What do you use?

[buddhafish]

So I read an article on quarantine tanks, and was just wondering what you all do with yours. The article suggested using a cycled sponge filter from your main display. Do any of you keep your quarantine up all the time? Let me know how you guys go about it.

 

[tennesseebob]

I am incredibly lax about mine, it isn't set up permanently, but I have a small bag of bioballs in my sump for quarantine setup, I just made a 10g all in one that I think may be my new quarantine tank from now on.

 

[gone fishin]

I typically do not cycle or use the sponge filters. I rely on WC's and prime if needed. My QT consists of a seachem ammonia alert badge, heater and air stone as well as some pvc fittings in a 29g tank. When I was doing my initial stocking the QT was running continuously. Now I add a couple fish a year.

Many folks will use the sponge filters or hob filter.

 

[GhostCon1]

I use a QT tank for my corals and inverts. I used some sand and live rock from an established tank to get the beneficial bacteria. I leave it running all the time. Actually, I left it running for about 9 months with no light, no food, nothing added to it. When it came time to to QT some new corals I was amazed at all the sponges and tunicates in there.

So my vote is to leave it running all the time.

For a fish QT tank, I've heard a simple HOB and seeded sponge will do fine. Provide some PVC pipe for hide outs.

 

[homer1475]

I only use my QT when needed.

I keep a small bag of seachem matrix media in the back of my DT(biocube) for bacteria when needed. Plop them in a HOB filter, with a heater, airstone, and an ammonia badge, were good to go. I do dose stability for a week, and keep plenty of prime on hand, but have never had an ammonia problem.

 

[Sapelo]

So in comparison to your other responses, I am a baby/beginner but I am also stocking a new tank and a bit compulsive about buying both fish and coral and I insist on QT for all(yes, learned the hard way)
So I keep an empty tank running all of the time and usually cycle a media filter in my canister in case I need it.
I start all fish on TTM so with only 3 days into a tank (and I usually do 5 on the first just to acclimate and then 4 transfers) I don't worry too much about spikes
I do test and monitor but in general have not had a bioload problem even in an overstocked hospital tank.

 

[RGS2]

I run a 40 breeder full time as a QT even though I only buy a couple fish per year. Doesn't really cost anything to run and with a glass lid evap is almost nothing. I like having it available for emergencies also.

 

[whosurcaddie]

I run a 60 gal QT all the time. For the biofilter I use Seachem matrix and some various other biological media. I use a cheap 1300gph powerhead for flow. I have two large PVC pipes an airstone and a heater.

If there are no fish in the tank I will feed it once a week to keep the bio filter going.

 

[pyithar]

i run a 15G qt and 20G qt full time.

 

[kmbyrnes]

I too learned my lesson the hard way.
I now have a fully cycled 40B for QT that runs full time
And pairs of 5, 10, and 20 g for TTM depending on the fish. These get setup uncycled as needed.
Seems like a lot of stuff, but under $200 total investment with the $1 a gallon sale.
I keep filter pads in my sumps.

 

[Silly clownfish]

Check out the fish disease forum fior a lot of great QT info.

I use 2 10g for TTM, then keep the fish in one of those tanks for the remainder of the quarantineeriod with frequent water chages. for the TTM i keep a large fistful of filter floos in my DT sump and use gobs of that in a corner box filter with an airpump (I have one for each tank). After the TTM part of the quartine is done I use penguin HOB filter with a cartridge that was seeded in my DT sump.

When I am not QTing a fish, the 10g tanks go to the basement. If I were to need to QT/treat on short notice, I would use the filter floss for quick bacteria seeding of the QT. properly quarantining new arrivals greatly reduces the chance of needing an emergency hospital tank.

 

[Salty Cracker]

Simple. 29 gallon tank from petco sale. Small power head, hob filter with no carbon, and copper safe. Dry sand and some Pvc. All in all cost.. $60. I paid more than that for a frag.

 

[buddhafish]

Awesome to see all the different set ups being used!