Quarentine tank as part of main system

[Aquamechanic]

Im working on a 400 gallon DT and would like to add a frag tank/ quarantine tank to the system. I realize the oxymoron statement in the previous sentence so Ill explain.

I have a 36" x 24" x 12" deep refugium leftover from the previous build and after reading up on a website that a gentleman had succeeded in having a quarantine tank hooked up with ozone being pumped into the water as it drained from the Q-tank to the sump, I liked the idea. The issue I have is with ozone. From the info I have read it sounds a little risky with the creation of bromine as a side effect of ozone being the greatest unknown.

I was considering having the small amount of water that would drain from the q-tank/ frag tank pass through a quality U/V unit before reentering the sump but I am not sure how effective this would be. Lots of variables in its efficiency including flow rate/ kill time, bulb age and the risk of flow backup (although I think I have this part figured out).

Just wanted to put it out for some feedback or other concepts that others may share.

Cheers

 

[Harth23]

Following along

 

[Aquamechanic]

I should have stated that it is an 'isolation tank' rather then a 'quarantine tank'.

I figure:
- If I can reduce the stress from introducing a new fish, freshly stressed from shipping directly into the DT it will give the fish time to settle in and start eating first.
- It adds more water volume to the system
- Its a place to get small frags established and hold some more live rock

Anyway, here is a picture of the working area

 

[Atilla_87]

Part of the reason to have a QT tank is to observe/treat fish for any diseases/parasites. Although UV will kill some stages of some parasites, it is not a cure all. Therefore, there is a good chance of contaminating your DT, which kind of defeats the purpose of a QT. It also doesn't allow you to properly treat a fish in QT with most medications, such as copper, as the UV will do nothing to keep it from contaminating your DT and killing your inverts and corals.

 

[Dmorty217]

WayneL does this with his fish after TTM/formalin and it has worked out for him. He has some seriously expensive fish too

 

[Opcn]

Would a canister filter running DE help keep parasites from getting transferred to the main system?

 

[Atilla_87]

I've heard that a diatom filter should filter out ich. Of course, I wouldn't count on it to be 100% effective.

Here is a discussion on them http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1573496

 

[dave.m]

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is the empty shells of tiny sea creatures. The shells are almost entirely composed of silica. Since silica is the food of preference for some types of cyanobacteria and nuisance algae I would question adding more silica to the display system's water.

Dave.M