QT tank cycling

[mikemdvm]

I recently had a big die off. I suspect marine velvet. I have 2 fish left. A purple tang and sailfin tang.

I set up a 45 gallon QT/ hospital tank. Have cupramine and test kit. Have fish trap ready. I'm waiting for the QT tank to cycle. Nitrites are still high. I was thinking about putting a small piece of live rock in my hob filter to hopefully speed things up. I plan to treat the two surviving fish and leave my main tank fishless for 90 days.

My hesitation with using live rock from my main tank is contaminating the QT tank. Does it even matter if I'm going to treat with copper? I've also seen mixed opinions if the copper would kill the bacteria in the live rock anyway so did I even need to cycle the QT tank???

Thanks

 

[avery155]

I personally never cycle a qt tank, and try to do enough water changes to prevent a cycle. Just remember to treat and test your water change water to match copper levels in the qt. Water change daily of every other day as needed.

Do NOT use prime or the equivalent while treating with copper.

 

[Dmorty217]

Like mentioned above no water conditioners when using cupramine. I use TLC startsmart complete to cycle my QTs, works instantly. By far the best stuff around... frag20 gets you 20% off

 

[ScottF83]

I used Seachem Stability to allow a sort of instant cycle where you can add fish straight away so long as you dose for a week.

Then just a sponge air filter and a large bit of pipe.

Then you got no risk of things leaching into and out of the live rock causing your dose levels to fluctuate

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

 

[Uncle99]

For safety, anything coming into contact with copper is never used again with the exception of equipment, these can be cleaned, rock, never...