QT Tank Question

[roktsintst]

I have never had a dedicated QT tank. so, im setting up a new 300 gallon tank with a fish room and watned a 3' maybe 65gallon QT tank in the room. My initial thoughts were to attach it to the main system with valves to disconnect it when i medicate the tank. Because it would be connected to 500 gallons of water normally, it woudl be very stable. Well i am having trouble getting a decent tank that fits for a decent price, and my brother has a 46g stand w/ a filter taht i can have.

So...Should i make the QT part of the main system or have a completly separte tank???

Thanks Ryan.

 

[fishkid6692]

make it separate. you don't want the medication getting back into the tank and it will be close to impossible to get it all out of the QT. especially copper medications. you want it separate so nothing from your QT can get into your DT. sounds like a sweet set up though.

 

[roktsintst]

Thanks Matt.

Here is the link to the build thread... http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1701061

Hmmm... Well how am i supposed to keep it as stable as my display? I cant afford a separte skimmer, chiller, controller for that tank?

My thoughts on separating during medication were to use feed and return valve and when im medicating use a backpack filter. Once medication is complete, i will drain all the water and shop vac the tank dry and then refill it with my main system's water. I also want to use the QT to fatten up my fish before i put them into the display so i wanted the parameters very similar...

 

[fishkid6692]

well some people use QT tanks as a place to watch newly acquired fish and get them eating and then they move them to a hospital tank to treat with medication. i use my QT as both because i don't have the space for both. also on my QT tank i run a cheap HOB skimmer and a large power filter. i do large water changes with water from the display when there is no fish in it. and then i do small water changes throughout the QT process. i aim a powerhead at the surface so i can get as much o2 exchange as i can. get one of the ammonia "badges" for it. it you can set it up as a seperate tank then do it. i wouldn't risk it but thats just me. GL!

 

[roktsintst]

hmmm... good point. Well that will definitly be cheaper, but what about keeping it stable and cool? do you just do that by frequent water changes?

 

[fishkid6692]

i do water changes every few days there not that frequent. just more then usual. and how cool do you want to keep it? my tanks are in my basement and room temp never gets above 70 so i just set my heater to 72-75 and thats all i need.

 

[roktsintst]

yeah, i might have a problem keeping it cool though...

 

[Cantonesefish]

The whole purpose of a QT tank is to separate new fish to screen out diseases before they get into tank. That way you only have to treat 1 fish for ich instead of a 500 gallon tank full of ich.

So it's imperative that you keep it seperate. The good news is that you don't need a skimmer, just a good HOB sponge filter with carbon that is normally used for freshwater. Frequent water changes keep params in check.

Do you have air conditioning? If so room temperature should be fine.

 

[roktsintst]

ok Great! i will use my brothers setup then!

 

[roktsintst]

I think its a 46 gallon tank. Will that provide enought room short term???

 

[fishkid6692]

depends on the size of the fish but if it's a small to medium size fish that should be fine.

 

[sedor]

You could always use the 65 as a propagation tank, hooked into the main system where you could grow out frags and such.