getting qt ready

[JMorris271]

I want to begin purchasing some stock for a new tank and will be setting up some QTs.My problem is I don't have access to other cycled tanks or anything cycled to add to the QTs tanks filter to make them right and ready for observation purposes.
How can I go about conditioning the QT water to begin observation while the DT cycles?

Thanks

 

[Pete1399]

Your signature says you have a 75g reef, why not use the water from that? If you dont have access to water from a cycled tank you will have to drop a shrimp in there from the grocery store and wait a month or so while doing water cycles. QT has to cycle just as the main tank does. Hope i answered your question.

 

[JMorris271]

Your signature says you have a 75g reef, why not use the water from that? If you dont have access to water from a cycled tank you will have to drop a shrimp in there from the grocery store and wait a month or so while doing water cycles. QT has to cycle just as the main tank does. Hope i answered your question.

I need to update that sig, It is out of date.and I can't get it off. Believe me I have tried.My question is current. Like I said,I have no means to draw from something cycled. I may have to resort to something a bio in the bottle. Do you think I could use Live Sand that I bought
to begin cycling?

 

[kentwo]

Maybe a mix of the live sand and bottled bacteria.

I tried cycling my QT with only bottle stuff since my DT had ich. Took forever. Probably just as long as cycling it without the bottle stuff. Nitrites finally went down after almost four weeks.

 

[shesacharmer]

You do not have to cycle a QT unless you want to. You can run a bare bottom and HOB filter with only floss, pvc piecs and a heater, thermometer, and ammonia badge. Change the floss when it shows any discoloration and watch the ammonia badge for water changes.

That's your other choice.

 

[JMorris271]

You do not have to cycle a QT unless you want to. You can run a bare bottom and HOB filter with only floss, pvc piecs and a heater, thermometer, and ammonia badge. Change the floss when it shows any discoloration and watch the ammonia badge for water changes.

That's your other choice.

You know, I thought I had read that you can do that somewhere but was not sure about it. Memory fails me sometimes.
Thank.

 

[JMorris271]

Maybe a mix of the live sand and bottled bacteria.

I tried cycling my QT with only bottle stuff since my DT had ich. Took forever. Probably just as long as cycling it without the bottle stuff. Nitrites finally went down after almost four weeks.

Thanks for the heads up on that Kent. I hate to waist money.:hmm3:

 

[gone fishin]

You do not have to cycle a QT unless you want to. You can run a bare bottom and HOB filter with only floss, pvc piecs and a heater, thermometer, and ammonia badge. Change the floss when it shows any discoloration and watch the ammonia badge for water changes.

That's your other choice.

This is how I have done mine for quite awhile. When not in use it sits in my closet.

 

[kentwo]

Thanks for the heads up on that Kent. I hate to waist money.:hmm3:

Yep

I had ich in the DT so couldn't seed the QT. I also wanted to leave the DT fallow for 8 weeks which is why I wanted the QT cycled but it took so long I scratched that plan.

 

[Redtack]

I was in a similar situation. I had a floss pad in my sump while the DT was cycling. Once the DT started processing all of the NO2, I removed the floss pad and wrapped it around the QT sponge filter. Just to be safe I dosed the initial QT water with Prime. Seemed sufficient. For the 6 wks, Nitrates were the only readable nitrogens.

Best of luck!

Redtack

 

[JMorris271]

I was in a similar situation. I had a floss pad in my sump while the DT was cycling. Once the DT started processing all of the NO2, I removed the floss pad and wrapped it around the QT sponge filter. Just to be safe I dosed the initial QT water with Prime. Seemed sufficient. For the 6 wks, Nitrates were the only readable nitrogens.

Best of luck!

Redtack

Do you mean not until 6 weeks?

 

[Redtack]

Ahhh, I see your point. I had the floss pad in there from the beginning of the cycle start. I wonder if maybe putting a piece of rock that has been in the DT cycle and setting that next to a sponge filter would help seed. You could put the rock back just before the fish goes into the QT. A small dose of Janitor grade ammonia from ACE Hardware in the QT and a reading of 0 the next day should let you know if it worked or not.

Anyway I did find that the sponge filter did suck the bacteria into it fairly quickly.

Best of luck!