QT tank set up question
- Thread starter usmcr0811
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bgreenlee
Member
Shouldn't be a problem adding the fish right away. There should not be much of a cycle as you normally do not have substrate in a qt tank nor live rock. Just make sure there is adequate water movement, heat, and just go from there.
If you run a small HOB filter be sure not to use a carbon filter if you are medicating the fish, otherwise use a small HOB filter to keep water quality decent. Also, changing a small amount of the QT tank water during the QT process will help to keep the water matched to your tank so acclimating to your display should not be stressful on the fish either.
Billy
If you run a small HOB filter be sure not to use a carbon filter if you are medicating the fish, otherwise use a small HOB filter to keep water quality decent. Also, changing a small amount of the QT tank water during the QT process will help to keep the water matched to your tank so acclimating to your display should not be stressful on the fish either.
Billy
acidlittle
New member
you should be fine. I set up a 150 gal horse trough with about 35-45 gals outta my 75 and the rest with RODI water and there wasn't a cycle to my knowledge. The more the merrier.
Bgrennlee said it though, don't run carbon if your medicating, keep doing regular small water changes.
Get some PVC piping and throw it in there for random hiding places.
And if you do ever shop at petco, find me cos i will tell you which fish we have had and for how long. (right now we have this sailfin tang that's been looking like crap for about 3 weeks now but the lil turd won't die! It's amazing!)
Bgrennlee said it though, don't run carbon if your medicating, keep doing regular small water changes.
Get some PVC piping and throw it in there for random hiding places.
And if you do ever shop at petco, find me cos i will tell you which fish we have had and for how long. (right now we have this sailfin tang that's been looking like crap for about 3 weeks now but the lil turd won't die! It's amazing!)
Atticus
New member
The pvc pipe is a great addition. I have also used terracotta pots. You will not see a cycle if you use a clean tank and innert shelter as listed above. If you plan on adding a lot of fish in the next year and don't want to leave the QT running. You can buy a sponge fliter and store it in your display sump until you are ready to use it. Never place a used sponge back into the sump though as it will carry disease and meds.
Philby
New member
anyone know how long it takes carbon to be "used up"?
I purchased a HOB for my QT, and it was a brand I'd never used before and the carbon comes in the sponge filter already (not added upon use like the cheap whisper's I've always used). This would be great if I don't need to medicate (no fish yet), but am I going to have to remove the carbon if I need to medicate?
Also I threw the sponge/carbon portion into Ryan's sump for about a week - should that be enough to get a cycle started (and "use up" the carbon)? It did turn a nice shade of green!
I purchased a HOB for my QT, and it was a brand I'd never used before and the carbon comes in the sponge filter already (not added upon use like the cheap whisper's I've always used). This would be great if I don't need to medicate (no fish yet), but am I going to have to remove the carbon if I need to medicate?
Also I threw the sponge/carbon portion into Ryan's sump for about a week - should that be enough to get a cycle started (and "use up" the carbon)? It did turn a nice shade of green!
lllosingit
New member
If your going to use just tank water and no substrate or a filter/sponge that was seeded in an established tank your going to see a cycle. There isn't enough bacteria in your water alone to keep the ammonia to a safe level unless you monitor it and do regular water changes. Bacteria is concentrated on substrate/live rock/sponges ect...
I also have to add that there is a difference between a QT Tank and a Hospital tank.
QT tank in my opinion should be setup very similar to your display tank.
Live rock or PVC , a small amount of substrate, This is also the perfect place to grow different types of algae and pods will also multiply like crazy.
You can keep it setup all the time and simply add a pinch of food every other day when there aren't any fish to keep the bacteria fed.
The reasoning behind this is that the fish will acclimate in it better than just a bare tank because it will feel more natural and it will also provide some natural foods by way of pods and algae for the fish that are spooked easily or hard to get to eat prepared foods.
If you see a problem then you can remove the fish and treat it in a hospital tank.
I kept new additions in the QT for a minimum of six weeks and only placed them directly in the main display under certain circumstances, Like if it came from an established tank of a friend
A hospital tank on the other hand can be kept dry when not in use and setup only needs to be a bare tank with some PVC for shelter and have enough water made up to do a 50% or more water change in an emergency.
I also have to add that there is a difference between a QT Tank and a Hospital tank.
QT tank in my opinion should be setup very similar to your display tank.
Live rock or PVC , a small amount of substrate, This is also the perfect place to grow different types of algae and pods will also multiply like crazy.
You can keep it setup all the time and simply add a pinch of food every other day when there aren't any fish to keep the bacteria fed.
The reasoning behind this is that the fish will acclimate in it better than just a bare tank because it will feel more natural and it will also provide some natural foods by way of pods and algae for the fish that are spooked easily or hard to get to eat prepared foods.
If you see a problem then you can remove the fish and treat it in a hospital tank.
I kept new additions in the QT for a minimum of six weeks and only placed them directly in the main display under certain circumstances, Like if it came from an established tank of a friend
A hospital tank on the other hand can be kept dry when not in use and setup only needs to be a bare tank with some PVC for shelter and have enough water made up to do a 50% or more water change in an emergency.
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matt the fiddler
New member
"You can keep it setup all the time and simply add a pinch of food every other day when there aren't any fish to keep the bacteria fed.
"
I do somewhat dissagree with this as a hospital/ QT advice. many of the cysts that we are watchign for/ treating need to be dried to kill. There have been several articles saying to keep your QT dry between uses. if something is bad in the QT, everything must be assumed to be bad- and possbly thrown out.
now, if you are QTing and ony using it to potentially infect that system instead of the main, your choice.
"
I do somewhat dissagree with this as a hospital/ QT advice. many of the cysts that we are watchign for/ treating need to be dried to kill. There have been several articles saying to keep your QT dry between uses. if something is bad in the QT, everything must be assumed to be bad- and possbly thrown out.
now, if you are QTing and ony using it to potentially infect that system instead of the main, your choice.
lllosingit
New member
That is why I said in my opinion there is a difference between a QT tank and a hospital tank. They two different setups and are not to be interechanged. The tank used for medication should never be used for any other purpose.
One is used to acclimate and observe and one is for treatment.
The treatment tank would be kept dry when not in use.
I don't see any point in medicating a fish that isn't showing symptoms most meds we use for treatment can cause long term damage and or side effects one being liver damage and also can make possible breeders sterile.
The whole point of my first post was to point out that you will see a cycle if you just use tank water alone...There just isn't enough bacteria present to support a fish without having to monitor and do water changes. If you keep a running QT tank you can place a fish in it and not worry about the water conditions as much.
