First time qt questions

[boosst]

After getting brook in my tank from a pair of naked clowns, I have decided to start a qt tank.
I have a choice of a 15h or a 20h. I have a stand and lid for the 15 and neither for the 20, so I am leaning towards the 15h...is this ok? I will do no more than 3 fish at a time. Is this tank going to be ok fOr a dwarf angel(will be my largest fish). Here is what I have so far. Please let me know what else I will need.
Tank
Aquaclear hob filter with just pad(do I need to run carbon)
Heater
Powerhead
2 thermometers
All test kits
PVC

I also plan on filling the tank with water from my 40...this is the tank with brook, is that a bad idea? I was going to also put the filter sponge in my sump to get bacteria from that same water(bad idea again, or not)?
I am also going to pain the chosen tank black on 3 sides.
Any advice would be great!
Oh, I have a prawn shrimp goby in my 40. The brook has not affected him yet. When I pull him out for qt, is it ok the put a new pair of clowns with him or should I wait since I know he came from the brook tank? Sorry for all the questions

 

[MrTuskfish]

You're going in the right direction. The main question; has your tank gone fishless since the brook outbreak? For how long?

 

[boosst]

It has not been fishless, still has the prawn shrimp goby...eati g and doing well, but he is going to qt. then the tank will be without fish fOr 9 weeks. So don't use the water or even the sump to cycle a filter pad?

 

[MrTuskfish]

It has not been fishless, still has the prawn shrimp goby...eati g and doing well, but he is going to qt. then the tank will be without fish fOr 9 weeks. So don't use the water or even the sump to cycle a filter pad?

Exactly right. Forms of all the protozoan parasites can be transferred in a single drop of water. Never let anything go into your QT from your DT unless you are sure the parasite's life cycle has run its course. Same rule for anything going the other way; from QT to DT. I'm paranoid about this, for good reason. Having a QT is a real key to success, IMO, but cross-contamination can easily ruin the whole QT idea. As long as ANY fish is in your DT, it can carry forms of parasites and still look healthy. As long as the goby is there, I don't think you can ever be completely sure the brook is gone. Some individual fish (and some families of fish) can carry and support very small numbers of parasites that will then explode when a more vulnerable fish becomes available. The goby should be the first customer in your QT and stay there until the DT has been fishless for 8+ weeks. Maybe not that long; if you can be 100% sure that brook was the only parasite in the tank. I'm not sure you can.

 

[boosst]

That is the plan but how do I cycle my quarantine with new water and a new filter...or do I need to?

 

[MrTuskfish]

If you don't cycle; you face a constant ammonia battle involving lots of WCs and other extra work.
To cycle: Water doesn't matter.....that's not what cycles a tank. You basically use the same method as you would on a new tank, but without the need to worry about nitrate. Set up the filter and tank, toss in a shrimp from the grocery for several days, wait for ammonia and nitrite ts spike. When ammonia/nitrite goes back to zero, you're ready. This will take a while, its the same as cycling a FW tank. Some folks try one of the "instant cycle" bacteria starters and you could try one if you're in a hurry. However, these products have very mixed reviews and I tried a couple of them several years ago. neither worked.

 

[boosst]

That's what I needed to know. Thanks
Carbon or not?
What about a dwarf angel in a 15h?

 

[MrTuskfish]

That's what I needed to know. Thanks
Carbon or not?
What about a dwarf angel in a 15h?

I don't think it matters, carbon isn't used in many systems. Just be sure not to use it with any meds. If it is just for QT, the angel should be fine. BTW, Dwarf Angels, especially Flames, are very sensitive to copper. A FA is the only fish I wouldn't treat with copper at any level.