Mini-quarantine tank

[LockeOak]

I wanted some outside opinions on a mini-quarantine tank I'm considering. My display is a 10G nano, I'd like a quarantine tank for individual frags. So far I haven't used one because I haven't had much in the tank to lose, but as it becomes more established I want a line of defense between a potentially pest-infected frag or snail and my display tank. I don't keep SPS or clams (not even any fish at the moment), so this would only be used for LPS and softies and maybe inverts, generally easy stuff. I was thinking either a 2.5G AGA tank or a cheap 5G tank with a 25-50W heater (whatever will fit) and a 13W PC lamp, bare-bottom. I have questions about the water movement and filtration, could I use a small maxi-jet and some floating chaeto, or do I need to buy a small aquaclear HOB? I have an AC modded into a refugium on my display, would an AC20 with the sponge and some chaeto work? Any other options that people would recommend? Is a 2.5G tank too small to be worth it (no offense to all you pico-lovers out there )?

 

[dogstar74]

I applaud you for thinking about a Q tank! That's the best thing you can do! Trust me. But I do think that the Pico is too small. Evaporation will swing your salinity crazy. Actually, I have seen 10 gallon tanks stacked at petco for as little as 19 bucks! I would just buy another 10. Remember that anything you put into the Q tank needs to be able to be sterilized! I would simply put a hang on tank wheel type filter. Now others here will poo poo the idea, and for long term success, I too would choose a LR with PS method, but for the purposes of a short term (4-6 weeks) Q tank, I have used a wheel filter quite effectively and had great results. Then when the Q time is done, just let it all dry out, essentially killing bad things and next time you need to set it up, voila! you just buy a new wheel and filter media and off you go.

Good luck!

 

[dendro982]

My 5g quarantine tank:

This is a hospital tank - 3.5g rubbermaid with 13W light:

Even this is stable: ~1gal, but you will need place for biomedia:

2.5g for comparison (I prefer 5g, just in case of big arrival):

All are problem free and stable, unless your room is experiencing extreme temperatures.

5g tank: Powerhead should work too, but I had 2 extra HOB power filters, each rated for 10g - just enough, one for a flow, another - for filtration. Some macroalgae and biomedia. The desktop light better to be 2x13W lamps, or 1x27W daylight spiral bulb. Heaters in all tanks are 50W.