What are the QT Essentials?

[Hooloovoo]

In all my previous aquarium experience, I never really bothered with quarantining any of my purchases. I put all the money I could spare into the display instead. Perhaps not surprisingly, that cost me a lot of frustration, wasted time, and money. I am getting back into the hobby and looking to do things right this time around. I have deeper pockets than I did when I was younger, but cost is still a factor and so is space. With that in mind, I would like to request some advice on what the forum experts would regard as the essentials for a quarantine setup for a reef aquarium?

 

[kmbyrnes]

Read this:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2507836

Then go to Petco and buy 2 10-20 gallon tanks, 2 HOB filters or 2 airpumps and airstones and a couple ammonia badges.
TTM is the way to go. I learned the lesson the hard way and hate to see anyone else get sick fish if they can avoid it.

 

[dweber618]

I will also add that having PraziPro, Prime, and Formalin (if you do a prophylactic dip) on hand. I use all of those during my typical QT of new fish.

And a few PVC elbows for hiding spots for your fish.

 

[MiataRacer]

You definitely want to have cycled biological filtration in the tank. I can't stress this enough. I was doing water changes every day when I tried to use my QT tank uncycled; it became a headache and it was impossible to keep the ammonia at zero. My 10 gallon QT setup had an HOB filter, a sponge filter (for biological filtration), a heater, and some PVC pipes for the fish to hide in. I eventually added a piece of live rock when I had ammonia problems because the tank still wasn't cycled yet, but this shouldn't be necessary if you cycle the tank.