Quarantine tank without beneficial bacteria?

[xenon]

I bought everything I needed to setup a QT tank yesterday.

I decided to read this article before I started moving my fish over.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-10/sp/feature/index.php

It seems I need to run a HOB filter in my sump with foam insert for 1-2weeks to build up the beneficial bacteria for the QT tank.

Well this really sucks because my tang is in pretty rough shape and needs to me moved to QT asap!

What are my options?

I do have a HOB filter with brand new foam inserts but is there a way to speed this process up?

 

[zoomfish1]

I can think of one solution. Put the foam pad in your sump. Take some rock rubble from the sump and put in the hob filter and let it run a while. Put fish in. Bacterial from the rock should work.

Afte the foam pad has been colonized, put it in the QT.

 

[xenon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9435711#post9435711 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zoomfish1
I can think of one solution. Put the foam pad in your sump. Take some rock rubble from the sump and put in the hob filter and let it run a while. Put fish in. Bacterial from the rock should work.

Afte the foam pad has been colonized, put it in the QT.

How long do you think that would take?

 

[zoomfish1]

I don't know. I'll take a guess and say not more than a week. As soon as the pads hits the sump or fuge water, the bacteria should begin to invade it. In the meantime, the rock rubble will serve to introduce bacteria into the QT tank, just not to the extent a foam pad would. Suface area of the pads would be many times over that of the rock rubble, I think.

I don't want to lead you in the wrong direction here. If someone has a better solution, please post it. I am 90% sure of my answer, but, to be honest, I have a little doubt.

 

[yakfishin]

I think it would depend upon just how much rock rubble you could fit in the HOB. It would certainly help things to some extent, but you may have to make frequent water changes to keep the water quality from going south.

 

[zoomfish1]

Agree that water changes will need to be done to keep ammonia out until the bacteria builds up enough to consume it.

That was the 5% I wasn't sure about in my earlier post. And I just read the link in your other thread Xenon. Hope you did. Lot of info there.

 

[skydvr]

Putting some water from your main tank would help a little too.

 

[Medaka]

Yep, what the above posters said.

Also probably should get somthing like Amquel or Prime to bind it up for when you do get ammonia.

 

[Scoobydude825]

I noticed that no one mentioned the bottled bacteria like Cycle or Stress-Zyme. Are these bad ideas? I always added that stuff to my fresh water tanks and it says its safe to use in salt water.

 

[zma21]

I add cycle and it works wonders.