questions about quarantine tank?!?

[TStud1986]

Hello all,

I recently purchased a pair of snowflake onyx clowns and have them in a quarantine tank. They currently have a basic hob filter, bubble stone, heater, basic lighting, and some live rock out of my display tank.

My question is; will the live rock be able to stay alive in the qt tank with basic lighting? Does the lighting have anything to do with the rock being "live"?

 

[oneilwiz]

The live rock will be fine but also note that there is no need to add live rock to quarantine tank especially if your going to add any medical treatment to the tank

 

[gone fishin]

Also, the rock should not go back into the DT.

 

[TStud1986]

The live rock will be fine but also note that there is no need to add live rock to quarantine tank especially if your going to add any medical treatment to the tank

Okay thanks for the reply glad to know the live rock is okay I was worried it would maybe cause problems. And I have them in the qt simply to house them n make sure they don't show any signs of illness or anything... been in there about a week now n seem to be doing great

 

[TStud1986]

Also, the rock should not go back into the DT.

And when you say live rock shouldn't be added back to dt tank what's the reasoning behind that? Do you mean if I had to treat copper or other medications? (im hoping that won't be the case)

 

[gone fishin]

Yes that is one reason if you treat with copper for example it will be absorbed by the rock. Another reason is if your fish do have parasites or some hitchhiker then there is a possibility that it will contaminate the DT. Sort off negating the reason for the QT in the first place.

 

[TStud1986]

Yes that is one reason if you treat with copper for example it will be absorbed by the rock. Another reason is if your fish do have parasites or some hitchhiker then there is a possibility that it will contaminate the DT. Sort off negating the reason for the QT in the first place.

Okay i understand what you mean. I'm sure I'll keep the tank set up just in case I plan to add more fish. and so if I understand correctly what I've been researching I should keep them in there for 8 weeks correct?

 

[gone fishin]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1031074

This link may help with your questions. I personally go with 8 weeks for the QT period.

 

[wooden_reefer]

Hello all,

I recently purchased a pair of snowflake onyx clowns and have them in a quarantine tank. They currently have a basic hob filter, bubble stone, heater, basic lighting, and some live rock out of my display tank.

My question is; will the live rock be able to stay alive in the qt tank with basic lighting? Does the lighting have anything to do with the rock being "live"?

LR is not a good medium to be used in QT. It is not compact and is gear toward balance between nitrification and denitrification.

In QT you need only nitritfication to the max.

If you do not want calcerous material for medium you can use a large sponge.

My most useful sponge is a queen size nylon panty hose stuffed into one of its ankle part. Tied up neatly to prevent jamming the propeller.

Or I use crushed coral in well stretched out nylon to make up sacks.

Cycled very well weeks in advance of QT.

 

[ca1ore]

Since you have already put the rock into your QT, I would just leave it there. If you subsequently plan to use any kind of meds, then you will have to remove and toss it. If you do not have to medicate the QT, and your observation period concludes without any symptoms, then you can safely return the rock to your display along with the new fish.

While live rock will function just fine as a bio-media for your QT, it is problematic with meds, and since there's a chance it will need to be thrown out, seems unnecessary. The ONLY time I'd use live rock in a QT is when treating an anemone; not for fish. Far better to seed some kind of bio-media in your main tank and use that. No biggie when it subsequently gets thrown out.

 

[TStud1986]

Since you have already put the rock into your QT, I would just leave it there. If you subsequently plan to use any kind of meds, then you will have to remove and toss it. If you do not have to medicate the QT, and your observation period concludes without any symptoms, then you can safely return the rock to your display along with the new fish.

While live rock will function just fine as a bio-media for your QT, it is problematic with meds, and since there's a chance it will need to be thrown out, seems unnecessary. The ONLY time I'd use live rock in a QT is when treating an anemone; not for fish. Far better to seed some kind of bio-media in your main tank and use that. No biggie when it subsequently gets thrown out.

Thanks for the advice and the insight I appreciate it. When I put it in there I didn't think it through much and honestly did it just to try and help make the fish feel a little more comfortable. The fish have been in for about a week now and seem to be happy and healthy they're still eating very well. I was kinda worried about having the rock in there after reading some of the above comments, I just want whatever best f9r the fish. But thank you now I feel a little better hopefully they don't turn up with any problems and I can return the rock back and if not its not too big of a deal I didn't take a whole lot to put in there...

 

[oakengineer]

I'll second what others have said. Make sure you don't put it in your DT and get rid of it when you medicate. For future reference PVC elbows are a good hiding place for your fish in a QT. Cheap and easy to clean.