quarantine tank??

[redvicki]

I have a 30 gallon tank that is just taking up space so I an considering using it as my quarantine tank. The downside is I will have to fill it with salt water, I have no light or top for it. Should I just go buy a cheap complete 10 or 20 gallon tank?

Newbie questions now....do I use fresh saltwater for my quarantine tank? Do I still need to acclimate(spelling) the fish first? Do I need a sand bed in the quarantine tank? How long do I keep them quarantined? Clean equipment and tank between each use, correct? Will I need to acclimate the fish again when I place them in my display tank?

Any suggestions one first fish for my tank? It's been up since May. I know I want a shrimp goby with shrimp. Would love a couple black clowns. Are they aggresive? a mandarin when the tank is older.

 

[IslandCrow]

I only have my quarantine tank set up when I'm going to need it (also helps discourage me from impulsive fish buys). I also set it up the same as a hospital tank (because I'm always prepared for the possibility it may become one), so no substrate. The light isn't very important. Ambient light is fine, and fish are generally less stressed in a dimmer tank anyway. Some egg crate cut to size makes a perfect top, so an easy fix there as well. So, if I were you, I wouldn't buy a new tank. That 30g should work just fine. Now, on to your questions. . .

do I use fresh saltwater for my quarantine tank?

You can use either freshly mixed saltwater or tank water. I usually use the latter because my tank water is more than pristine enough for fish, and my main tank gets a free water change out of the deal.

Do I still need to acclimate(spelling) the fish first?

Yes, you still acclimate as normal.

Do I need a sand bed in the quarantine tank?

No sand bed is needed, and I wouldn't suggest one. A bare bottom tank is easier to clean, it's now very easy to tear the tank down when it's not needed, and you don't have to worry about ruining your substrate if the fish does have a parasite or needs to be treated with medication. What I would suggest is getting some of those 3" sections of PVC from the hardware store so the fish have someplace to hide.

How long do I keep them quarantined?

I think 4-6 weeks is the normal quarantine period. I don't quarantine properly and I know it. I usually keep my fish in QT for only about 3 weeks, with 2 of those weeks in hyposalinity. If I don't see any signs of parasites or disease, I call it good. Again, this is not the accepted procedure, and some day I may very well pay the price for cheating.

Clean equipment and tank between each use, correct?

Yes, I clean everything after I tear it down and then again before I set it back up.

Will I need to acclimate the fish again when I place them in my display tank?

Correct again. The water parameters between your QT and your main tank will be different, so you'll need to acclimate the fish one more time, just as before.

I'm horrible at fish suggestions, so I'll leave your last question to someone else.

 

[anniesdad]

sorry to bring this to the top, but...

is a 10gal enough for a QT tank?

Also, what equipment is needed to run a QT for 3-6 weeks?
A skimmer? Tunze's?
obviously a heater....
Anyone have any pics of a QT?
I'm guessing the more elaborate your QT setup, the more work to setup/breakdown.

 

[IslandCrow]

It depends on the fish you need to quarantine. I have a 46g tank, so I'm not getting big fish like triggers or tangs, and a 10g is fine for the relatively short time the fish is in there. If you're getting bigger fish, you'll want a bigger QT.

As far as equipment, you don't need much at all. I just use one of those Aquaclear HOB powerfilters with some carbon and ceramic disks (that I've colonize with bacteria in my sump). Water changes are easy on a small tank, so do them often. I have a small powerhead for circulation and some large PVC fittings for the fish to hide in. My house generally isn't very cold, but I have a heater on standby, especially during the winter. I break down my QT when I'm not actively using it, so I don't have a picture, but hopefully you get the idea.

 

[anniesdad]

Most of the fish i buy are 2" or smaller.
I have a 10gal at my disposal.
I don't need it now, but the next time i do buy fish, i'll want to go this route. Why the ceramic disks? colonize with bacteria?
Can i leave some extra live rock in my sump for that?

I've got extra heater, and tunze and Maxijet 400 pump.

Thanks for the info...

 

[Attreui]

you dont want to use live rock for this... You need a type of biological filtration that you can throw away if necessary. Most people use filter sponges... keep a few in your sump so when you need to set up QT you can just toss one in and it's ready to go, but if you have a parasite problem or need to medicate you dont want to put that filter back into your system so you can just toss it after you are finished with it.

 

[Elan L.]

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

A very good read.