Cycling Qt?

Indytraveler83 · Jun 4, 2019

Getting ready to setup a 10 gallon qt tank to start running fish through, and think I have a pretty good idea of what meds to stock and how long I want to QT for.

I’m trying to figure out though: How do you guys “cycle” your qt tank? In my freshwater system, I just use an old filter pad and 10 gal of water from the DT and it holds up just fine. However, I’m running powerhead and skimmer only on my salt tank, and don’t have any real mechanical media to transfer.

I don’t want to sacrifice any chunks of live rock, as I can’t put it back if I medicate and/or the livestock is sick.

Do you guys cycle or just hit with Prime, frequent WC’s and an ammonia alert badge?

ylreefer · Jun 4, 2019

Indytraveler83 said:
Getting ready to setup a 10 gallon qt tank to start running fish through, and think I have a pretty good idea of what meds to stock and how long I want to QT for.

I’m trying to figure out though: How do you guys “cycle” your qt tank? In my freshwater system, I just use an old filter pad and 10 gal of water from the DT and it holds up just fine. However, I’m running powerhead and skimmer only on my salt tank, and don’t have any real mechanical media to transfer.

I don’t want to sacrifice any chunks of live rock, as I can’t put it back if I medicate and/or the livestock is sick.

Do you guys cycle or just hit with Prime, frequent WC’s and an ammonia alert badge?

Either way you have described would wirk fine. Although the second choice will require more frequent monitoring. I use a seachem ammonia alert badge.

My personal choice is to go with your first option. I usually keep a few round filter Sponges in my sump and use 1 or 2 of them with DT water when I'm doing a WC.

I take it your DT isn't using a sump? I also run a16g AIO nano reef and I even squeeze 2 Sponges in the second chamber. Just have to be sure to rinse them in tank water at every wc to keep them clean. [emoji3].

infinite0180 · Jun 4, 2019

Use a sponge from the DT (i keep one in my sump at all times) and go get a bottle of BioSpira from Petco. It will cycle it like a charm. Also you can keep some Seachem Matrix in your DT sump to use in QT as well. It is totally inert and has been confirmed not to have any effect on medication...