14
petoonia HereWeGoAgain... Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,648	We keep a small hang on filter running on our tank at all times. If we need the qt we just add water from the main tank and pull the filter off and put it on the qt. Be careful about putting it back on the main tank, especially if you use any type of meds. If you dont use meds you can thoroughly clean the filter, let it dry out and replace the filter media, then put it back on the maintank. . We like this better than keeping a qt running all of the time. __________________ I've been in the hobby for about 10 years....(so I know a little bit)...(but not all that much).... Current Tank Info: 58G. Oceanic (Starphire). Mixed Reef

09/17/2006, 03:28 PM	#17
Steven Pro Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 9,376	Here are my thoughts on quarantine, http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-1...ture/index.php __________________ Steven Pro, yep that is my real name. Current Tank Info: Twelve 600 gallon tubs located in a greenhouse

09/16/2006, 06:34 PM	#2
Andrew Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 13,640	I keep one running all the time just to be on the safe side. If you want to set up a qt fast, than many people will use water from their maintank. What I do to cycle my qt tanks is take newly mixed saltwater and add it to the tank with a chuck of liverock from the display tank. Than once the cycle is complete I remove the rock from the QT.

09/16/2006, 07:23 PM	#3
Jesusfreak89 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 15	Thanks, I was wondering how that worked.

09/16/2006, 08:39 PM	#4
wigo Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Spotsylvania, VA Posts: 223	I don't have mine running 24/7. I have heard that the next time it is time to do a water change put the water from the display into the QT and all is well and will last you a couple weeks anyway. I have a 90 gal display and a 20 gal QT so a ~20% water change is good anyway.

09/16/2006, 08:43 PM	#5
meco65 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Arkansas Posts: 1,603	Just remember if you take a piece of live rock out of your main tank and use to cycle a QT. If you put the new fish in the QT while the rock is in the tank you do not need to put the LR back in the main tank.

09/16/2006, 09:05 PM	#7
meco65 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Arkansas Posts: 1,603	Good point but some people donâ€™t know that. The question was about cycling a QT tank not hypo.

09/16/2006, 09:10 PM	#8
meco65 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Arkansas Posts: 1,603	Andrew please donâ€™t take this wrong but some times old pros in the salt water hobby donâ€™t think of the fact that a lot of mistakes are made because something is not explained good. A some of the newbs go step by step and might not know to take the rock out before putting a ick infected fish in.

09/16/2006, 09:13 PM	#9
wigo Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Spotsylvania, VA Posts: 223	Not to hijack the conversation but is what the LFS right? Can I just pull water from the display into the QT and all work right. This is what I have been told.

09/16/2006, 09:16 PM	#10
meco65 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Arkansas Posts: 1,603	Yes you just have to keep a close watch on the tank and be ready to do a water change fast if needed.

09/16/2006, 09:18 PM	#11
wigo Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Spotsylvania, VA Posts: 223	I have heard that 2 weeks is the right amount of time for a QT is this correct? Also should you keep the media from the QT filter in your display sump/wet/dry?

09/16/2006, 09:30 PM	#12
ledford1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: NW Arkansas Posts: 2,241	I used all new water, but had some extra LR in an established tank to use in the QT. The LR had all the bacteria necessary and so instant filtration. You don't have to use LR though. If you have some foam filter or bio media, keep it in your sump where bacteria can grow. Then when its time to start a QT, you have cycled media ready to roll. I think 3-4 weeks of disease-free life in QT is good. So if your fish develops something and you have to treat diseaese/parasites, you don't start counting until it's cured.

09/17/2006, 04:33 AM	#15
flinka Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 149	I keep some extra filter media in my main tank refugium so that I always have "seeded" material to set up QT or hospital tank imemdiately without any cycle.

09/17/2006, 02:36 PM	#16
doin' fin Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: SC Posts: 141	If you use LR from your main tank and you have to treat your fish in the QT/Hospt. tank you may kill off the live on your LR or contaminate it in the least. Then you have a problem putting it back in your main tank or using it when you QT another animal. Most people (imo) use a piece of PVC in the QT tank.

09/17/2006, 07:29 PM	#18
Jesusfreak89 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 15	Thanks all, I realy appreciate the advice.