QT advice

[ecomdesign]

I'm planning to get a new fish this weekend. I havent added a fish to my tank in a while. The last time I bought 3 blue green chromis and added them to my QT tank. Within 1 week they were all dead. I was checking my levels every other day, and there seemed to be no problems. As per my LFS I was using copper and my copper levels were right on as well. I had 2-3 pounds of live rock in there and was using a small HOB filter. I was also using Nitrifying bacteria. My QT was a 30 gallon.

When I get my new fish on the weekend, is there something I should do different? I'm really debating just adding them to the display tank, as I'm concerned that my QT will put them at more of a risk.

 

[patsfan1130]

I always keep a filter sponge in my sump. whenever I purchase a new fish I fill the QT (20L) with 1/2 DT water and 1/2 freshly mixed. add the sponge, a couple pieces of PVC, a heater and a HOB aquaclear and I am good to go. Many use copper as a prophylactic but unless you are very familiar with the process I recommend against it. I do not recommend putting LR in the QT. especially when using meds as the rock will absorb it and rendering it useless in the future when using copper as it will leach copper.

 

[kraze3]

I agree with patsfan1130 all the way. Good advice.

Go Pats!

 

[thegrun]

I would skip the copper also. No need to further stress the fish with copper unless necessary. Using DT water in the QT tank will help reduce the stress when you do introduce him into your DT.
Good luck.

 

[johnvic]

My LFS told me the same thing with copper but I had my doubts and posted here or elsewhere ( I forgot where ) about it and got similar advice.

No LR, no copper, normal salinity.

 

[ecomdesign]

ok, seems everyone is giving the same advice. I'll remove the live rock and change the water to remove the copper. Should I still use Nitrifying bacteria? Do you guys use AmQuel to remove ammonia, or do you just do water changes?

 

[ecomdesign]

I filled up the QT tank this morning. I was only able to add 5 gal of water from my DT, as I had it left over from my last water change. I didn't have any filter sponge in my sump to use to seed the QT, but I did have filter floss. I have put that in my HOB filter. It got to be better than nothing. I added some Nitrifying bacteria as per the instructions on the bottle. The QT is looking nice a clear already. I should be home with the new fish tonight and as long as my temp, SG and ph are good, I'll use it.

I'm hoping to get a small hippo and a coral beauty. I'm also getting 3 cleaner shrimp, but they are going straight into my DT.

Am I missing anything?