Quarentine tank supplies question?

[aprilschutt]

I'm gathering supplies for a quarentine tank and I'm wondering how to make sure there is adequate airation. Do I need to add a powerhead or air stone of some sort? At this point I only have a water filter. TIA.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

You do need water movement so a powerhead or HOB filter system is needed for flow. You can add an air pump and air stone if you like. But as long as you have movement and it breaks the surface it should be enough oxygen. Then again air pumps are cheap so it's not a bad idea to have one.

Is this going to stay running, or something to setup at a moments notice?

 

[gone fishin]

If your going to using something like prazipro I would use an airstone as well, it is not uncommon for some medications to lower oxygen levels. I also like seachem ammonia alert badges as well. I keep prime or some similar product on hand for ammonia.

 

[kmbyrnes]

^ +1

 

[Marchillo]

I use a double sponge filter which has been great so far. I picked it up for 4.99 on Amazon. The filter was creating a lot of microbubbles (very powerful air pump) so I bought some big black replacemt sponge filters at Petco and cut them to size, hollowed it out a bit and covered the output to eliminate the bubbles. Has worked like a charm.

 

[aprilschutt]

One more question then. How do I get the beneficial bacteria in my tank so my levels stay good? Do I add some live rock from my DT? I plan on using this for a hospital tank treating for ich and from what I read the treatment will kill all that bacteria. So how do I keep my levels stable? I have a 10gallon Quarentine tank.

 

[gone fishin]

I very seldom cycle a QT, I rely on WC's to keep the ammonia away. If you want to cycle what a lot of folks do is place a sponge in their sump for a few weeks then put the sponge in your QT.

 

[nuxx]

What I user at home:
- Lots of PVC
- 2 Powerheads (Pointed at water surface)
- Heater
- 2 Ammonia badges, one might go bad.
- Air pump and air stone.
- Eggcrate cover with netting.
- HOB power filter filled with seeded Marine Pure Spheres and filter pad.
- Thermometer