Am I wasting my time?

[GT]

Wanted to know if im waisting my time trying to cycle my QT tank and using it later with Hyposalinity to treat and quarantine fish!
I have a simple bio filter setup! The QT tank has been running for only a week now!
I would like to see if anyone can help here!
Here is a link to the bio filter I am using. www.petsforum.com/personal/trevor-jones/quarantinetanks.html


Thanks to all!!!

T.

 

[Agoga]

Using a QT for fish is never a waste of time, you could always use old tank water from a WC and put your bio media in your sump(in a mesh bag) to speed up your cycle.

 

[GT]

Agoga, Sorry I didnt completely explain myself. I agree that a QT is never a waist of time. What I meant was Should I let this tank run its coarse and cycle and then use it as a QT tank, or should I, or when I QT a new fish, just strt with a fresh tank, and do frequent major water changes, as needed?

Thanks again

T.

 

[AZDesertRat]

I find it is much easier to set it up each time I need it rather than trying to keep bacteria going all the time. You want it to be a pretty sterile environment so maintaining bacteria without something to complete the nitrogen cycle is tough. A bare bottom and pieces of PVC don't support much bacteria and the sponge by itself won't last without fish poo, food or fish respiration to feed it.
Either way you will go through a cycle when you do introduce fish or corals as the biological load is going to change significantly from empty tank to something living in the tank.

Just keep a filter sponge or two in your sump all the time and set up the QT as needed with the sponge. Toss the filter after each use so you don't introduce anything back to the sump.

 

[GT]

AZDesertRat, Thanks. Everything is new. My 225 gl wont be running till the 1st of sept. The QT tank setup is new. So I wanted to get a head start on the QT'ing, so when my main tank is ready, I should be ready to introduce my first livestock. So in your opinion, I can return the damsals, change the water and buy the fish that I want to add to my QT tank first, start the hyposalinity treatment (4-6 weeks). Doing major water changes in the process? And the same for each livestock I may want to add. Now remember the first time here I have no sponge or any other biomedia to add to the QT tank. (but I will add some to my sump after it is up and running.) I hope this is what you meant, and thats what I really wanted to do. I was second guessing myself here, thats why I posted this question!

Thanks,

T.

 

[GT]

AZDesertRat, By the way! I pick up my maxcap system tomorrow.

Thanks again for your help on that>>>

T.

 

[Sk8r]

I'd do a setup each time: my method is to use water from the tank in question, which has plenty of bacteria; and to use a sponge with a swipe past the muck in the tank sump, which will thus come in with another good load of bacteria: instant cycle, more or less. You still have to test the water for nitrate, ammonia, etc, but it's a fast method. Desert Rat's sump sponge is a good idea.

 

[GT]

Sk8r, Thanks I think your right! and I think I will redo th QT setup. Heck its only a week old.

T.

 

[AZDesertRat]

One thing you could do is when you are ready to set it up the first time contact a local reefer and get a little sand or rubble containing bacteria from them to give it a jump start. That or a sponge, I always keep a couple AquaClear 150 sponges in my sump refugium ready to go.

 

[GT]

AZDesertRat, With the QT running for a week and just a trace of ammonia has started to show up. Would it be ok to add a fellow reefers sponge, sand or rubble now?

 

[AZDesertRat]

I think it would help complete the nitrogen cycle.

 

[GT]

Thanks, I will post on the FRAG forum

T.