I was wondering if some of you could help us newbs out with the best way to set up and keep a hospital tank? Should it be up and running all the time , cycled and ready to go if a fish should become sick? Should I just be running a sponge filter in my main tank , and putting it in a hospital tank only when it needs to be set up? I would like to hear from some people to see what you do!!
Hospital tank
- Thread starter aquanewb7
- Start date
I'm no expert, but I have a 10 GAL hospital setup. It runs 24/7 just like my 55GAL, and I use a bio filter. It doesnt have any fish in it, but I might be adding an Otto cat to help with the algae. It has no plants, and a gravel subtrate. I cycled it by cleaning my filters from my 55GAL tank and it took about a month to complete. I haven't had to use it yet, thank goodness.
I hope that little bit of info helps.
I hope that little bit of info helps.
Jamz-
So you're feeding ammonia to the tank? Seems easier to keep a couple cories or guppies in there than to have to do that.
So you're feeding ammonia to the tank? Seems easier to keep a couple cories or guppies in there than to have to do that.
mvigor said:
No, never fed Ammonia. I filled the 10 GAL hospital, and over the last month, when I did water changes in my 55 GAL, I would rinse my filters in the hospital tank. I tested it and it all seems good. Am I doing a bad thing here?
Thanks for the info. I currently have a ten gallon set up, with a sick fish that doesn't seem to be getting better or worse. I had to set it up when I noticed that the fish was sick, so I am sure that this poor bleeding heart tetra has gone through some tough conditions. I have put some filter floss from my other tank which is measuring 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and very low nitrate levels, hoping that this helps the hospital tank. I think I will keep it set up and add gravel to it once this fish is better.
Seems to me though, hospital tanks must go through alot of cycling processes. When medicating fish, it ruins the biofilter and then a new cycle must happen.
I am going to keep two portions of filter floss in my main filter so that I can be ready.
Seems to me though, hospital tanks must go through alot of cycling processes. When medicating fish, it ruins the biofilter and then a new cycle must happen.
I am going to keep two portions of filter floss in my main filter so that I can be ready.
jamz-
The ammonia eating bacteria in the tank will grow to a culture size that can be maintained by the constant supply of food for them.
In other words, with no fish peeing in that tank, you have very little or no ammonia to feed bacteria, so they don't live and thrive in there.
Basically your tank is uncycled because even when you add in good bacteria from other filters, there is nothing to sustain them and they will die without their source of food, which is the waste of fish...ammonia.
However, you are saying that you have other tanks running, so if/when you do need your hospital tank, you will have a good source for a starter culture and all will be well.
The ammonia eating bacteria in the tank will grow to a culture size that can be maintained by the constant supply of food for them.
In other words, with no fish peeing in that tank, you have very little or no ammonia to feed bacteria, so they don't live and thrive in there.
Basically your tank is uncycled because even when you add in good bacteria from other filters, there is nothing to sustain them and they will die without their source of food, which is the waste of fish...ammonia.
However, you are saying that you have other tanks running, so if/when you do need your hospital tank, you will have a good source for a starter culture and all will be well.
mvigor,
OUTSTANDING POST.
I am obviously still learning, and that info just saved me a huge headache.
Thanks.
aquanewb7,
I didnt mean to hi-jack your thread.
OUTSTANDING POST.
I am obviously still learning, and that info just saved me a huge headache.
Thanks.
aquanewb7,
I didnt mean to hi-jack your thread.
aquanewb7 said:
Personally I think I would just keep the hospital tank dry and empty, sitting covered on a shelf when I didn't need one. If you have a place to be running a sponge filter in your main tank, that would be the perfect filter to use when you need to fill the hospital tank, especially because the hospital tank will usually only be used for one or two fish at a time. There will be a large amount of good bacteria on the sponge when you move it with the sick fish.
Drawbacks to not running it all the time include that you can't have your hospital tank IMMEDIATELY ready, because it will take you a few hours to get it set up. You also have to either trust your extra heater or watch it closely at first.
Advantages would be that you don't have to keep fish in it (and figure out where to put THOSE fish when you need the hospital tank for an incompatible fish), and also that you won't be tempted to just stop calling it a hospital tank and make it one of your fully stocked tanks.
P.S. Thanks Jamz!
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Thanks for the info - I've been thinking about this alot lately as I've been getting together the supplied for my first hospital / q-tank (10 gal).
The thing I'm struggling with is the whole making the best use of it thing (and I don't even have it up yet
)
I'm seriously considereing keeping a few hearty fella's in the 10gal for show since I'd like to keep in near the show tank anyway, then moving them to the 55 when it's necessary to use the tank for a q-tank or hospital tank. This will also keep the 10gal fully cycled and ready for immediate use.
Then, when I'm done with the hospital, I disinfect it (using bleach, good multiple rinses, & dechlor) fill it back up, then put the hearty fishies back in the 10gal along with some filter media from the 55.
Hopefully I don't have to use the 10gal as a hostpital or q-tank very often, so this meathod makes more sense to me as it will be a nice little extra display 95% of the time and immediately ready should I have a sick one or the uncontrollable urge to get a new friend.
What do you experts think of this theory? Please feel free to shoot holes
-jeff
The thing I'm struggling with is the whole making the best use of it thing (and I don't even have it up yet
)I'm seriously considereing keeping a few hearty fella's in the 10gal for show since I'd like to keep in near the show tank anyway, then moving them to the 55 when it's necessary to use the tank for a q-tank or hospital tank. This will also keep the 10gal fully cycled and ready for immediate use.
Then, when I'm done with the hospital, I disinfect it (using bleach, good multiple rinses, & dechlor) fill it back up, then put the hearty fishies back in the 10gal along with some filter media from the 55.
Hopefully I don't have to use the 10gal as a hostpital or q-tank very often, so this meathod makes more sense to me as it will be a nice little extra display 95% of the time and immediately ready should I have a sick one or the uncontrollable urge to get a new friend.
What do you experts think of this theory? Please feel free to shoot holes
-jeff
I too prefer to leave them empty for the points made by mvigor.
When I need a hospital I fill it with water from the main tank and drop in a box filter. I don't worry much about the cycle because the meds or high salt often kill the bacteria anyway. Instead I do daily water changes > 50% and redose the meds.
Much like we would want our own hospital to be, the fish's should be immaculate with no substrate. With a bare bottom you can siphon out feces and uneaten food daily. I use plastic plants, and a flower pot (if needed) for some cover. No lights either to stress the fish.
When I need a hospital I fill it with water from the main tank and drop in a box filter. I don't worry much about the cycle because the meds or high salt often kill the bacteria anyway. Instead I do daily water changes > 50% and redose the meds.
Much like we would want our own hospital to be, the fish's should be immaculate with no substrate. With a bare bottom you can siphon out feces and uneaten food daily. I use plastic plants, and a flower pot (if needed) for some cover. No lights either to stress the fish.