Quarantine Tank

[ottawa11]

Hey guys,

I am a newbie at this and this might be a stupid question but how do you build a quarantine tank?  I have a 10 gal tank and I'm just wondering If I need a filter, bubbler, Do I cycle the tank or just use water from main tank.

thanks

[Hookup]

Salt or Freshwater?

[ottawa11]

freshwater

[ordi260]

You can't really bother with cycling unless you run your QT tank all year long...water with a good conditionner like prime should do the trick...

I would'nt use in any circumstances any "original" tank water because if your using QT tank, chances are you have a problem with the original tank's water.  Be careful when transfering fish not to drop "old" water in it with the fish (use a net).

I personally would take a net and only use in QT tank not to spread around weird stuff in your other tanks.

Good aeration (oxygen) is always good to have to keep fish stress to a minimum: this can be achieved using a stronger powerfilter (like an oversisez aquaclear) for the tank size to create current on surface, air stone and pump or aiming a powerhead (koralia style) to the water surface to maximize gas exchange.

Don't put any substrate to easily remove any uneaten food after feeding along with the digestion by-products  .  I usually use a small net for that!

Make daily waterchanges with water and conditionner to keep good parameters (you try do do that to "make up" for having next to no cycle) if you remove nutrients before they break down into harmful components your fish will be happy.

Any lights should do the trick...not too strong...

A good heater!  Dont attempt to rescue an old heater thinking "its only for the QT tank"...water temp stability is VERY important.  I like jager heaters because they are not too expensive and they are precise as a 20-35$ heater can be precise...

And last but not least: watch your fish reaction to the new environment.  You might need to move things around for them to be comfortable, put a little shelter or w/e.  Keep it simple for cleaning tho.  Maybe they will act wird for the first day or so (i usually let the light off for the first day to reduce stress) but if they are not acting "normally" 1 or 2 days after being transfered, maybe something is bothering them!

Hope this helps

[FocusFin]

I would'nt use in any circumstances any "original" tank water because if your using QT tank, chances are you have a problem with the original tank's water.  Be careful when transfering fish not to drop "old" water in it with the fish (use a net).

Is it a quarantine or hospital tank. If it's a hospital tank then you're right he shouldn't use anything from the original tank but if it's to quarantine a new fish and everything else is fine then using water or filter media from his old tank should be okay.

[ordi260]

Is it a quarantine or hospital tank. If it's a hospital tank then you're right he shouldn't use anything from the original tank but if it's to quarantine a new fish and everything else is fine then using water or filter media from his old tank should be okay.

Oh yeah that's a good point! 

[ottawa11]

Is it a quarantine or hospital tank. If it's a hospital tank then you're right he shouldn't use anything from the original tank but if it's to quarantine a new fish and everything else is fine then using water or filter media from his old tank should be okay.

Oh thanks, I never knew they were both different things. Damn, I'm such a newbie lol