QT or no QT; best set up?

[dismayed]

So to this point I haven't run with a quarantine tank yet because I just added my first fish to my new tank recently. In the past I have had mixed results with them and am wondering what your opinion is.

Assuming I want to set one up, what is an ideal QT configuration? I have run with one before but it seems like if they are too small they are very stressful on a fish. Too large and I might as well just have a full-on second tank. What's an ideal size?

Sand or no sand?

Rock? I assume no since some treatments would probably kill live rock... but maybe dead/fake rock for the fish to hide behind and feel comfortable?

etc.

Thanks.

 

[paulamrein]

With your set-up, assuming it's a 90g I would recommend a 20-29g setup. Any fish that would fit in a 90g can sustain the 4-6 week QT time with little to no stress. It is stressful don't get me wrong, but it's a necessary evil. Bare-bottom no rock, you are correct in assuming that substrate will conflict with treatments. It's as simple as a heater,(in winter or if room temp is below 75 degrees.) and water circulation. It's also good practice to seed your QT with some sort of Bio-filtration. It can be achieved with sponge filter or a biowheel filter that is in your main tank for a while. Light is optional, if any should be low. And that is it. You have to check your levels and tests everyday maybe even twice a day for the first week or so. And Water changes and ph balance when needed. At this point all you want is the fish to swim, eat, and stay alive. Worry about the fish thriving once it is in your main system.

 

[George Gouveia]

paulamrein, as said it all. All i'd add whatever you use for biofilter, do not place in your main tank again, as if you fish in QT where infact sick, the disease could easily pass to your main and the objective of a QT would become nullfied.