Shutting down QT tank in between fish ?

[holdyourlight]

I would like to be able to shut down my quarantine tank in between fish to conserve energy. I was thinking that each time i set up the QT to add fish that i could just put the old filter sock from my DT in there so there would be a bacteria culture?
Is this an acceptable practice? The filter sock would be left in there for about 3 days at a time before it's switched out. The one issue that comes to mind is that i am putting a "dirty" sock in the tank that may spike nitrates or something....
I will be treating mainly with cupramine and prazi. I just want to make sure ammonia does not spike. The tank is a 4foot 33 gallon long tank and there will be times where there is 5-6 small anthias in there being QT'd
I do not run a biowheel/sponge filter or anything like that in the QT because i will be QTing lots of jumpers so the lid has to fit very tight...

 

[MrTuskfish]

Don't worry about nitrates. Nitrates at a level of, say <60 (much higher, IMO & IME) won't bother fish. (Just to be safe, I'll add: there may be a few nitrate sensitive fish, but very few.) Take a nitrate test of the water at your LFS, you'll be amazed. I see you're from Knoxville. About a year ago, I tested the water from one of the large tanks in that LFS on Papermill---it was 100+ and the fish were in great shape. Inverts, of course, can't handle nitrates for very long. You can custom make a cover to accommodate a HOB filter in Qt very easily, use this stuff: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store...ous-items/clear-1-4-screen-netting-7-x-3.html
Here's a copy of how I keep a QT cycled, the sock would work. But it would need to have flow through it and be well-seeded. I think the following is foolproof and I've used it for years;

In regards to Qt cycling; I've done this for years. Get a HOB filter; I really like Aqua-Clear, they have a big sponge and last forever. Don't use the carbon or ceramic noodles that come with the filter. Also, have some extra sponges on hand, they're cheap. Keep a sponge in the flow somewhere in your DT. When you need a QT or HT, just use the sponge that has been in your main system in your QT filter---the QT will be instantly cycled. When done, toss the sponge and keep a new one ready in your main system.
BTW, Cupramine copper, used in a QT,will not destroy a bio-filter.

 

[holdyourlight]

Don't worry about nitrates. Nitrates at a level of, say <60 (much higher, IMO & IME) won't bother fish. (Just to be safe, I'll add: there may be a few nitrate sensitive fish, but very few.) Take a nitrate test of the water at your LFS, you'll be amazed. I see you're from Knoxville. About a year ago, I tested the water from one of the large tanks in that LFS on Papermill---it was 100+ and the fish were in great shape. Inverts, of course, can't handle nitrates for very long. You can custom make a cover to accommodate a HOB filter in Qt very easily, use this stuff: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store...ous-items/clear-1-4-screen-netting-7-x-3.html
Here's a copy of how I keep a QT cycled, the sock would work. But it would need to have flow through it and be well-seeded. I think the following is foolproof and I've used it for years;

In regards to Qt cycling; I've done this for years. Get a HOB filter; I really like Aqua-Clear, they have a big sponge and last forever. Don't use the carbon or ceramic noodles that come with the filter. Also, have some extra sponges on hand, they're cheap. Keep a sponge in the flow somewhere in your DT. When you need a QT or HT, just use the sponge that has been in your main system in your QT filter---the QT will be instantly cycled. When done, toss the sponge and keep a new one ready in your main system.
BTW, Cupramine copper, used in a QT,will not destroy a bio-filter.

Thanks for the reply

Only 2 issues i can see with your plan..

I was hoping to avoid running a HOB filter on the QT because of jumping fish

If i am QTing fish for 6 weeks will the one sponge be adequate for the duration?

 

[crvz]

with proper water changes, the one filter should be fine. be sure to siphon any wastes that you can during these changes in the QT.

 

[MrTuskfish]

Thanks for the reply

Only 2 issues i can see with your plan..

I was hoping to avoid running a HOB filter on the QT because of jumping fish

If i am QTing fish for 6 weeks will the one sponge be adequate for the duration?

The netting is easy to adapt to a HOB, especially where it doesn't have to be that "pretty". My QT uses the netting and the back piece of frame has just been configured to fit snug around the filter. You can also just leave a gap between the filter and the rear frame piece, then just cover the gap with extra netting as needed. My QT is in the basement, which allows me to use the greatest invention for those of us who are somewhat " DIY Challenged'....duct tape.

A well-seeded sponge filter will easily take care of a few fish for as long as needed; they do a much better job with ammonia/nitrite than many would think. they are very common in heavily stocked breeding tanks.

 

[holdyourlight]

The netting is easy to adapt to a HOB, especially where it doesn't have to be that "pretty". My QT uses the netting and the back piece of frame has just been configured to fit snug around the filter. You can also just leave a gap between the filter and the rear frame piece, then just cover the gap with extra netting as needed. My QT is in the basement, which allows me to use the greatest invention for those of us who are somewhat " DIY Challenged'....duct tape.

A well-seeded sponge filter will easily take care of a few fish for as long as needed; they do a much better job with ammonia/nitrite than many would think. they are very common in heavily stocked breeding tanks.

One last question. I may have to set up a QT in a pinch here and my DT has ich right now so i cannot seed a filter sponge until after the DT has gone thru the hypo i have it in right now. What are my options for a biofilter for the QT. is there anyother options other than getting some LR from an lfs that is ich free?

 

[MrTuskfish]

One last question. I may have to set up a QT in a pinch here and my DT has ich right now so i cannot seed a filter sponge until after the DT has gone thru the hypo i have it in right now. What are my options for a biofilter for the QT. is there anyother options other than getting some LR from an lfs that is ich free?

Sure you can, you are transferring the ich with the fish, whatever ich forms are moved with the sponge will be killed by the treatment too. But, I don't think you have the time. If you have any sort of filter media in your DT: sock, sponge, big handful of substrate,even a bag of charcoal; it may be enough to maintain a bio-filter in QT. Maybe your LFS has some well used mechanical filter media that they could part with. Otherwise, its just lots of water changes. The LR may work, but it has to be cultured as well. The only advantage LR has over other types of filter media is its ability to control nitrate; and that isn't a concern with fish in QT. Also, hypo or copper will kill off a lot of life in LR, contributing to the ammonia problem and LR can absorb meds; making monitoring difficult. Personally, I just don't like the idea of LR in a QT.

 

[holdyourlight]

MrTuskfish_ can you recommend a model of the aquaclear for my 33gallon qt?

 

[geaux xman]

I use AquaClear 70's on my 29g and 40g QT tanks and it works out good. the AC50 would be too small for a 33g IMO. I had it in on my 29g, and it was kinda underwhelming.

I got mines from amazon 40 bucks shipped.

 

[holdyourlight]

I use AquaClear 70's on my 29g and 40g QT tanks and it works out good. the AC50 would be too small for a 33g IMO. I had it in on my 29g, and it was kinda underwhelming.

I got mines from amazon 40 bucks shipped.

thanks for the reply, i'll probably go for that one

so you can keep the filter sponge in there for months at a time without cleaning? or it is recommended that you wash it out in tank water from time to time ?

 

[MrTuskfish]

thanks for the reply, i'll probably go for that one

so you can keep the filter sponge in there for months at a time without cleaning? or it is recommended that you wash it out in tank water from time to time ?

A good filter choice. Sponges are cheap, I just throw them away after they are used in QT and keep a fresh one in the flow of a DT. There should't be much crud in the sponge, so it really doesn't need rinsing, but you can. Be sure to use a fresh sponge when you put new fish into the DT. If some time has gone by, the tank won't have an adequate bio-filter anymore and that's where the new sponge from the DT comes in.