Setting up a 10 gallon QT

Aurie

I just set up my 20 gallon and so I have a spare 10 gallon. In my 29 gallon I have a sponge filter I plan on using in this QT if necessary. In the QT I was planning on going bare bottom and having a couple silk plants in there for asthetics and so the new fish won't be so freaked out.

I want to set this up so when I get new fish for my 46 gallon (look @ signature) they can be in QT for 2-3 weeks and then be put into the big tank and then if no one gets sick I can go out and get the next set of fish. I have introduced the rasboras and I think next will be the Glass Catfish. I was just wondering if 10 gallons is an ok size for most fish in QT if they don't stay there long. I worry about if I get a fish that they will freak out being in a 10 gallon and get sick from stress. My LFS stores most of their fish in 20 tall tanks.

Suggestions are welcome..

jaysee

It's a good idea to put decor in quarantine tanks - fish need cover.

There shouldn't be any fish that you are going to put in a 46 gallon tank that will be too big for the 10 as a quarantine.

As for your proposed 46 stock - the rainbows will grow far too large. We all have to determine for ourselves how small is too small, but having fully grown rainbows, there's no way I would consider putting them in such a small tank. There are other species that are much better suited to the tank size. AND, you'll be able to keep a larger school, which in my experience is much more enjoyable.

Aurie

Yeah I'm still in a tossup about the rainbows. I already own the parkinsoni as a juvenile in my 29 so he's going into the 46. I'm thinking about doing some dwarf neons. If not I'm unsure what fish I could replace them with...

jaysee

Dwarf neon, maccullochi's, or the next size down are threadfins.

Aurie

So if I got a couple dwarf neons would they be ok in the QT? They'd be the biggest fish I'm going to buy. I want to introduce them all at one time after the QT..

jaysee

In my experience, rainbows are best kept in as large a school as possible. I find them most enjoyable that way as well. How many you can get at one time is dependent on transferred bacteria colony on the media. I will do several fish at once, when I get schooling fish.