Ich qt question

[bigdog0598]

Ok so I'm thinking no ore waiting I need to qt. I have a spare 29l tank i have a yellow and purple tang. Majestic flam and potters angel a wrasse mandrin and 2 chromis and maybe a baby harlequin tusk (thou he may be dead) and a cowfish. Is there any to use that tank. It's a lot of fish, none are huge but still I don't know if it's possible to qt them all in that tank for 8 weeks.

Thoughts???

 

[RBU1]

I would say way to many fish for a 29. The manadarin will have to go to your LFS. They do not QT well at all. Maybe 2 tanks would work better....Put one tang in each tank.

 

[snorvich]

Yes, why are you buying so many fish at one time?

 

[bigdog0598]

No I have all these fish in my 180 and I have an ick
Outbreak so I'm saying to pull them all out to treat them
All. That would be a lot to by at once ha

 

[Humu Humu]

It looks like you may have to buy a second tank (possibly another 29) and split them up for treatment. You could get a double tank stand and place them over one another to save floor space.

 

[Stuart60611]

Large plastic tub from Wallmart or the like is also a cheap alternative which is easy to break down and store when not in use.

 

[Chris27]

20 long's make great QT....long enough for fish to swim....short enough to make for easy water changes. Of coarse, the Sterilite Tubs from Walmart are cheap and you can give them to the old lady to put blankets in when you're done.

 

[Vang025]

Those tubs from walmart are probably your best bet. That's alot of fish and they will really stress out.

 

[bigdog0598]

thats a great idea! Do you think a 55 gal. 30 x 12 x 24 would be big enough or no?

 

[bigdog0598]

what kind of filter do i use for those tubs? also anything to protect from jumpers?

 

[Stuart60611]

what kind of filter do i use for those tubs? also anything to protect from jumpers?

Any sponge filter you rig up should work fine. As far as jumping, I would keep the water line below top and/or maybe cover the top with some cardboard from a box or the like. Buy a moving box from wallmart at the same time you buiy the tub and could easiy create a top for the tub and could use some duct tape to secure the cardboard to the tub (just make sure you don't tape the cardboard to the point that you cannot open the top to feed, etc.).

 

[bigdog0598]

So if i just take the sponge in my sump out it'll work? The one between the skimmer and return.

 

[Stuart60611]

So if i just take the sponge in my sump out it'll work? The one between the skimmer and return.

I would go with one (or several) of these oxygen plus sponge filters. They are very cheap and should be very easy to rig for the tub.

http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/fish-supplies/aquarium-filter/ps/c/3578/3579?count=74&s=ts

 

[bigdog0598]

Like the oxygen plus 10 filter? Think petco or petsmart or a lfs would have them?

 

[Stuart60611]

Like the oxygen plus 10 filter? Think petco or petsmart or a lfs would have them?

Ya, just get something rated for your size tub. If you do not find a single one large enough, get several. If petco or petsmart does not have the exact brand, they will likely have something similar. These type of filers are pretty common.

 

[bigdog0598]

Ok and just those rubbermaid tubs right. The ones you put stiff in that come with a lid. The 30 gallon ones

 

[Stuart60611]

Ok and just those rubbermaid tubs right. The ones you put stiff in that come with a lid. The 30 gallon ones

Ya, and they make them in all kinds of sizes. Any plastic tub will pretty much work.

 

[bigdog0598]

Perfect. I need to go buy this stuff asap. And then the fun of getting fish out of the tank.... How long do I need to but the prefilter in the tank to build up bacteria. Also best way to catch the fish? Coke bottle? Do I just net them once they get in the bottle?

 

[Stuart60611]

Perfect. I need to go buy this stuff asap. And then the fun of getting fish out of the tank.... How long do I need to but the prefilter in the tank to build up bacteria. Also best way to catch the fish? Coke bottle? Do I just net them once they get in the bottle?

A couple weeks would be ideal to mature the sponge. However, if you use display tank water to fill up the tub, you should be good to go in 1 week or less. Coke bottle trap works good and neting also works. You have to cut the coke bottle and invert the top. There are lots of threads here on how to build the coke bottle trap and takes less than 5 minutes and only requires scissors and some zip ties. Once the fish is in the bottle you just lift out the bottle with the fish. You can bate the coke bottle with food or a small mirror.

 

[Stuart60611]

Also, get some microbacter or other live bacteria. This will help you mature the sponge faster and avoid an ammonia spike. I would dose the tub with microbacter every day for 1 week before and every day for 1 week after you add the fish to the tub to be safe. Make sure to monitor ammonia carefully in the tub. Seachem makes a great ammonia badge to use which requires no testing solution and works even when using cupramine.