Quarantine Tank

[mayhem]

What is the rule of thumb when it comes to having one?
How big - 10 gallons big enough?
When should I set it up?
Set it up and Cycle when I do my 55?
Do I keep it running all the time?

Not to familiar with keeping them as I have never had one in the past

[justahannah]

Size depends on the size of your future fish...basically, if one of your fish gets sick or injured, you'll want it to be comfortable while it's being treated for however long healing takes, or for new fish 2-4 weeks. 10s are nice because a lot of medications are pre-dosed for a 10 gallon size and should work as a QT for a 55 if you're not getting huge fish.

I set mine up whenever I'm going to buy new fish to watch for/treat any diseases they come home from the store with...it's also available to sick/injured fish but luckily I haven't had to use mine for that yet.

It's good to cycle it when you cycle your main tank (if you only have one), then you have it ready for new fish, and don't have to worry about contaminating your big tank with ich or what have ya.

Once you have a main tank cycled, you don't have to keep your quarantined cycled when it's not in use...just use your quarantine filter on your main tank (or if you use a sponge filter, you can stick your sponges in your main filter) and move it over to your quarantine when you're ready to use it again, that way you always have a cycled filter w/o having to maintain an empty tank. Just remember to sterilize before moving it back to your main tank when you're done again.

Sponge filters and Aquaclear filters make the best quarantine filters, in my opinion, because other filters tend to come with charcoal built into the inserts, which will pull any medication from the water and it's a hassle to remove. Hope that helps!

[tonytheboss1]

:werd: Mines a 29g w/ A/C 110 filter. If there's a problem or a new fish (none in a long time) I take the entire basket out of the 110 on my 125g & pop it in the other 110 on the 29g. I then put fresh media in the 110 on 125g. After medicating or Q/Ting, I toss it all (not the basket), clean the 29g tank & filter parts thoroughly & ready for the next event. "T"

[msjinkzd]

What is the rule of thumb when it comes to having one?
How big - 10 gallons big enough?As mentioned, depends on what fish and how many you are qt'ing.
When should I set it up? I set mine up the day I am going to use it. I keep spare sponge filter in my display tank to use.
Set it up and Cycle when I do my 55?
Do I keep it running all the time?I don't

It doesn't have to be a glass tank, though that is nice for observation of any illness. You can use rubbermaids as well, they are cheaper and less likely to become permanently stocked. Also easy to store away.
I don't use substrate in my qt tank. I have a heater, some terra cotta pots or plastic plants, and the sponge filter.

[mayhem]

It doesn't have to be a glass tank, though that is nice for observation of any illness. You can use rubbermaids as well, they are cheaper and less likely to become permanently stocked. Also easy to store away.
I don't use substrate in my qt tank. I have a heater, some terra cotta pots or plastic plants, and the sponge filter.
I actually forgot about a 30 gallon that I let my uncle borrow a few years back. I sent him an email and asked if he still had it and if he was still using it. So it will actually be a 30 gallon until I can afford to have a 55 gallon setup and upgrade the 30 into a full blown setup :thm:
Boy, if my wife only knew...:mad2:...lol

[msjinkzd]

hahaha, good luck with that! I just add tanks and eventually my husband goes into the fish room, scratches his head, and asks "where did THAT one come from?" I can then say, "don't you remember, its been there for months". He walks away confused, lol.

[mayhem]

hahaha, good luck with that! I just add tanks and eventually my husband goes into the fish room, scratches his head, and asks "where did THAT one come from?" I can then say, "don't you remember, its been there for months". He walks away confused, lol.
hahaha..
I'll just do what I always do, put money away on the side....then one day she will come home to something new. It will be setup, nothing she can do unless she wants to take it down herself...lol and deal with her wrath for a few nights.

[Eupterus]

:lipssealedsmilie::lol:
hahaha, good luck with that! I just add tanks and eventually my husband goes into the fish room, scratches his head, and asks "where did THAT one come from?" I can then say, "don't you remember, its been there for months". He walks away confused, lol.

[Cory Keeper]

LOL rach.

For a QT tank, it doesn't need to be running but you should have cycled media for the filter on hand at all times. This can be added to your existing filter or it can sit as another filter on your main tank and transferred to the QT when you need it. Also, when the QT is over you should probably clean both the media and the filter to make sure nothing survived.
You should also have a small light. Nothing major, just enough to observe the fish to see how its doing. Another net might be in order as well, and perhaps another gravel vac. You should NEVER use something on a QT tank and then your main tank.

[mayhem]

thanks everyone....your replies will help me out

[pinkertd]

You can use rubbermaids as well, they are less likely to become permanently stocked. [/B]

Haha Rach....you need the 12 step Fishaholics Anonymous Program!!!! I like the use of "less likely"...so not impossible!

I too keep a spare small filter on one of my tanks that I can throw on a QT tank in a hurry if I need to. I also keep extra sponges in my filters that I could throw into a new filter if I needed to. But the spare tank itself is not set up until I need it.