feeding fish in a quarantine?

[kingraham]

how much should i be feeding my fish in my quarantine tank? i just set up a 55 gallon qt which is hosting all my fish. sailfin, purple, blonde naso tangs, flame angle, 2 gobys, cleaner wrasse, cardinal, long nose butterfly, and 2 clowns. i think this is to many fish for that tank but its the biggest tank i could get. should i do more water changes? i put a glass divider in keeping the 2 gobys away from each other and also the purple tang and sailfin away from each other. just wondering how much i should be feeding them and how often to change the water? and also gobys seem lost with out the sand to sift will they be okay? thanks for the response this site is helping me out a lot...

 

[Steve Canyon]

I believe the rule of thumb is that a fish can eat a volume about equal to the size of its eye. If everything is cleaned up within 5 minutes, you've want to cut back the next time.

 

[NirvanaFan]

Sounds like a lot of fish for a 55g quarantine. Make sure you keep up on the water changes. Also, provide A LOT of hiding places for fish.

I have an extra 55g tank laying around not being used if you want another QT tank to split the fish up (especially the tangs). PM me if you're interested.

 

[kingraham]

well i put a plastic divider separating the tangs im just worried about nitrates and ammonia levels spikings?

 

[Foody]

I've got a 30 you could borrow if you wanted to separate a tang, a goby and whatever else you thought if it is helpful to you.

 

[Steve Canyon]

I believe the rule of thumb is that a fish can eat a volume about equal to the size of its eye. If everything is cleaned up within 5 minutes, you've want to cut back the next time.

I meant to write if everything is NOT cleaned up.... cutback...
sorry.

 

[block head]

Plastic totes and heater, $ 10 kiddie pool if u can swing it. The kiddie pools are nice and can handle a power head for circulation. Fish waste is hard on fish, but it takes a lot to be lethal. Poor water quality should really be avoided on stressed fish. Buy some instant ocean or affordable salt to reduce cost .

 

[tmz]

well i put a plastic divider separating the tangs im just worried about nitrates and ammonia levels spikings?

It's a lot of fish for a 55 gallon tank. Splitting that load up with a bin or another tank would be prudent.
Ammonia will likely be a problem if the tank is not cycled and even if it is it may take a while for the ammonia oxidizing bacteria to catch up with the large load.. Test it regulary.

Get an ammonia detoxifier( AMMO LOCK is what I prefer) .

Add chunks of pvc pipe or sponges and/or rocks for resting and hiding places preferably some sponges or live rock that has been cycled.

Run some granulated activated carbon.

No need to worry about nitrate or nitrate they are not harmful to fish in salt water.

Aeration will be important too since those fish will use a lot of O2. Keep it on th cool side 76 to 78 for better O2 saturation.

Add a tupperware bowl of sand or two for the gobies.

If and when you choose to use medications ,you'll have to refrain from using the ammonia detoxifier and the carbon..

 

[Cptn Spaulding]

Lots of big water changes with consistent temp and salinity will be your best bet for keeping it clean and your fish healthy...as long as that purple tang doesn't go rogue on you and start harassing everything.