Setting up a quarantine tank

bearwithfish

good deal *sniff snmiff* i so proud LOL

Administrator

Once I brought home and began washing out the 10 gallon tank I purchased from the person I found on Craigslist, I realized that the silicone connecting the glass panes was coming off. I went out and bought a new ten gallon tank from my LFS. Fortunately the stand, HOB filter, heater, hood, and light I purchased in addition to the 10 gallon for the same $50 was all in good shape.

I picked up a tap water deionizer at the LFS but unfortunately it didn't fit any of my faucets even with the included adapters so I had to settle for tap. I added 1 cup of instant ocean sea salt to each of the 5 gallons of water I added to the tank to bring my specific gravity to ~1.009 according to my hydrometer. I know, I need a refractomemter. I added 10 ml of Stress Coat and 1/2 teaspoon of Seachem Marine Buffer to the first 5 gallons. I also added 1/2 teaspoon of PraziPro as a preventative measure. I probably should have slowly lowered the specific gravity in the tank over the course of a few days, but it's day #2 and the 4 yellow tail damsels I bought seem fine.

I think I recall reading that it's only when increasing the salinity that it's important to do it gradually. Is that true or does it need to be done gradually both ways?

Anyhow, after years of resisting, here is my quarantine tank.

qua.jpg

It wasn't pretty, but I even managed to convince my wife to let me put it beside our display tank so that I could see them from our living room.

qua2.jpg

Only 5 weeks and six days to go...

bearwithfish

nice work sir!!!!!!!!!!!! it will pay off in the long run even with it not being what you are looking for esthetically

Administrator

Hi guys,

I have some dry rock left over from a recent purchase I made for my display tank. Can I put the left over dry rock in the quarantine tank (it's currently cycling with no fish as I explain in this thread), or is the quarantine tank not supposed to have any live rock in it for some reason?

Thanks!

Pasfur

I personally like to keep rock in my quarantine. I rarely use medications, so having the rock is a bonus.

onefish2fish

the QT isnt supposed to have rock because of meds being used AND/OR any diseases on the fish coming in that can and will find their way into the rock. i personally use a few pieces of PVC pipe in a QT because its an easy thing to clean. the PVC provides a good source of security for the new fish too.

Pasfur

Interesting thought process. Point for discussion here. How does disease infect rock? The only risk that comes to mind is that rock, when moved from one tank to the next, will also move a small amount of water from one tank to the next... possibly moving pathogens, etc that are in the water. But in terms of parasites or other disease that host/infect fish... are you saying that some of these same diseases are capable of infecting microfauna that might live within the rock?

Or are you saying that substrate is a risk because it can become a breeding ground for parasites and disease? Which I am included to support.

onefish2fish

i feel both substrate AND rock can be a place parasite/disease cling onto hitching into the next tank. i would say esp with things like ich that have a life cycle. after a period without fish, i would say alot of things would die off without the presence of a host fish.

if you put rock into a QT i would not put it anywhere else afterwards. i would also be afraid of passing things on from fish to fish.
i set up a QT when planning a fish purchase, and when its done serving its purpose break it down, clean it, and store it until another fish purchase is planned. i do not continueously have it set up and running, this is something that can help prevent impulse buys.

Pasfur

Again, this just shows that there are multiple ways to be successful. To me a Q tank is not about medication and treatment. It is about comfort, relaxation, and prevention. I attempt to create a very natural environment, with the exception of a low salinity. I typically us a UV on my Q tank and take great care to select fish which I have observed for multiple visits to the LFS and believe to be disease free.

I will say, that I frequently recommend the type of Q tank being suggested here by OF2F. And I have used them in the past with equal success. Bare bottom, sponge filter, PVC for hiding. But over the last couple of years I have changed to a more natural approach.

Bottom line, Mike, if you decide to add the live rock then be prepared to move the live rock out of the tank if you need to medicate.

onefish2fish

i dont medicate but observe during q. if i see or feel the need to then use something, thats when ill make the choice. i wont argue theres more then one way of doing things, there is no exception with this hobby.