New Quarantine Tank

[kimbaco6]

I have seen lots of threads on QTs. Curious on thoughts about running a regular small second tank that runs all the time with live rock, live substrate and maybe a few crabs, snails and a small docile fish or two to keep it going and healthy?

Was thinking about using water from my main tank during water changes to fill the QT so that it's always the same water as well. That way when I get in new fish they can stay in the smaller tank while getting settled in, looking for disease, etc, then move them over. And if medical issues arise I can move the other small non aggressive fish to the big tank if treatment is needed.

Also, what about making it more involved with live coral. Bad idea? Can the live coral easily be moved to the main tank if needed or is this too much for them?

Thank you.

My tanks - 29 gallon biocube, 15 gallon biocube

 

[KathyC]

If you add all of the things you mention in your post you will simply have - a 2nd reef tank

A QT would not have L/R or sand in it, and most definitely would it have NOT have other fish in it. Once you add the new fish to QT - you have possibly given the other fish whatever disease you are on the look out for- so moving them to your DT would be a poor idea at best.

If you do plan to run a QT tank continuously - it should have nothing in it except for a heater and a filter of some sort. You can keep the biological filter alive by adding a small amount of food a couple of times a week (to feed the bacteria and keep them alive).

Are you adding that many more fish to your current tank that you need to run a QT all of the time?
Often it is easier to keep a sponge filter floating in your current sump and move it to a QT tank that you set up only when you need it.

 

[BIG L A]

QT's are usually simple, no live rock, no sand, no coral just maybe a couple of pvc fittings to give the fish a place to hide... Imo having it plumbed to your main system is good and bad: Good because you keep it up and running but I would put a valve that separates the system so that it becomes a stand alone system when new fish come in... Bad because when it comes down to medicating a sick fish with copper or something I wouldnt open that valve ever again, so I would of plumbed it for nothing...
My Qt isnt up all the time and I know its not the best way; but what I do when I get a new fish is I do a nice water change to my main tank and use the water out fo my main tank for my Qt... Then do water changes every week on the Qt... This has worked for me

 

[kimbaco6]

I understand that traditional QTs are very simple.

I guess what I am asking is whether other people run two fully functioning tanks and use one as the QT if needed. To me it seems logical because I want the new or sick fish to have a very well balanced and healthy environment to get their initial cooling off period or to chill when they are sick.

 

[KathyC]

I understand that traditional QTs are very simple.

I guess what I am asking is whether other people run two fully functioning tanks and use one as the QT if needed. To me it seems logical because I want the new or sick fish to have a very well balanced and healthy environment to get their initial cooling off period or to chill when they are sick.

Not traditional..a simple tank is all a QT should be - no rock, no sand. Neither are compatible with any treatment of a disease/illness which is what you are looking for when you QT a fish.

 

[Wes]

I keep a few pieces of rock in mine. It helps with biological filtration and I havnt had any issues with keeping copper levels stable. I started out with dry Marco rock and let it cycle. Maybe it's why I don't have any die off when I dose meds.

I keep mine up and running. It has PVC, a couple rocks, powerheads, heater, no sand, and a BIG sponge filter.

I am always ready to go for my impulse fish buy. I stock very slowly do I'll probably keep my QT up and running for a year or so.



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[TRIGGERMAN]

Kat don't even waste the finger movement..this guy isn't going to listen he is going to do what he wants to do anyway. He is looking for validation that he is right which he OBVIOUSLY is not and everyone will agree but still he will continue to try and make points he thinks are valid .

We see these types all the time just let him kill everything and learn the hard way

S
M
F
H

 

[Wes]

Oftentimes people confuse hospital tanks with Quarantine tanks.

Some people use a simple setup like kathyc for both QT and medication/treatment. There are others who have a separate quarantine system with rock, sand, and the whole works that fish go into where it can be closely observed and weaned onto prepared foods. Any medical treatment is done in a separate hospital tank that is more sterile, etc.

There is no right or wrong way, just your way. There are many different opinions on this subject. Some people feel that fish do better in a more natural setting. If you feel this way, what you want to do may be a good option. Keep in mind and medical treatment will most likely have to happen in a separate hospital tank.


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[kimbaco6]

Thank you to all who provide productive comments.

Triggerman, I am a bit confused by your response.

Isn't this forum a place where people are supposed to be able to ask questions and learn from each other?

I asked a simple question, do skilled reefers ever have two regular tanks running, or is it better to have a QT tank with nothing in it? I am not trying to do whatever I want here, I am actually trying to learn. Please don't respond to my posts unless you have something positive to contribute.

 

[Keith P]

I QT everything. 1.5G w/ LR power head and PC light. If I find something I don't like, I nuke the rock and re-cure it.

This tank is constantly running because I'm constantly acquiring frags

 

[TRIGGERMAN]

Yes that is the point of this site. You were told by several people already the way to do it and it seems like you weren't going to listen anyway by the way you answer so why keep telling you if you aren't going to listen?

 

[Keith P]

So if you find something you don't like, then what?
The point of a near empty QT is that if you have an issue you can "wash your hands of it" easily and start over.
Minimal loss.

This is my lame 1.5G frag QT

I top off and change water daily. I try empty it and refill with out overlaps. I have gotten frags that had questionable life on them. They get given away and don't go in my tank. Being anal pays off in this hobby.

Everything seems happy this week

Don't leave things in there, it's not a grow out tank, it's a QT. Keep things moving along.

Don't ask me about QTing fish. I don't have room, so I have it done by a local friend.

 

[jcolon2]

I am custom building a stand for my 55. It is 49 1/2 wide, 42 high, and 15 wide. I am putting my amiracle sump in the middle shelf with all my ballast, etc... Would it be wise to add a very small quarantine tank (maybe 5 gallonsI) to the bottom and quarantine for two weeks. Or is that stupid? I don't want to much weight in the stand b/c between the main tank, the sump, and the equipment, not to mention a qt tank, that is a lot of weight. Is 5 gallons to small and is 2 wks to little or too much to keep them in that tank>?

BTW- I only hhave small fish in the tank and intend to keep only small fish.

 

[Keith P]

Are you talking about qt for coral or fish?

 

[jcolon2]

A quarantine for fish.

 

[kimbaco6]

Thanks Keith et al (except Triggerman ,

Your QT looks great. Wow, those are some serious frags! I can't wait to get to that point. But I am reluctantly finding my inner strength to have the most important quality in this expensive hobby, patience!

So still hoping to get anyone who has thoughts on my initial question - If I have a second tank set up can I use it for quarantining? I have done more research on QTs since I posted. Let me know if I am understanding correctly here.

From what I am reading the reason for not having rock and sand in a QT (or anything else) is that if something has an issue then it will contaminate everything else, and vice versa. So it is safer to have something new quarantined in a bare tank as opposed to a fully functioning simple tank.

My gut feeling before was that a fully functioning tank would provide a safer haven for a new fish or coral because it would have all the beneficial bacteria and a fully functioning ecosystem. So is it really true that a fish or coral can live for weeks heathily in a bare bones system with just water in it?

The reason I even ponder this is because I was thinking about getting a second tank in my bedroom (15 gallon) and was wondering if I could just keep a few simple things in there and use it to isolate fish and coral when I first get them. I still haven't heard from anyone who keeps two full tanks going at the same time, am just curious.

I think from the sound of it what I will do is just get a 10 gallon simple tank, no light, no hood, just a hang on filter, no rock or sand, and only have it running when needed. I will just keep a sponge filter in my main tank and use the main tank water when setting it up. And if I do the second tank just treat it as a second tank, not for sick fish or treating anyone. Do I have it right?

 

[KathyC]

So is it really true that a fish or coral can live for weeks heathily in a bare bones system with just water in it?

Basically true. A source of air and and heat, a PVC pipe to hide in (even plastic plants are ok) Often the back and 2 sides are painted black or you can use the film backgrounds they sell) to keep the fish feeling more secure..and it sees less movement around the tank.

I think from the sound of it what I will do is just get a 10 gallon simple tank, no light, no hood, just a hang on filter, no rock or sand, and only have it running when needed. I will just keep a sponge filter in my main tank and use the main tank water when setting it up. And if I do the second tank just treat it as a second tank, not for sick fish or treating anyone. Do I have it right?

Yup

 

[jrobbins]

I just have a 9 gallon nano that I keep in my stand. When i have a new arrival i just fill the nano with old tank water and toss one of the bags of chemipure or carbon (or whatever is bagged and in my sump) to the rear chamber of the nano.

As for qt vs hospital tank...this might not be a great answer, but I rarely medicate. If a fish has ich I drop the salinity in the qt and just keep him in there for a couple months.


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