Questions about setting up a quarantine tank

[BobNY]

I have a 20g tank I plan to use as a quarantine tank for my soon to be running 125g setup. I would like to get the 20g up and running so it will be cycled when I am ready to use it.
I have a 90g that is full of of live rock that will be moved to the 125. If I take a few pieces and put them in the 20g along with a hang on filter will that alone seed the filter to be enough to support a fish when I am ready? I will take the rock out before I use the quarantine tank. Would I also need to add a frozen shrimp or something to get the cycle going?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[Palting]

Yes, to both. The rock will provide the bacterial seed, thee shrimp will provide the food for the bacteria to propagate and populate the HOB. I probably would take out the rock after a week so that the bacteria will have to populate the HOB. Whether this will be enough remains to be seen, depending on so many factors. I just keep an ammonia indicator disc in there when I QT.

Once you have the DT running and your are done with QT, you can then put the biological media from the HOB to your sump, so you can use that again for future QT. So long as you don't use copper or coral toxic meds in QT, that is.

 

[cloak]

Once you have the DT running and your are done with QT, you can then put the biological media from the HOB to your sump, so you can use that again for future QT. So long as you don't use copper or coral toxic meds in QT, that is.

I would just throw that media away and start fresh. Your pretty much assuming the fish is parasite free when you add it to your DT. No use assuming the same thing with something as cheap as a filter sponge.

 

[Palting]

Yeah, you're right. I use a large cannister with ceramic media for my QT, so its not quite as cheap. I just posted the way I do it, forgot that it could be a cheap sponge.

 

[BobNY]

Thanks for the help !
I need to go out and buy a filter for the 20g tomorrow. Is any one recommended more than others, or do they all pretty much get the job done?

Thanks again