Is it good to put in my filter in DT to get a bit of good bacteria for QT?

[olavvk]

Hey! So im setting up a small quarantaine tank at the moment in case my fish will get sick ( they are doing fine for now, but just in case)
I was doubting because i read a cycle is not neccesary in a QT, but Is it good to put the small filterpump that i will use for my QT, some time in my DT to get a bit of bacteria in the sponge of the pump? the filterpump is completely new.

 

[MnFish1]

Hey! So im setting up a small quarantaine tank at the moment in case my fish will get sick ( they are doing fine for now, but just in case)
I was doubting because i read a cycle is not neccesary in a QT, but Is it good to put the small filterpump that i will use for my QT, some time in my DT to get a bit of bacteria in the sponge of the pump? the filterpump is completely new.

Some people do this - I would not - instead keep the 2 systems separate. Use bottled bacteria or water changes to manage your fish in QT. Clean your filter and tank with each use (the QT).

PS - One 'warning'. If you have not quarantined the fish in your tank (that are already in the display) - there is a chance that they have parasites that you can't really see - but can infect new fish after you've quarantined them.

PPS - welcome to R2R - hope this helps

 

[olavvk]

Some people do this - I would not - instead keep the 2 systems separate. Use bottled bacteria or water changes to manage your fish in QT. Clean your filter and tank with each use (the QT).

PS - One 'warning'. If you have not quarantined the fish in your tank (that are already in the display) - there is a chance that they have parasites that you can't really see - but can infect new fish after you've quarantined them.

PPS - welcome to R2R - hope this helps

Ok thanks! So with an amonia alert and regular waterchanges it should be fine then?
And yes i know it was a mistake/risk to put the fish in without qt. Have them now for 4 weeks but i assume parasites can still be present

 

[threebuoys]

I'll give you a little different alternative.

I keep a QT running full time with cycled filtration which I originally seeded with filtration foam I had kept for months in the sump of my DT. For convenience, I keep a couple of damsels in the QT when I am not treating new fish or sick fish. They provide enough ammonia to keep the QT cycled.

When I add new fish or sick fish to the QT, I never have to worry about ammonia because the QT is cycled. I just segregate the two damsels so they don't bother the new additions. I do not change water during the 30 day copper treatment unless the water becomes noticeably dirty. As a result, I usually do not need to add additional copper after the first dose. It remains within the therapeutic range of 2.25 - 2.50 for the entire 30 days. After 30 days, I do a 50% water change to reduce the copper level then I add prazipro and additional aeration. After the Prazipro phase, I'll change 25% of the water, release the two damsels from confinement, then leave the QT running until I need it again.

I'm confident that the copper and prazi treatment have adequately killed any parasites in the QT, else I would not have moved the fish to the DT. As a result, and since I have the room to keep the QT running, I never feel the need to sterilize and start over from scratch.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hey! So im setting up a small quarantaine tank at the moment in case my fish will get sick ( they are doing fine for now, but just in case)
I was doubting because i read a cycle is not neccesary in a QT, but Is it good to put the small filterpump that i will use for my QT, some time in my DT to get a bit of bacteria in the sponge of the pump? the filterpump is completely new.

You can but realize during treatment- no carbon otherwise filter will:
-Help reduce ammonia
-Provide water movement
-Polish water
-Add a means of mechanical Filtration

utilizing a sponge filter or somilar with bacterial will be a good source BUT medication will reduce effectiveness

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ok thanks! So with an amonia alert and regular waterchanges it should be fine then?
And yes i know it was a mistake/risk to put the fish in without qt. Have them now for 4 weeks but i assume parasites can still be present

Also intended for freshwater… I’m not confident with ammonia badges not api kits especially long term
Best to manually test

 

[olavvk]

Thank you for all the usefull answers. Different opinions and choices

 

[Jay Hemdal]

Hey! So im setting up a small quarantaine tank at the moment in case my fish will get sick ( they are doing fine for now, but just in case)
I was doubting because i read a cycle is not neccesary in a QT, but Is it good to put the small filterpump that i will use for my QT, some time in my DT to get a bit of bacteria in the sponge of the pump? the filterpump is completely new.

If your DT has a sump, consider running a good dual sponge filter in there for a few months, then you can use that to have an instant biofilter for a small QT.

Jay

 

[olavvk]

If your DT has a sump, consider running a good dual sponge filter in there for a few months, then you can use that to have an instant biofilter for a small QT.

Jay

Unfortunately no sump.. its a simple 20 gallon with internal filter and protein skimmer ( first tank)