cryptic_grower
New member
My qt has been up and running for 27 days. I'm 0 ammo 0 No2 but my nitrates are >40ppm. I did a 30% wc after my ammonia fell back to 0 and have continued on a weekly schedule since. Is such a high No3 normal at this point?
Guide to setup a Quarantine Tank (QT).
- Thread starter Dr. Reef
- Start date
yes very normal and honestly if u keep running no3 under 50 ppm your doing good as its a small system, not harmful at such levels but gets harmful more like above 90ppm.
using live rock never a good idea in qt. critters is just one part of the story you never know what all it will bring in and leave behind.
I had a Royal Gramma and Starry Blenny in QT. This was week 4 and I was going to move them to the DT this week before going away for the weekend. However the Royal Gramma didn't look so great and died the other day. The Starry Blenny is looking good just doesn't eat much lately. I did some water testing and my Nitrates where way too high. I've done water changes and that has seemed to bring it down to better numbers. Should I keep the Starry Blenny in QT longer now? The Royal Gramma looked a little beat up and I wasn't sure if the blenny was picking on him at night and the nitrates got to high as well. He was a small Royal Gramma.
Thanks!
Thanks!
If 1 fish already died and second doesn't took too well either then I would definitely wait and do water changes and bring the water chemistry to satisfactory levels them observe another 2 weeks to make sure there isn't a disease before moving it over. At worse I would rather let the fish die in Qt than not knowingly carry some bug over. Just my 2 cents.
Jonathan1992
New member
This really needs to be a sticky. Great guide!
Probably a little higher than 90. I was using a Salifert test and it was pretty darn purple. It's probably around 50 right now after 3 water changes. Going to do another tomorrow as well. He was looking real good today.
Good to hear fish is doing well. Keep up with water changes and keep chemistry in acceptable range and you won't have any issues.
Good luck and safe reefing.
whosurcaddie
New member
What about using Seachem matrix instead of ceramic media will it absorb copper also I want to add a small (3 inch) piece of rubble rock to seed the matrix will this be a problem. I was just going to leave it in there as I'm going to be running this quarantine constantly.
design1stcode2n
New member
Would a HOB be enough flow for a 10g QT or is a power head necessary as well (HOB is rated for a 150g/hr)?
design1stcode2n
New member
Thanks for the help, now I just have to wait another 2-3 weeks for the ceramic media to seed.
do you have an established tank handy? yours or friends? you can place some media in an established tank for 1-2 weeks and bring it over to your QT and it should give you enough to get started with 1-2 small fish. also Seachem stability is a good product to start a new tank.
anyways good luck and if you have any questions feel free to ask.
design1stcode2n
New member
My DT tank has cycled in about 10 days and it is on day 15 now. Ceramic media has been in for 3-4 days (in a HOB filter) and I was going to give it until the 24th. Maybe I'll up that to the 17th or 18th? The clowns I'd get are at most 1 inch long.
QT tank has an empty HOB, heater,light a combination of water from the cycled (empty) display and fresh saltwater in it. I'm topping both off daily with RO/DI.
I'm under the impression I should "feed" the DT every day or two to keep the bacteria happy. I have no algae so I have not added anything to it (CUC).
If I set up a 20G QT with water from my 205G DT will that work? And then use ceramic media to get it seeded. Will that get the bio-filter started ASAP until the media seeds. I may have velvet and I need to do something quick. Also any suggestions on how I can trap the fish in my DT.
