How to keep hospital/quarantine tank cycled?

[lilrhody]

We got a deal on a 20g tank and have it set up with a few decorations, but no fish, since we thought we'd use it as a quarantine/hospital tank. My big question is, how do you keep an empty tank cycled? I figure it needs to be cycled and ready all the time - otherwise what good is it?


Edited to add - we seeded the filter with media from one of our established tanks to get the cycle process going.

 

[Lupin]

You can always use the media from one of your established tanks to keep it cycled.

 

[msjinkzd]

i keep a spare filter running on one of my display tanks to move over in case of new fish (need for qt). I also keep spare sponges in my canisters that can be moved. My qt tanks are kept dry otherwise. When I set them up, I fill, add heater, add established filter and monitor.

 

[lilrhody]

You can always use the media from one of your established tanks to keep it cycled.

Do you mean consistently move media over? How often would we have to do that? I don't really want to have to take apart our filters every week.

 

[msjinkzd]

i dont' keep my qt running when it doesn't have fish in it. I leave it dry and put it away. When I need to use it, I move a filter or media to have an "instant" cycle and then monitor closely the first week.

 

[lilrhody]

i dont' keep my qt running when it doesn't have fish in it. I leave it dry and put it away. When I need to use it, I move a filter or media to have an "instant" cycle and then monitor closely the first week.

We don't have any place to store the tank, so figured it would look nicer actually set up than sitting in the dining room empty. I guess we could leave it set up without water - but then I'd have to worry about dust getting in it.

 

[msjinkzd]

well with nothing in it you could just keep your filter running and then when you go to add fish, add some cycled media.

 

[Gold Fin]

I'm thinking of keeping a small amount of fish in the isolation tank... and if I need it, they can be swapped into my large tank and rotate in the fish that need isolation. That would keep the filter cycling, right? Is there any reason to not do it this way?

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Gold Fin

 

[msjinkzd]

you could do that

 

[PhaidOut]

Personally, I don't keep a cycled tank for isolation as msjinkzd pointed out. I don't even worry about filter pads or sponges or anything like that. I may drain some water from another tank, but most of the time I am hitting quarantined fish with potent drugs that are going to kill the bacteria anyhow. So I do daily or bi-daily 50% water changes. Even new fish that I quarantine I hit with a broad spectrum chemo therapy now. I forget the name of it, but it goes after most common ailments from ick to bacterial infections.