I just started a 72 gallon reef tank and I wanted to have a different tank to put my sick fish ( if I get any) . Do I have to do the cylce the same as I did for the other tank? Do you have to buy all the same things like the wetdry and all the live rock and sand? Or can you use some of the sand from the tank that has already cycled and get a small piece of live rock?.. sorry about all the questions. But I was just worried about all my inverts.
sick tank
- Thread starter keltab
- Start date
My hospital/quarantine tanks consist of a tank, a sponge filter, an air pump, a heater, and minimal lighting.
No live rock, and definitely no substrate of any kind- many parasites require very frequent vacuuming. I do paint the sides and bottom of these tanks black for fish security, though.
You can run a sponge filter in your sump for a bit to get it seeded with bacteria, but honestly- I change the water so often in those tanks that uncycled would probably work just as well.
No live rock, and definitely no substrate of any kind- many parasites require very frequent vacuuming. I do paint the sides and bottom of these tanks black for fish security, though.
You can run a sponge filter in your sump for a bit to get it seeded with bacteria, but honestly- I change the water so often in those tanks that uncycled would probably work just as well.
How big of a tank do you buy for the hospital? And how long would you leave the sponge in the sump?
Size is completely up to you- many folks do fine with a 10 gallon. It depends to some extent on what size fish you think will need to go into it.
Personally I find a 29 gallon to be a really good size- that's what I'm using as a q-tank right now.
Running the sponge filter in the sump for 4 weeks should be plenty.
I really really urge you to quarantine every fish that will be going into your display tank. I read horror after horror story about folks neglecting to do this- or choking on the $50 q-tank set up after spending thousands on the display tank. I consider a q-tank as essential to a reef display as live rock- there really is no substitute if you intend to add fishes.
Quarantine time is a good opportunity for you and the fish to get to know each other, you can overfeed the finicky eaters because you can vacuum so easily, and if you do get a disease or parasite you won't have to tear down your display tank to catch the fish.
If you do this well you shouldn't have much need for a "hospital" tank- but if you do you will be well prepared.
Personally I find a 29 gallon to be a really good size- that's what I'm using as a q-tank right now.
Running the sponge filter in the sump for 4 weeks should be plenty.
I really really urge you to quarantine every fish that will be going into your display tank. I read horror after horror story about folks neglecting to do this- or choking on the $50 q-tank set up after spending thousands on the display tank. I consider a q-tank as essential to a reef display as live rock- there really is no substitute if you intend to add fishes.
Quarantine time is a good opportunity for you and the fish to get to know each other, you can overfeed the finicky eaters because you can vacuum so easily, and if you do get a disease or parasite you won't have to tear down your display tank to catch the fish.
If you do this well you shouldn't have much need for a "hospital" tank- but if you do you will be well prepared.
Ok, I just went to petco and I no there has been some bad reports on them but my local store was closed . I wanted to buy the tank and thought since it was a bigger place maybe it would be alittle less $ anyway, They didnt no what I was talking about when I was asking for a sponge filter?
How long do you leave your fish in this tank before they go into the display?You dont have a picture of this tank with all the others. To me it is just as important. lol
How long do you leave your fish in this tank before they go into the display?You dont have a picture of this tank with all the others. To me it is just as important. lol