Advice on QT tank

[Willistein]

So, I've completed the tank transfer method, but now i need to wait 7 more weeks to allow the main tank to be fallow. What is the best way to manage ammonia now? I don't have an established QT setup. The plan is to house the three remaining fish, a hippo, coral beauty, and clown in a 40 tall. I will do 50% water changes weekly and use amquel to manage ammonia. Any advice? I'm looking forward to an inch free tank.

 

[EllieSuz]

I used to change out a gallon a day on my 12 gallon QT. It seems to me daily water changes would be preferable to weekly ones. Use water from your display tank so you accomplish two things at once; small water changes in both tanks. Once quarantine is over you can move the fish right back to the display because the water will be identical. How much to change out daily on a 40 gallon? I'm not sure, but I would think three would work pretty well and it can be done with a small bucket and siphon. If you decide to try this, siphon off the bottom of the QT to get as much detritus out each time.

 

[tmz]

I understand the economy of using tank water and did that for a while but now use only new aged water for changes in qt for two reasons in this case:


Frist, the display is contaminated with ich and though the chances of moving in a cyst or theront lookin gfor a fish are small , I'd avoid them.
Second , tank water carries organics with it and not the bio filtering benthic bacteria to handle them. In short, tank water can contribute to ammonia production in an uncyled qt tank,ime.

The water in qt can be at lower sg and raised up to display tank levels over time . Match the sg and temp and you're good to go.

You can put some sponge material or othe surface material,bioballs, etc in the qt system to help ammonia oxidizing bacteria to get going. Seeding in some commercial bacterial supplement could acelerate the cycle. Using an ammonia detoxifier, like ammo lock or amquell for a couple of weeks is a high priority if there are no meds used in this holding tank. Monitor ammonia daily for the first two weeks by then a biofilter should be going if there is adequate surface area. Don't worry about nitrite or nitrate. Focus on ammonia.

 

[tmz]

For other readers and future reference: if I don't have a clean cycled qt holding tank going, I start one when I start the tank transfer using the 12 days to get a head start.

 

[Willistein]

This was my preference - to have a QT tank started and have 12 days to get it going, but it came down to the fact that I didn't have the extra tank. Until the 9 weeks are up, I'm treating the display like it is contaminated, so I don't think using tank water is a good idea. I'll use a clean HOB filter with carbon to hopefully get some bacteria going. Can amquel be used along-side carbon? Thanks for the help!