Aeration for quarantine?

[Mihai]

Hi,

I just got a yellow tang in my 10 gal quarantine tank and I'm worried about aeration during the night. During the day there is a bunch of cheato for his comfort and O2 (maybe even snack if it eats such a thing), but during the night I'm worried that the oxigen will decrease too much - it's a big guy (3") and a small tank (10gal). I understand (Fenner's conscientious marine aquarist) that it needs 100% oxigen saturation at all times...

For tonight I put an air-pump with an airstone in, but if I keep it in, in 2 weeks I'll have a major salt creep all around the tank. I would like to avoid a protein skimmer on the tank (unless advised otherwise). What else can I use for aeration? Would a Tetra Whisper HOB filter do the trick without the splash?

Biological filtration is provided by one large Fluval filter (3+ I believe) with a sponge that ran on my sump for a day, some live rock and some base rock. Circulation is provided by a Mag1 + the Fluval filter. 1 heater and one thermometer...

I think I'm covered except for the aeration...

All the best,
Mihai

 

[Tackett]

why is he quarantined? If he aint sick, just for go the PITA and chuck his hind end in your dispay and be the end of it.

 

[Tackett]

You might try turning the nozzles in the tank used for current toward the surface to make it roll. That should provide adequate o2 for him.

 

[Mihai]

Well,

he looks healthy. If it would be sick it would be a hospital tank not a quarantine.

I'd like to give you the speach about learning from the experience of others (see for example
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-10/s ... /index.htm ); unfortunately I learned this the hard way: after getting both bubble algae and flatworms I decided that I'll not get anything else in my display (including ich).

All the best,
Mihai

 

[Mihai]

You might try turning the nozzles in the tank used for current toward the surface to make it roll. That should provide adequate o2 for him.

I was thinking about that but I'm not sure if it's trully enough or not... are you sure it's enough? The rolling effect is mostly to avoid a film at the top of the tank right?

M.

 

[Tackett]

Im thinking it will be enough, hell my first yellow tang in my first adventure in the saltwater stuff, lived in a hell hole on hind site and he lived for years. I think you are OK.

 

[Tackett]

as long as the water rolls enough to pull the oxygen down into the water it should be ok. SHOULD.

 

[Tackett]

I dont think ive ever quarantined anything before I put it in my tank (shoot me later, bad practice I know.) more power to ya for doing the right thing buddy.

 

[Mihai]

I dont think ive ever quarantined anything before I put it in my tank (shoot me later, bad practice I know.) more power to ya for doing the right thing buddy.

As I said: pulling bubble algae weekly would do the trick . Also the flatworms are not a pretty sight... I really hate the look of Aptasia so I'm trying (hard) to avoid it for as long as I can. I'm also attached to the two clowns I have (Bonnie and Clyde), I'd feel really bad to kill them if it can be prevented...

M.

 

[Mihai]

Oh, come on folks...

The only advice I get is from a guy that doesn't run a quarantine tank ?! (no offense Tackett, but you said that you're not sure about it).

I can't believe that nobody quarantines its livestock, and if you do, you'll have this problem... right?

For now I'm running a protein skimmer for aeration but I'd still like to know if I need it (I don't want to try).

Thanks,
Mihai

 

[Anonymous]

You might try turning the nozzles in the tank used for current toward the surface to make it roll. That should provide adequate o2 for him.

I was thinking about that but I'm not sure if it's trully enough or not... are you sure it's enough? The rolling effect is mostly to avoid a film at the top of the tank right?

M.

Not really, the surface is where the gas exchange takes place so that's why Tackett said to turn the outputs up towards the top. The "rolling" water exchanges gas better/faster.

On my 10 gallon QT tanks I use a cheap HOB Whisper filter, and it works fine. You can also use an el cheapo sponge filter/air pump, that would cause less salt creep than a straight airstone if that's a worry.

 

[Tackett]

Thank you. I know what Im talking about, just dont have any confidence.

 

[Mihai]

Thanks. I was thinking about a HOB tetra whisper, I'll use that if it's enough filtration...
Thanks a lot,
M.

 

[danmhippo]

Quarantine, quarantine, and quarantine. Three most inportant thing in reef keeping. For those that had flatworm out break before, don't you feel stupid that you didn't quarantine corals as well?

I did........

 

[Anonymous]

Quarantine, quarantine, and quarantine. Three most inportant thing in reef keeping. For those that had flatworm out break before, don't you feel stupid that you didn't quarantine corals as well?

I did........

Been there, done that, lost fish

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks. I was thinking about a HOB tetra whisper, I'll use that if it's enough filtration...
Thanks a lot,
M.

That will do just fine. You just have to keep up on a QT daily, checking for any ammonia or other water quality problems. Also, keep a separate set of tools JUST for the QT. You don't want to cross-contaminate your displaytank by using the same siphon hose, etc and wash your hands before you put them into the main tank! Again, been there donet that and lost fish (and money)!

 

[Mihai]

Yup, I have one of those small ammonia indicators that hangs by the glass - I had a 25% water change last night because it started going grayish. It came back to normal. The fish didn't seem to mind, but better safe than sorry.

Lost fish from not quarantining corals? Then I consider myself lucky: I just got bubble algae and flatworms .

M.

 

[wade1]

One note here as well... oxygen levels in a QT should not change hardly at all if you keep the water circulating.

And... having algae in the tank will actually increase the cyclicity of O2/CO2... a naked QT has no properties which alter the dissolved gasses aside from the fish.

(Its the photosynthetic algae in our tanks that causes the nightly pH drop in most tanks... corals, clams, algaes, etc... they are the culprits).

 

[Anonymous]

(Its the photosynthetic algae in our tanks that causes the nightly pH drop in most tanks... corals, clams, algaes, etc... they are the culprits).

Hey, I didn't know that. Thanks for the info!

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for pointing that out Wade! I keep my QT tanks bare except for PVC hiding places because of the ease of cleaning/sterilizing and don't use special lighting at all so it never occured to me to think about algae.