a QT question with some pics

gopens · 09/27/2006, 11:30 PM

well as some may remember, after losing my fish, I have decided to set up a Q-tank. I have included some pics. I am looking for ideas to see if I am on the right path. I am also going to add some pvc pieces. but other than the pvc, this is what I have to work with.

The aquarium is a 20 gallon high. I was looking for the long version, but there were none in my small town. I am also running a basic over the back filter. The heater is a cheap ol' 100 watt. one thing i am concerned about it the lack of water movement. should i go buy one of those little water pumps or do i need a spendy power head. I have seen some set ups that only had the over the back filter, and that was all for water movement.

Here is the pic of my set up

now here is a pic of the isert that came with the filter. It has been in my sump from my main tank for a few days now. I have been told to put this insert in the filter when i am ready to Q some fish. Will this filter insert collect enough "goodies" to seed my tank with the right stuff.

Now the next pic is going to show how stupid I am in this hobby. I am not sure what it really is because I tossed the box. But it is a insert just like the above. Accept one side has a white looking filter annd the other side has some small black pellet looking things inside the filter. do I need to use this

well thanks for any help. If everything looks good, I will be purchasing a 2-3 clowns this weekend and using my new Q-tank.

bertoni · 09/28/2006, 01:09 AM

The last picture might show an activated carbon filter. They're fine to have, although the prepackaged ones can be pricey.

I would add a powerhead for aeration to the setup. The insert should help seed the filter with bacteria, etc, reasonably well. Throwing a bit of fish food in now and then will also do the job.

gopens · 09/28/2006, 01:14 AM

well that carbon filter came with it. so i should use it then? being i am not adding the clowns until saturday. should i still put some food in now. i was told to siphin (sp?) all food not used and poop every morning. should i small power head be fine.

gopens · 09/28/2006, 08:00 AM

ttt for some more info. thanks

gopens · 09/28/2006, 08:10 AM

ttt for some more info. thanks

2fishy · 09/28/2006, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gopens
well that carbon filter came with it. so i should use it then? being i am not adding the clowns until saturday. should i still put some food in now. i was told to siphin (sp?) all food not used and poop every morning. should i small power head be fine.

I would use the carbon filter. It will help with ammonia in the aquarium when you add the fish. I agree with bertoni in feeding the aquarium a little food now and then before you add fish, along with the filter you had in your sump, will help get the cycle started before you add the fish.

gopens · 09/28/2006, 11:38 AM

how much fish food, and should i siphin it out after a few hours or just leave it in.

gopens · 09/28/2006, 11:47 AM

oh and one more thing. would it be smart to maybe put, oh about a cup or two of sand from my sump in a container, than put the container in the Q-tank. would this cycle as well or just a wast of sand...

bertoni · 09/28/2006, 04:30 PM

I would add a small flake or two, and leave it in the tank. An ammonia test will tell you when the filter is ready. I wouldn't bother with moving any sand.

Tang_Cool · 09/29/2006, 05:21 AM

Seeing as its just a QT, your filter is looking fine, as 2fishy said i would definately use the Carbon, I would not bother about another air pump if the fish load will be low. Make sure you do as ur fish shop says and clear the waste when the fish is in there because rotting foods and waste lead to bad Ammonia spikes!

gopens · 09/29/2006, 08:02 AM

thanks.... i have 3 percs in there now. it is a 20 gallon tank. i plan on doing a gallon water change each night with a 3 gallon change once a week. can i change the water to much or is there no such thing as to many water changes? also it seems that the percs aren't that hungry. i am feeding them some basic flake. is there any food that the perc goes crazy for?

bureau13 · 09/29/2006, 09:05 AM

A couple comments based on my recent experience setting up a 29 gal QT. I had a similar HOB filter, plus I had an air-driven sponge filter sitting in my display tank's refugium for a couple weeks. This ended up being insufficient in terms of getting the thing cycled.

I recommend getting some Bio-spyra, its a refrigerated bacteria culture that you add to the tank to speed up the process. I would also get the Seachem Ammonia-Alert thing...its a suction cup-mounted device which turns colors in the presence of ammonia. You'll know immediately if you start to have issues. Have some Prime or Amquel handy, although it didn't seem to help as much as I would have liked. Once you do all that, you should be OK. The food added prior to the fish was to give the bacteria something to munch on, and help them increase their population...just like fish waste.

jds

09/27/2006, 11:30 PM	#1
gopens Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Grants Pass, Oregon Posts: 284	a QT question with some pics well as some may remember, after losing my fish, I have decided to set up a Q-tank. I have included some pics. I am looking for ideas to see if I am on the right path. I am also going to add some pvc pieces. but other than the pvc, this is what I have to work with. The aquarium is a 20 gallon high. I was looking for the long version, but there were none in my small town. I am also running a basic over the back filter. The heater is a cheap ol' 100 watt. one thing i am concerned about it the lack of water movement. should i go buy one of those little water pumps or do i need a spendy power head. I have seen some set ups that only had the over the back filter, and that was all for water movement. Here is the pic of my set up now here is a pic of the isert that came with the filter. It has been in my sump from my main tank for a few days now. I have been told to put this insert in the filter when i am ready to Q some fish. Will this filter insert collect enough "goodies" to seed my tank with the right stuff. Now the next pic is going to show how stupid I am in this hobby. I am not sure what it really is because I tossed the box. But it is a insert just like the above. Accept one side has a white looking filter annd the other side has some small black pellet looking things inside the filter. do I need to use this well thanks for any help. If everything looks good, I will be purchasing a 2-3 clowns this weekend and using my new Q-tank.

09/28/2006, 01:09 AM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The last picture might show an activated carbon filter. They're fine to have, although the prepackaged ones can be pricey. I would add a powerhead for aeration to the setup. The insert should help seed the filter with bacteria, etc, reasonably well. Throwing a bit of fish food in now and then will also do the job. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

09/28/2006, 04:30 PM	#9
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I would add a small flake or two, and leave it in the tank. An ammonia test will tell you when the filter is ready. I wouldn't bother with moving any sand. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

09/28/2006, 01:14 AM	#3
gopens Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Grants Pass, Oregon Posts: 284	well that carbon filter came with it. so i should use it then? being i am not adding the clowns until saturday. should i still put some food in now. i was told to siphin (sp?) all food not used and poop every morning. should i small power head be fine.

09/28/2006, 08:00 AM	#4
gopens Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Grants Pass, Oregon Posts: 284	ttt for some more info. thanks

09/28/2006, 08:10 AM	#5
gopens Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Grants Pass, Oregon Posts: 284	ttt for some more info. thanks

09/28/2006, 11:38 AM	#7
gopens Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Grants Pass, Oregon Posts: 284	how much fish food, and should i siphin it out after a few hours or just leave it in.

09/28/2006, 11:47 AM	#8
gopens Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Grants Pass, Oregon Posts: 284	oh and one more thing. would it be smart to maybe put, oh about a cup or two of sand from my sump in a container, than put the container in the Q-tank. would this cycle as well or just a wast of sand...

09/29/2006, 05:21 AM	#10
Tang_Cool Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 106	Seeing as its just a QT, your filter is looking fine, as 2fishy said i would definately use the Carbon, I would not bother about another air pump if the fish load will be low. Make sure you do as ur fish shop says and clear the waste when the fish is in there because rotting foods and waste lead to bad Ammonia spikes!

09/29/2006, 08:02 AM	#11
gopens Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Grants Pass, Oregon Posts: 284	thanks.... i have 3 percs in there now. it is a 20 gallon tank. i plan on doing a gallon water change each night with a 3 gallon change once a week. can i change the water to much or is there no such thing as to many water changes? also it seems that the percs aren't that hungry. i am feeding them some basic flake. is there any food that the perc goes crazy for?

09/29/2006, 09:05 AM	#12
bureau13 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Florida Posts: 1,936	A couple comments based on my recent experience setting up a 29 gal QT. I had a similar HOB filter, plus I had an air-driven sponge filter sitting in my display tank's refugium for a couple weeks. This ended up being insufficient in terms of getting the thing cycled. I recommend getting some Bio-spyra, its a refrigerated bacteria culture that you add to the tank to speed up the process. I would also get the Seachem Ammonia-Alert thing...its a suction cup-mounted device which turns colors in the presence of ammonia. You'll know immediately if you start to have issues. Have some Prime or Amquel handy, although it didn't seem to help as much as I would have liked. Once you do all that, you should be OK. The food added prior to the fish was to give the bacteria something to munch on, and help them increase their population...just like fish waste. jds