Setting up a quarantine

[JCnflies]

I have a 50 gallon tank I would like to set up as a quarantine tank. I have a piece of LR for it and 30 pounds of live sand.

My guess is that I have to cycle this fully before it becomes of use to me, right? If that's the case, it is kind of working backward because it will take longer for that to cycle than my main tank.

 

[Spracklcat]

You can speed the process considerably--

Your main display is cycled, yes? Quite a few months old? Then take the water to fill the quaraintine tank out of your display, and run the quarantine for a short while, maybe a week. IT should only need a sponge filter (cheap and easy biological filtration), and perhaps a powerhead for circulation and in the future if you want to use the quarantine tank intermittently, then just keep the sponge filter in your main system somewhere to keep it inoculated (sump is fine) and just fill the quarantine tank with display tank water (or half display, half new seawater.

Remember though--you can bring water from dispay to quarantine, but never from quarantie to display!

Christine

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

5O gallons?

5O gallons?

Are you planning on a very large fish?
Quarantine tanks are generally small (10-20 gallons) and left unused until needed because you might have to medicate the tank.They should also be bare bottom with perhaps a piece of PVC pipe for some security for the fish. Filtration can be accomplished with a sponge filter or another small hang on unit that can be left running in the main system until needed. This way you have a biological filter ready to go with water from the main tank.

 

[xhaust50]

I have a 20G quarantine with a hob filter. What I do is 1 week before I receive a new fish I do a water change on the main tank and fill the qt tank. At this time, I take the sponge out of the HOB from the quarantine tank and put it in the display tank. Then before I pick up the fish, put the sponge back in the qt, and voila. You have a cycled tank. I also keep it barebottomed with a piece of PVC.

 

[Justjoe]

If you are able to plumb it into your main system, then turn it off the system during QT period, that works well. A simple air lift sponge filter works well and is easy to maintain.
Joe

 

[JCnflies]

Great advice, thx I am using the 50 gallon bvecause I have it. I also have a 20 gallon for a hospital tank.

I'll buy a sponge filter tomorrow and start soaking it in my main tank's water. Because I have not used hte QT yet, I'll ge the water in there perfect and flip flop a few gallons (this time only.) Then I can house my new fish in there. Thanks for all of the help