Is my QT big enough?

[Dom]

I came across a 4" Stars and Stripes puffer at the LFS. They put it on hold for me until I'm ready.

I have a 10 gallon tank that has been up, running and ready to go.

But is a 10 gallon tank big enough to have a 4" puffer in QT for 90 days?

I have an empty 40 I can use, but it would require more work to get ready.

Thoughts?

Thank you,
Dom

 

[Troylee]

Bigger is more stable and less stress on the fish.. 90 days is a long time to be crammed in a small tank imho.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

just do it..... lol

 

[exnisstech]

Bigger is more stable and less stress on the fish.. 90 days is a long time to be crammed in a small tank imho.

^^ This. Puffers are messy eaters too so keeping water quality up in a 10g may be challenging.

 

[LPS Bum]

I came across a 4" Stars and Stripes puffer at the LFS. They put it on hold for me until I'm ready.

I have a 10 gallon tank that has been up, running and ready to go.

But is a 10 gallon tank big enough to have a 4" puffer in QT for 90 days?

I have an empty 40 I can use, but it would require more work to get ready.

Thoughts?

Thank you,
Dom

In a word, no.

That fish is going to be very stressed in a 10 gal tank for 3 months. I’d set up your 40 gal.

Just curious though. Why 90 days of QT?

 

[Dom]

Just curious though. Why 90 days of QT?

I've always been a patient person; I am happy to wait and be sure that I have a disease-free fish before placing it in my display. 90 days = better safe than sorry.

When I QT, I observe only. I do not treat proactively.

 

[LPS Bum]

I've always been a patient person; I am happy to wait and be sure that I have a disease-free fish before placing it in my display. 90 days = better safe than sorry.

When I QT, I observe only. I do not treat proactively.

Understood, but there's a flip side to that. Not all fish do well in QT long term. Especially in smaller, more sterile tanks that often lack the ability to process ammonia efficiently.

Patience is a virtue in this hobby, and happy to hear that you put all your fish through QT. But what happens if you do discover a disease? Do you then treat/medicate in QT?

 

[Dom]

Understood, but there's a flip side to that. Not all fish do well in QT long term. Especially in smaller, more sterile tanks that often lack the ability to process ammonia efficiently.

Patience is a virtue in this hobby, and happy to hear that you put all your fish through QT. But what happens if you do discover a disease? Do you then treat/medicate in QT?

I treat at the first sign of disease. But in 20 years in the hobby, I've only had 1 fish that became ill with Ich. Hypo-salinity is all it took.

I'm currently preparing a spare 40 gallon. That should be enough.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I came across a 4" Stars and Stripes puffer at the LFS. They put it on hold for me until I'm ready.

I have a 10 gallon tank that has been up, running and ready to go.

But is a 10 gallon tank big enough to have a 4" puffer in QT for 90 days?

I have an empty 40 I can use, but it would require more work to get ready.

Thoughts?

Thank you,
Dom

20" tank X 12 "- should be. 20g more ideal but maintain good water quality and it should be doable- Not recommended but doable