I have a 10 gallon tank that I want to use as a quarantine tank. I heard that you can keep a foam filter running in your sump that can be taken out and put in a quarantine tank along with your display tank water. When the fish is introduced to the display tank the foam filter goes back into the sump and everything else gets put away until the next purchase. This sounds good to me but where can I find a foam filter?
quarantine tank question
- Thread starter Maybaer
- Start date
Pandora
Premium Member
Are you talking about one of these?
They're usually known as sponge filters. Sold in just about every LFS, they work with just an airstone.
However, I don't think this is a good idea, whoever told you to do it... In theory, you could promote the proper bacteria to grow, allowing for quicker cycling in the temporary tank, but it would contaminate both tanks, defeating the purpose of having the quarantine to begin with.
They're usually known as sponge filters. Sold in just about every LFS, they work with just an airstone.
However, I don't think this is a good idea, whoever told you to do it... In theory, you could promote the proper bacteria to grow, allowing for quicker cycling in the temporary tank, but it would contaminate both tanks, defeating the purpose of having the quarantine to begin with.
Pandora,
It must be something like what you're showing me. The one in the book I was reading, I think it was the "conscientious Aquarist" not sure of the title right now. They were saying that you could keep one running in your sump so that you wouldn't have to have a quarantine tank running practically empty all the time.
It must be something like what you're showing me. The one in the book I was reading, I think it was the "conscientious Aquarist" not sure of the title right now. They were saying that you could keep one running in your sump so that you wouldn't have to have a quarantine tank running practically empty all the time.
Pandora
Premium Member
Oh ok, actually, that is a good book, I've read some of it myself (didn't remember that part?) I was thinking that the idea was to go back and forth between sump and qt tank, there would be contamination. But on second thought, I think what the author meant would be just to do it once... in other words, store it in the sump, let it accumulate bacteria, and then when it comes time to start your QT, use it there; this cuts down on cycling time. Just don't go back to the sump if you ever have sick or suspected sick fish in the other.
I tink that the author meant to use it mainly for fish introduction as opposed to using it for sick fish. However, if it is used for sick fish or the fish you are buying turn out to be sick, couldn't you sterilize or buy a new piece of foam and then return it to your sump later? BTW... how do you catch your sick fish in a tank full of hiding places? Wouldn't they be nearly dead if you could actually catch them?
colettem
New member
I'm just in the process of setting up a QT. My problem is that I'm also just setting up my display tank so at the moment haven't got anything biological to seed my QT filter. I've decided to go woth a 10g tank that has an inbuilt filter in the overflow that contains sponges that I can then swap between main display sump and QT when needed. Hopefully below is a photo (first time trying to post a photo so might not work!)
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/colettem/january012.jpg
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f163/colettem/january012.jpg
My problem is that I just don't want to have an empty tank running constantly in my bedroom. I don't buy fish all that often. I read that if you put a piece of large pvc tubing in the tank for a hiding place for the fish and no sand, after the fish is acclimated you can break everything down until the next time you want to add a fish
colettem
New member
Yes, that's right - as long as you have a bit of foam or sponge in your sump that can provide instant biological filtration you can put up tank away and bring it back out for emergencies or new additions. In theory the tnak is then ready to go with no cycle.
My pic didn't come out on my previous post so here goes again - pic of my QT set up showing filter sponges.
My pic didn't come out on my previous post so here goes again - pic of my QT set up showing filter sponges.
Pandora
Premium Member
Yeah, I think so, but then if you had a problem with a qt tank, you have to treat it as a hospital tank. For some reason I was thinking the idea was to perpetuate the bacteria in the sponge so that you wouldn't keep running an empty tank by moving it in between, but that wouldn't make sense because of the qt issue. You could in theory sterilize under UV, or in a bucket of peroxide which is later thouroughly washed & dried out (peroxide becomes harmless water with extended exposure to air), and then do the whole thing again.
Catching fish... this is always a struggle for hobbyists. Chasing them around stresses them, not a good thing if they are already weakened by illness (but you'd be surprised how fast a sick fish can still swim if it is thinking you'll eat it!). A few techniques I've used are using 2 nets, one baited with food and one to chase it in the first (takes some practice, have to let the fish come to you), but this doesn't work for most sick fish, that stop eating. You can also wait at night until the fish is asleep and treading water, sometimes you can surprise it if it is sleeping at the surface, and have a painless transfer. In a pinch, I heard an interesting technique, where someone drained the whole tank until only about 2 inches of water, then they are really easy to scoop up, and there is no chasing. It's never easy. Having worked at a pet store and catching fish daily helped a little, but a display tank has tons of rockwork.
Pandora
Premium Member
Yup. Really cheap, also! And in a pinch, you can just take an ordinary sponge (make sure it's not one that's been impregnated by detergent), slit a hole in the middle, and sandwich it over the nozzle). These sponge filters are commonly used in FW breeder tanks because there is no suction that can damage fry.
Herre is one you make yourself. Very simple, and gives you some water movement:
http://www.hagblomfoto.com/article_spongefilter.htm
I also read about doing the same for a Qtank.
http://www.hagblomfoto.com/article_spongefilter.htm
I also read about doing the same for a Qtank.
