Okay Newbie Question, how do I set up a QT tank

[stlouisguy]

And what medicine do I treat fish with?

I have a 55 tank on a stand but am thinking I should go a bit smaller to save on medicine cost. Will be filtered by two canister filters.

I figure to use the water I take out of the tank during water changes for the tank. Is it just an empty tank a few large pieces of PVC heater and filter?

How long do you keep a fish in there. If I used the 55 is it possible to have more than one fish in QT at a time?

Thanks

 

[Im Lon 2]

Re: Okay Newbie Question, how do I set up a QT tank

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8999241#post8999241 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stlouisguy
And what medicine do I treat fish with?

That I don't know.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8999241#post8999241 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stlouisguy
I have a 55 tank on a stand but am thinking I should go a bit smaller to save on medicine cost. Will be filtered by two canister filters.

That is a good idea.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8999241#post8999241 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stlouisguy
I figure to use the water I take out of the tank during water changes for the tank. Is it just an empty tank a few large pieces of PVC heater and filter?

That is what I have done.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8999241#post8999241 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stlouisguy
How long do you keep a fish in there.

I have always read 4-6 weeks.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8999241#post8999241 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stlouisguy
If I used the 55 is it possible to have more than one fish in QT at a time?

I don't see why not if they were bought at the same time.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8999241#post8999241 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stlouisguy

Thanks

No Problem

 

[Kathy55g]

Why would you use spent water to quaranteen your fish? My new fish deserve new water!

For most fish a 10 or 20 gallon tank will do. It should be cycled, or filtered by a cycled filter. Using spent water from the display is not the same thing as having a cycled tank.

A sponge filter that has lived and run in your sump for a couple of weeks should contain enough bacteria to handle the ammonia production of a pair of fish. In contrast, the water from your display contains little in the way of useful bacteria. The good ones are on the surfaces of your rocks and sand, or your filtration mechanism, whatever that is. They are not in the water itself to any large degree.

Hope this helps.
Kathy

 

[stlouisguy]

If I am changing my water every week 50 gallons, why isnt the water that my main display is good enough for a QT? Seems to me it would be good to get the fish used to the water as it will be in

The expense to me doesnt justify using new water for a few weeks. If the water in the tank is good enough for my main display, guess it will be good enough for the newbies

 

[latazyo]

I rock bare bottom, heater, 1.5" pvc (my fish are small) and new saltwater

I have my filter pads and biowheel sitting in my fuge right now collecting bacteria in prep for some new fishes

 

[Im Lon 2]

If the water out of tank is bad no need getting any new fish. A lot of people plum the QT tank to the main system so when it is empty it is running the whole system then when they get a new fish, they shut it off from the whole system and let it run by its self.

 

[Kathy55g]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9000069#post9000069 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stlouisguy
If I am changing my water every week 50 gallons, why isnt the water that my main display is good enough for a QT? Seems to me it would be good to get the fish used to the water as it will be in

The expense to me doesnt justify using new water for a few weeks. If the water in the tank is good enough for my main display, guess it will be good enough for the newbies

Depends on why you are changing water in the first place. If you are changing water to replace something lost to consumption of fish and invertebrates, or to decrease nitrates, or other pollution, then don't use that spent water on the new fishies. If you don't think there is a thing deficient with the water, why do a water change in the first place?

The expense of new water in a 10 or 20 gallon tank is minimal. Your new fish will literally be swimming in it. Shouldn't it be the cleanest, freshest, stablest, most aerated, most complete saltwater you can give them? They are already stressed from being moved. They may have a parasite. They don't need to be swimming in anything less than stellar water. Just my opinion. Your results may vary.

 

[nano7joy]

have to agree with Kathy on this plus .....dont forget hiding spots stressed fish need to feel secure i would recomend silk fakes and maybe a couple of sets of them if your stressed fish becomes a sick possobly infected fish this tank would then become a hospital tank and thats different than a well cared for"QT" tank....

 

[sirreal63]

I can't speak for anyone else but my water change water is stellar...but I keep mostly sps and the water I change would be considered excellent in most people tanks. I also use it my QT. Water change water from someone who keeps a fish only tank would most likely not be as clean. My nitrates and phosphates are kept as close to 0 as possible, calcium at 400, alk at 9-10 and mag at 1500.

 

[stlouisguy]

Acutally that was the way I was looking at it. According to the test my water is about perfect, the only reason I do the change is to put back any trace elements the corals may be needing. I dont like to dose.