What to do in setting up QT tank?

[riseandfloat]

I have never setup a quarantine tank before and have a few questions. I am beginning to see the benefit of having a quarantine tank and it is priceless. I have lost three fish within the past 6 months because I place them directly in my display where sortly after they come up with velvet, ich, or do not eat and I am tired of trying to get lucky.

Does a quarantine tank require live rock?

What should the specfic gravity be kept at?

What should the temperature be kept at?

Does a QT tank need live sand?

Can I use water from a water change to start it up?

Here is a list of what I am assuming a basic/small (20G)quarantine tank should have. Please correct me or make suggestions as to what would be better or omitted.

1. Heater
2. Powerhead
3. HOB filter with carbon?
4. Hiding places

 

[limitdown]

- A quarantine tank requires biofiltration, you can use either live rock or live bioballs/ceramic rings, if you're not dosing with copper, then you can also use AmQuel or Amguard to control ammonia (but biofiltration is preferred)
- If you're not doing hyposalinity, then salinity/specific gravity should be kept at the same level as your display tank (around 1.026)
- Most of the time, the temp should be kept at the same level as your DT (ie 78F), but if you're treating ich and want to speed up the parasite's life cycle, then you can increase the temp to 82-85F
- The bottom of the tank should be kept bare without sand (ie "bare bottom"). You can put a few pieces of large PVC for fish to hide in
- Water from a water change can be used, but make sure that the nitrate levels aren't high
- If you have live bioballs/ceramic rings, then you can put that into your HOB filter, however, skip the carbon if you're actively dosing medicine/copper because the carbon will remove the medicine

 

[shelburn61]

I would add a Seachem ammonia alert to the setup. My experience has been it's tough get adequate biolfiltration in QT, especially with medication, and these are a nice early warning measure...

 

[phk36]

I have a 20 gallon qt and keep it going all the time. You never know when your going to pick up something

 

[shelburn61]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13366799#post13366799 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by phk36
I have a 20 gallon qt and keep it going all the time. You never know when your going to pick up something

How do you keep the biofilter going?

 

[screwsloose]

i have a pair of damsels in my qt tank to keep it cycled. if i am going to go thru a hard round of meds i remove them and add them to another tank and treat the new fish.