qt/hospital tank

[naz42]

If I have some rock that i don't mind sacrificing can I keep it in qt/hospital tank with copper?I have an ick out break and will be keeping fish in this tank for next 8 weeks. I want to keep this tank set up and cycled so I dont have ammonia issues. I just set up tank with heater, power head and hang on back filter. After testing ammonia I seems I would have to do large water changes every day or 2. I work out of town for a week+ at a time and can't expect my girlfriend to do water changes. I need to be able to keep ammonia down without constant water changes. Any suggestions?

 

[Spar]

the problem with rock and sand with copper is that it will absorb the copper, making consistency a problem for you. you would be better off removing the rock during the copper treatment and then adding it back after you have ran carbon and done water changes to remove the copper.

given QT's are intended to have very low bio-load, via low fish/gallon ratio, you really shouldn't have to worry about ammonia. the surface area of the tank, PVC hiding places, etc, are enough to keep a healthy enough bacteria population going. what would really help is getting a sponge filter going, and add some bacteria-in-a-bottle. this will give more surface area for bacteria to attach to than rock would (if not at least equal).

my recommendation would be to take the route i just stated, give the bacteria a couple weeks to settle, and then start the copper process.

you will want to keep your DT fallow for 10 weeks (72 days) to ensure all ich is eliminated... assuming this is why you are referring to "8 weeks" anyway... common misconception about 8 vs. 10 weeks.

 

[naz42]

I've had my fish in QT and my display fallow for 7 weeks now. My question should i be concerned about the biological filtration of my DT since there has really not much in there to feed the bacteria? I do occasionally feed my LPS small pieces of raw shrimp and dose pytoplankton onceand a while. Besides that there has been nothing added to display in 7 weeks.

 

[Spar]

depending on the number of fish you plan on sending over to the DT all at once, you may have to worry a little. your best bet, since you still have a few weeks of fallow left, is to add some bio-spira, seachem stability, or the like, to boost up the bacteria population and then you can start feeding the tank like you would if you had fish in it to keep the bacteria happy. by the time you add the fish, bacteria should already be set and ready for them.