Setting up my first QT

[Isaac01]

Hello everyone and thank you for taking the time to view/reply to my post.
so im kinda new to this hobby had a nano before with not the greatest results and i want to try it again with a bigger tank. i want to set up a cheap yet good QT... my question is how big does it need to be? so i see fish ide like to put in my 75g tank... prob about 80g of total water volume counting sump. and i see minimum recommended tank sizes for fish ide like to use. so i assume when it says 50g min im thinking thats not 50g per fish thats a 50g tank stalked with other fish correct? if so can i put a decent size fish in a small QT if its by itself and i got a cycle done with a HOB filter with a bio wheel? also ive seen a couple HOB filters that have a UV sterilizer? is that a must have item for a QT. and last but not least does UV kill ich and velvet? i know for sure my LFS has ich problems ive seen the little white spots on the fish and a worker admitted they are having a bad outbreak and the tanks they use are connected to each other. also i seen some filter/uv sterilizers in one kits is that a joke or worth considering? ill try and find a couple that i was looking at.

 

[Isaac01]

ok so i was considering this unit for filtration and uv sterelizer
Aquatop PF15-UV Hang-On Filter with UV Sterilization

 

[Isaac01]

oh and it comes with ceramic rings... if i use copper with the ceramic rings absorb the copper and mess up my dosing? or is that just for sand/rock/carbon?

 

[pyithar]

it depends on the fish that you're quarantining. if the fish is big, you'll need a big qt. a 20 gallon qt is usually enough. you don't need to cycle the qt with a small fish. if your 75g is already cycled, just put a new filter pad in the sump for a couple of weeks and use it in the qt's HOB filter. i've never owned a uv sterilizer so no experience with it but i know that uv can't eliminate ich or velvet completely. if you're worried about ich, you could do the tank transfer method instead of copper.

as for stocking, you should make a list of fish you wanna get first then start a 75g tank stocking list thread and get the members' opinions.

 

[gone fishin]

UV will not get rid of ich or velvet. They make excellent water clarifiers IMO. For ich treatment I agree on utilizing Tank transfer method( TTM) There is a sticky at the top of this forum on it.

As far as QT size It really depends on the fish but I would agree a 20g should get you by.

 

[Indymann99]

20g has worked well for me. I just use a power head with sponge filter for bio filtration. I cycle my QT before purchases and I don't proactively medicate. Only med if issues. Having a cycled QT is very helpful in limiting the need for excessive WC due to Am issues in an uncycled QT.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn10/Indymann99/Fish Tank/QTTankcloseup.jpg

<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/user/Indymann99/media/Fish%20Tank/QTinMixRm.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn10/Indymann99/Fish%20Tank/QTinMixRm.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo QTinMixRm.jpg"/></a>

 

[Isaac01]

well if a uv sterilizer does not rid velvet or ich i wont bother getting one for QT, and i think ill do copper dosing couse i want to be sure it does not have velvet as well, what about ceramic rings do they absorb the copper?

 

[Isaac01]

i think ima medicate no matter if showing symptoms or not... velvet is non detectable till fish start dying right? and ich is not detectable unless fish start showing those white spots right? and not all fish that have ich show white spots? and i know my LFS had a super bad ich outbreak and they are treating the fish that show it but i think thats rediculous couse the parasite must be in water still and attacking other fish

 

[Isaac01]

so a 20g long should be good enough? petco started the 1doller a gallon sale today... should i oversize my heater couse this thing is going in the garage? i live in northern cali

 

[Isaac01]

oh and im prob not ganna buy any fish bigger then 3-5 inch would that be ok in a 20g?

 

[gone fishin]

well if a uv sterilizer does not rid velvet or ich i wont bother getting one for QT, and i think ill do copper dosing couse i want to be sure it does not have velvet as well, what about ceramic rings do they absorb the copper?

Copper is not the preferred method of treating velvet. Formalin bath or chloroquin diphospate.

The link should give you some guidance on treatments and symptoms for velvet and other illness.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2389659

 

[Isaac01]

ok so i just bought a 20g long tank from petco for 20 bucks hope it was big enough

 

[Isaac01]

indyman can i get a better pic of your powerhead with sponge i wanna see how you rigged it or do they come like that if so what brand/model?, also i was considering wrapping the walls of the tank with a styrophome insulation to keep the temp stable in summer/winter being its going to be in garage... it wont get sunlight or wind but it does get a bit hot/cold i fugure if i turn it into a ice chest sort of speak itll keep it good?

 

[pyithar]

also i was considering wrapping the walls of the tank with a styrophome insulation to keep the temp stable in summer/winter being its going to be in garage... it wont get sunlight or wind but it does get a bit hot/cold i fugure if i turn it into a ice chest sort of speak itll keep it good?

will you be able to observe the fish will them styrofoam walls?

 

[Isaac01]

will you be able to observe the fish will them styrofoam walls?

yeah ill put some velcro on the front peace to make it detatchable when i want to check on fish

 

[Indymann99]

indyman can i get a better pic of your powerhead with sponge i wanna see how you rigged it or do they come like that if so what brand/model?, also i was considering wrapping the walls of the tank with a styrophome insulation to keep the temp stable in summer/winter being its going to be in garage... it wont get sunlight or wind but it does get a bit hot/cold i fugure if i turn it into a ice chest sort of speak itll keep it good?

Its just a Maxijet power head with sponge filter. Both came together in box. Found a LFS but I am sure can be had online. I need to get a 2nd sponge filter so I can switch them when cleaning.