Quarantine Set-up?

[Soulcoffr]

Hello everyone! I've been lurking for a while and finally registered so I can post.

Eventually, I'll be setting up a 55 gallon tank, once I move out of my in-laws house. ;) So more questions will be forthcoming...

From reading various FAQs and forums, I know that a quarantine tank is a prudent measure to insure that various bacterial and viral baddies don't get into your main tank.

My question is: How should you set up a Q-tank, and once you set it up, how do you maintain it? (I.e. keeping the nitrogen cycle going and such.)

[OrionGirl]

I don't keep a q-tank running. I have an extra sponge in my filter at all times, and can pull it out and use it in a q-tank at any time. Once removed, it gets sterilized before going back in a healthy tank. This way, you don't have a tank with water but no fish, and can always get it setup easily.

[Soulcoffr]

I see what you're saying...

So all you really need is to have a some sort of media supporting bio-filtration which you can shuttle between the tanks (with sterilization of course.) This is enough to get the quaratined fish by until such time as they can enter the main tank, correct?

Ok... next questions...

How long do you quarantine new fish and do you equip the q-tank with a heater as well?

[OrionGirl]

Yes, I have spare heaters the I use in my q-tanks. I quarantine fish for 4-6 weeks, depending on their condition. If the fish becomes sick in quarantine, then I wait until 3 weeks after it's healthy.

What goes in: sponge from healthy tank, filter. Heater. Fake plants and fake wood for cover. I tend not to light q-tanks, and I don't put in any gravel. For many loriicaids, I add some wood as well, since many need this as a food source.

[Soulcoffr]

Thanks for your help! I've just been having a hard time finding much info on quarantine tank setup.