Setting Up My First QT Tank
Setting Up My First QT Tank
Hi Everyone!
For starters, thanks for a wonderful forum and priceless info I have gained from it
I have been a long time reader here but decided to finally join and post my first question.
I currently have a FOWLR setup, it's been up and running around 3 months now. I currently have it stocked with 2 clown fish, 2 shrimp, some snails and hermits.
It was this thread that convinced me that the right way to proceed with all new purchases would be have a separate QT tank and do the PraziPro technic along with cupramine should i ever introduce tangs.
After a little deliberating, I decided to go with the emergency styled QT tank, since I was only planning on adding max 2 more fish to my aquarium and then hold it like that for a few months.
After weeks of looking for the perfect one, I finally came across the most perfect Flame Angel, i knew it was the one, and i bought it.
I came home, setup my Emergency tank, dripped my new purchase and dumped her in. Unfortunately even though i knew what i was getting into, I simply couldn't keep up with all the water changes, testing, etc...and the tank got the best of me and my Flame died. I was so upset and felt so bad, it was a hard lesson learned and vowed to never do it this way again. Going forward, i was going to setting up a permanent QT.
A month later, which is now, i went out and purchased a 10 Gallon tank as my new QT (as the one i was using previously was only 5...Fluval Spec V).
On Saturday morning (yesterday), I filled it up with a new SW, mixed to 1.023.
The tank came with the Fluval C2 filter setup so I'm using that for filtration.
I added the foam sponge insert, and the C-Nodes that came with it. I decided to also swap out 12 C-Nodes from my DT (which is using a Fluval C3) and add those to the new Nodes to assist with the cycle, and take 12 new ones and put them in my DT to keep stock fresh.
I did not add the carbon to the filter.
The tank is bare bottom, no rock, no sand, completely empty with just the filter and heather running. Some PVC pipe to follow shortly.
After the QT was up and running, I went out yesterday afternoon and purchased a piece of raw shrimp, a medium sized piece, probably 2" in size.
I turned up my heater a little more, probably in the "80" range and tossed the shrimp in.
Here is where i am still confused on how to go forward, this is where the questions more or less come in.
Today, 24 hours after putting the piece of raw shrimp in, i got the following reading:
Ammonia: between 3 and 4 ppm
Nitrite: 0
I was a little concerned that my Ammonia level jumped so fast and after reading more on various forums, i gathered that the shrimp was to large of a piece for this size tank so I took it out, cut it down to around the size of a quarter and dropped it back in.
So, what are the next steps now?
Do i leave the smaller piece of shrimp in the tank to continue rotting until Nitrites show up?
If so, when should i be taking out the piece of shrimp and let the cycle continue without it? Do i need to reach an ideal amount of Nitrites first?
Will the 12 C-Nodes i took out of my DT do anything to help the cycle or speed it up?
The foam sponge on my DT is finished, it's been in there about a month and it's time to be replaced, it wont clean anymore. Should i add a clean sponge to the C3 in my DT and use the dirty one in my QT C2 by cutting it down to size. Will this do anything at all to help or should i toss it as it's all used up?
I just want to do this right and want to ensure my permanent QT tank gets cycled properly and not have to worry that it isn't when i try buying another Flame Angel in the future. I don't want to worry about about Ammonia rises anymore and want my new QT tank setup in full before adding a fish to it.
If there are any other tips i can use in setting up my new QT tank, please add them as well.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my first post, it's lengthy but it's my introduction and letting you know the history of my tanks. Going forward, they'll be much shorter lol.
Tony
