QT tank questions

[Rscott]

So i have seen enough youtube videos to freak me out about pests and bugs to make me want to get a QT tank going.

However, i am curious, with no rock and no sand and no skimmer
How does a QT tank function?
What processes the waste?

and further more, if a QT tank functions just fine with having none of the above, then why the do we have all the other items in our DT?

does the QT tank rely strictly on water changes to keep it alive?

 

[LiveWire]

A QT tank does not include pours items such as rock and sand as they will absorb copper and other medications that you are trying to keep at a certain level for a set amount of time thus causing it to be more difficult to maintain that level. Also a QT tank for fish would include medications that would wipe out corals so although you QT corals in a system to watch for hitchhikers, pests, and parasites so that those do not end up in your main display you never introduce them to those types of medications. You may dip them a few times during QT but for the most part they are really just sitting in a smaller style display like you say above the only difference is that in a smaller system you can eradicate a pest or issue much easier and having less things in the that QT also makes that much easier as well.

 

[BadFish619]

As far as your question on what processes waste, just water changes. That's why a small tank is preferred. That and medicating a large body of water is more costly

 

[Nicholas Scelzi]

Use a sponge filter or a HOB filter sized for your QT aquarium to help with the filtration. The sponge filter or foam mechincal filter media will start to build biological filtration / beneficial bacteria over time!

 

[ihavecrabs]

We are talking fish QT right? If so, agreed with the above statements.

If we are talking corals, I'd definitely run a coral QT like a display without fish. Sand, rocks, bacteria, well cycled and controlled. Dip/Rinse/Dip/Rinse/Inspect and keep them in there for 76 days for observation and further dipping if necessary.

 

[Rscott]

So how does one cycle a QT tank without the pours material?

 

[Nicholas Scelzi]

Recently went through the same issue...had to set up an emergency QT tank for no arrivals. Since I had no "seeded" media to use (because my display got ich and I didn't want to risk using a sponge from my sump that had been seeded for weeks, I bought one of those Bio Spire live nitrifying bacteria in a bottle deals. Petco sells a bottle of Bio Spira for tanks up to 30 gallons for like 8 bucks. Shake the bottle well.. pour it in the tank over the sponge filter and it helps with "cycling" a QT quickly.

 

[ihavecrabs]

Yeah, there are a bunch of bacteria in a bottle options that one can use to seed a QT system. I've had great results with Fritz Turbo start

 

[ReeferReefer]

A sponge seeded in your display system will give the QT and "instant cycle". Beyond that the QT will require more regular water changes than the display thank.

 

[Marco S]

There are some really good tutorials on setting up a QT for fish and coral that I cannot seem to find at the moment. I will link it here if I have a chance later.

Be sure to check out the Fish Disease Diagnosis and Treatment forum here also. It is full of useful sticky posts and can save your fish if you need it. There are also a few experts on there that have been extremely helpful to me in diagnosing and recommending treatments for Marine Velvet, flukes and some bacterial diseases I came across in my process. I did quarantine everything wet including my coral inverts and algae, (Yes, i said algae) so I figured I would share some photos to give you a visual of those tanks.

Here is the simplest fish QT I did for copper and PraziPro. I didn't even paint the back, just used a Trader Joe's bag. Lol I did have 3 different fish QT's that were more advanced, but can't seem to find any pics. :(

Here is one of my invert QT's. No meds for inverts just observation for 76 days so I could use rock, (and sand it you want).

Here is my current coral QT with rock and sand.

I also had a holding tank for fish with no meds just for observation. It had rock but no sand. Here is a pic of that one:

Hope that helps some...

 

[Rscott]

Thanks for all the info

Next stupid question

But it’s ok to put coral in a newly cycled QT tank
But you can’t put them in a DT that is new and only a seasoned tank

Not
Following that part?

Thanks again

 

[Marco S]

Thanks for all the info

Next stupid question

But it’s ok to put coral in a newly cycled QT tank
But you can’t put them in a DT that is new and only a seasoned tank

Not
Following that part?

Thanks again

I started out my coral QT after my DT was already up and running for a few months. I used media and water from my DT for my coral QT and added a bottle of Bio Spira just to be safe, but the tank never had Ammonia or Nitrite spikes so it was immediately cycled. I am doing weekly water changes using water from my DT as the new water so the coral will be in the same water as the DT and have less stress when finally being transferred. I started out with easy corals, (mostly LPS and Mushrooms with just 2 easier SPS) and will add more difficult ones as the tank ages. Since there will be no meds I will not clean out the tank between QT cycles so eventually the tank will be as established as my DT.

Whatever you decide to do, just make sure to test the water daily, (or as close to daily as possible) for all of your QT Tanks and be ready to re-mediate any water quality issues. You will probably loose some fish in QT either from the meds and or disease, but it would suck if you lost some because yo didn't test the water. Just my two cents though...

Good luck.

 

[Rscott]

I started out my coral QT after my DT was already up and running for a few months. I used media and water from my DT for my coral QT and added a bottle of Bio Spira just to be safe, but the tank never had Ammonia or Nitrite spikes so it was immediately cycled. I am doing weekly water changes using water from my DT as the new water so the coral will be in the same water as the DT and have less stress when finally being transferred. I started out with easy corals, (mostly LPS and Mushrooms with just 2 easier SPS) and will add more difficult ones as the tank ages. Since there will be no meds I will not clean out the tank between QT cycles so eventually the tank will be as established as my DT.

Whatever you decide to do, just make sure to test the water daily, (or as close to daily as possible) for all of your QT Tanks and be ready to re-mediate any water quality issues. You will probably loose some fish in QT either from the meds and or disease, but it would suck if you lost some because yo didn't test the water. Just my two cents though...

Good luck.

Thanks

My LFS does a medicated QT for fish

However, they don’t have anything nice for coral. So I will likely be shopping online
Hence the line of questioning. I appreciate your feedback

What SPS did you start with?

I’m probably just dreaming but have my heart set on a Superman encrusting monti :)

As I am
A noob I test everyday if not 2 times a day

 

[Marco S]

Thanks

My LFS does a medicated QT for fish

However, they don’t have anything nice for coral. So I will likely be shopping online
Hence the line of questioning. I appreciate your feedback

What SPS did you start with?

I’m probably just dreaming but have my heart set on a Superman encrusting monti :)

As I am
A noob I test everyday if not 2 times a day

I just have a Neon Birdsnest and a Bird of Paradise. I keep them on a rack closer to the light and right under the return nozzle for more flow and they seem to be doing great so far.

I wish all LFS's did QT for the livestock. I know that they would have to raise the prices, but I think most people would be okay with that. I know that I would.

 

[bdare]

The sponge filter with the bubbler provides bio filter.