Pictures (Started QT tank)

[rogergolf66]

Here are some pictures of the QT tank I am setting up. As some of you know I saw some ich on my powder blue so I am going to QT everyone for 2 months. This is new to me doing QT so if you have any comments good or bad let me know.

I decided to use 100% of the water from my display tank. I have a 72 gal bow front for my QT. I know this is large for a qt tank. but I have a lot of fish and I want them to be as comfertable as posible. I am going to do hypo salinity treatment. I researched this and copper and is seemed that this was a safer way to go.

here is the setup I used to get the water from my display to the new QT tank.

I added the cap with holes drilled into it on the inlet of the pump so I didn't end up with a fish stuck in it.

I added some live rock in the display and about 4 cups of live sand in the sump to help with the cycle.

I am going to use bioballs as my biological filtration during the 2 months

I picked up a 3 inch pvc from home depot I will cut it up so the fish have some extra hiding places. I had the pipe decoration in my garage from my first tank I had about 4 years ago now. Wow I have come a long way

Well what do you think should I move the fish today before the cycle, or should I watch the cycle and then acclimate them to the water after the cycle has finished?

I bought some amaQul incase I desided to add the fish today. What do you think?

Also I have a manderine gobie that eats off the rocks. He dosn't eat frozen what should I do with him? I have had him for about 6 months.

 

[Don Lino]

Roger, the live rock that you added into your QT setup, did it come from your main tank with ich?? I read somewhere that ich can live in your liverock and sand. You may want to check up on that. G/L

 

[rogergolf66]

Well ich will be in the fish when I move them. The hypo salinity treat ment should take care of the ich in the fish and in the rock and sand.

If I am wrong someone please set me staight.

Thanks Don

 

[a2fire2i]

Id only add the fish to the QT tank, with some pvc pipes or fake decor. I wouldnt add live rock cause die off will occur with the hypo treatment. Then leaving the DT fallow for 6 weeks will get rid of it there..

 

[rogergolf66]

I am going to add some PVC. I am only using the live rock to jump start the cycle. When I do add the fish I will only be removeing about 30-40oz a day of salt water and replacing with RODI water so the salinity will drop slow when it gets down to about 1.019 I will remove the live rock.

I am planning on running the salinity at 1.009 for 8 weeks is that a good salinity for hypo treatment?

Thanks for the info corey

Roger

 

[a2fire2i]

Since you used 100% "used" water, I would think your cycle would be quick, if you even see one. 1.009 looks good...

 

[rogergolf66]

so do you think I should add the fish now or what till the cycle ends?

Roger

 

[a2fire2i]

Id wait a few days and test the levels. What about the make up water for your main tank? 50% water change?

 

[WarDaddy]

for hypo no live nothing... expect daily water changes of at least 20%

Feed lightly, Suck all poop/uneaten food out when you water change.

Move all the fish from your display to QT

Leave them in the QT a minimum of 8 weeks, so that the ich in the main will go through its life cycle and have no hosts and die off before adding the fish back to the display.

you want hypo for at least 4 weeks to be sure no ich makes it back to the display.

it is a pain, lots and lots of work, but your tank will be ich free after the 8 weeks is done.

 

[rogergolf66]

so move the fish now?

 

[WarDaddy]

I always ran sponge filters in QT when I did hypo.

do you have some bio filtration media in there?

you should have something seeded in there, IMHO... granted I am not the best expert on this. mflamb has been doing a lot of this lately, he would be a good source of info,

 

[rogergolf66]

The bio Filtration is a wet dry wilter with bio balls. I seeded it with a few cups of live sand and Live rock from my display.

Roger

 

[mflamb]

It could be very stressful on the fish if you have any ammonia as a result of a cycle. I would put all the rock that you can fit in the tank and sump, and then start removing it and putting it back in your display after a week. Move the rock back into the display from the QT over a one week period. That should be enough time for the bio-balls to become biologically active. Be very careful with your salinity as you drop it and raise it after the hypo time.

 

[rogergolf66]

Thanks for the info. I can move a lot or rock to my QT tank so move the rock to the QT tank before putting the fish in the tank got it.

Will move it now.

Roger

 

[chantweaver]

You have a PM Roger

 

[rogergolf66]

Ok after mflam told me to put alot of live rock in the tank this is what it looks like now. I also have 8 peices of pvc in there some of it is under the LR.

Roger

 

[bgdiving]

How does Live Rock do in hypo salinity. Don't you end up with a fair amount of die off?

 

[mflamb]

Some die off, but since his QT was not prepared before it was needed, this is the best/quickest way to get his bioballs biologically active, so he doesn't kill his fish with ammonia.

Roger, you can put some fish in the QT now.

 

[rogergolf66]

after a week take out the live rock right?

 

[mflamb]

After a week start taking it out a little each day for the second week.