Is my QT cycled?

[jet fixer]

I set up a QT Saturday with 5G water change water 5G fresh salt water added a piece of live rock and some food. I have been testing daily for ammoinia and Nitrite since, the results have been 0ppm everyday.

I need to quarantine a fish but don't want to kill him.

So is the QT ready? or should I wait a few more days

Thanks, Drew

 

[freedominco]

I don't think you want live rock in the QT, when I need to QT a new fish I will just do a water change from my display and use that water for the QT tank. I also have a hang on filter in my sump that I use on the QT so it has the bacteria from that filter, I don't think my QT ever cycles.

 

[Sk8r]

You don't cycle a qt tank: you just set it up with a carbon air-driven filter and no sand, no rock, just adjust the salinity of your qt to match the salinity of your fish's water, and that will shorten acclimation. you will then adjust that salinity over a period of days to match that of your display tank.

Just fix your salinity, take the rock out and back to your tank, and go get your fish.

Just be prepared to test for nitrate and ammonia (you want none) daily, or twice daily if you are pushing it with the size of fish. If you get either showing on your test strips, change your carbon/filter. Observe your fish carefully for frayed fins, bumps, etc, watch his temperature, test his salinity daily or twice daily if you have dry air, and top off with fresh ro/di water as evaporation takes place.

If your fish needs a spot to hide, give him a nice PVC pipe elbow.

 

[otrlynn]

There are pros and cons to having a bit of live rock in your QT. It brings over the beneficial bacteria that will convert ammonia to nitrite to nitrate. Bringing over a seeded filter sponge from the DT also does this. If you end up needing to use hyposalinity in the QT you can leave the rock in there. The bacteria will eventually adapt to the lower salinity. If you need to use medication in the QT, you will have to remove the live rock. Assuming that the live rock you brought over from your DT was cured, I would think you are fine to put a fish in there now. If it ends up that the fish you put in the QT is sick and needs treatment, it would seem to me to be somewhat risky to put the LR from the QT back in the DT for fear of bringing ich or whatever back to the display. I guess the conservative approach would be to discard the live rock or dry it out and re-cure it. There may be some other opinions about this.

 

[jet fixer]

Thanks,
The HOB filter is new I just placed the live rock in the QT to "speed up" establishing the foam in the filter and plan on putting it back in the fuge prior to moveing the fish over.

The fishes (blue spot jaw fish) fins and tail are torn with what looks like fin rot I plan on medicating with Amoxicillin and replacing the foam filter when finished. I'm still debating a freshwater dip prior to placeing him in QT.

 

[Megalodon]

I cycled my QT with base rock and pure cleaning ammonia. It works great. I know this idea scares some people but I have yet to figure out why.

 

[kevin2000]

You don't need to cycle a QT .. you can maintain water quality with water changes .. carbon isn't going to help much.

Many aquarist will keep some filter material hidden in their sump or tucked behind live rock .. in a few weeks this material is "mature" and if you place it in an inexpensive power filter you have "instant cycled" QT.