quarantine tank help please

[grannylvsfish]

I have posted a few posts on this help but no answers so I will make a thread
I need to know this... if I take a 10 gallon tank, add the water and filter from my other tanks, and the gravel from one tank ( it has way to much any ways) will this be a good already established tank? also how do I maintain it for a quarantine tank ? do I have to add a fish to keep it going so it does not crash with out fish in it? I saw a few white spots on one of my fish, so I want to put him right in it to make sure he is ok, but when he is put back in the main tank, how do I keep the tank up and running with out fish in it again?
thanks, sorry I had to make a new thread, I just never got answers to the ones I posted else where.

 

[FtwayneFish]

K, I do it and it turns out fine for me? If your worried about no fish in it; I suppose you could "feed" it by a few flakes once a week?-I'm not too positive.

And also with my results of switching gravel, some media seeding, plants, water. I used "hardy" fish. Im sure with your stock.

 

[TKOS]

For my qt setup I use a spare 5 gallon (all small fish for me) and an HOB filter. I don't keep it setup unless I need it. But what I do is keep a piece of sponge or filter floss in my setup tanks and then move it to the qt tank when needed. After the qt has done it's job I dismantle it and throw away the floss (in case anything nastey got in it) and add some fresh to the setup tanks. This works really well for me.

I do monitor the ammonia for any spikes but rarely see them and can deal with any minor raises with a small water change. Also remember that if using the qt for medicating sick fish, there is a good chance that the meds can kill off a lot of the bacteria anyway so you would be forced into water changes for control regardless.

No need to keep a tank running for just in case.

 

[Star_Rider]

For my qt setup I use a spare 5 gallon (all small fish for me) and an HOB filter. I don't keep it setup unless I need it. But what I do is keep a piece of sponge or filter floss in my setup tanks and then move it to the qt tank when needed. After the qt has done it's job I dismantle it and throw away the floss (in case anything nastey got in it) and add some fresh to the setup tanks. This works really well for me.

I do monitor the ammonia for any spikes but rarely see them and can deal with any minor raises with a small water change. Also remember that if using the qt for medicating sick fish, there is a good chance that the meds can kill off a lot of the bacteria anyway so you would be forced into water changes for control regardless.

No need to keep a tank running for just in case.

yup, this is a good way of dong it.

keep a spare sponge or filterfloss in an established tank and transefer it over to the qt tank.

toss it(sponges are cheap) when done ..if you want you can reuse it but you will need to 'sterilize' the old sponge. (clean it in a mild bleach dip , rinse, let dry)

 

[H3D]

I need to know this... if I take a 10 gallon tank, add the water and filter from my other tanks, and the gravel from one tank ( it has way to much any ways) will this be a good already established tank?

It should cycle quickly and be suitable to put fish in to for quarantine...however reference to an "established tank" is one that has completed a cycle and been running for over 6 months IMO.

also how do I maintain it for a quarantine tank ? do I have to add a fish to keep it going so it does not crash with out fish in it? I saw a few white spots on one of my fish, so I want to put him right in it to make sure he is ok, but when he is put back in the main tank, how do I keep the tank up and running with out fish in it again?
thanks, sorry I had to make a new thread, I just never got answers to the ones I posted else where.

I use snails in my quarantine tank to keep the cycle going. It is also thought by some that snails in a tank also help prevent/fight many diseases that effect fish.

 

[rwspear76]

For my qt setup I use a spare 5 gallon (all small fish for me) and an HOB filter. I don't keep it setup unless I need it. But what I do is keep a piece of sponge or filter floss in my setup tanks and then move it to the qt tank when needed. After the qt has done it's job I dismantle it and throw away the floss (in case anything nastey got in it) and add some fresh to the setup tanks. This works really well for me.

I do monitor the ammonia for any spikes but rarely see them and can deal with any minor raises with a small water change. Also remember that if using the qt for medicating sick fish, there is a good chance that the meds can kill off a lot of the bacteria anyway so you would be forced into water changes for control regardless.

No need to keep a tank running for just in case.

:iagree:

 

[grannylvsfish]

oh thank you all so much!! I do not want a tank going non stop with nothing in it, we are getting one for snails and for shrimp already, do not have room for one empty running one for fish who may or may not get sick.. thanks I will get a tank to put away in case of need. the filter floss and or sponge? is that a bio bag? I have several filters going in my tanks so I always will have an extra one of these with bio load in them.
I appreciate all of you so much. this old granny is finally learning stuff

 

[yourchoice]

I run a sponge filter in the main tank along with the primary filter.If I need a hospital or quarrentine I add the sponge filter , water and heater to a empty tank and consider it cycled.

 

[TKOS]

Filter floss is just some cheap polywool (like inside quilts) available at all fish stores (watch out for some stuff sold at fabric stores as they may have additives). It does clog fast and needs to be rinsed frequently if kept in the main tank. Sponges can just be any generic replacement sponges at the fish store. I bought fluval replacement sponges which are very large and I cut them down so that i can stuff them in one of my HOB filter.

As mentioned they can be tossed or cleaned. At the very least have a replacement one started in the HOB when you take the first one out. And let the "diseased one" dry out completely (I suppose you could microwave it to kill anything for sure or use plain bleach and rinse well).

 

[nickmcmechan]

thats what i do, i have 2 small internal filters running in two different tanks (that dont need them)

they estabish bacteria coonies in those tanks, if i need qt at short notice i can throw it together, i have my 10g sitting empty with a heater and air pump ready to go

my understanding is that most folks keep qt tanks bare bottomed - that way its easy to see the poo - if the poo is white and stringy then it tends to be internal parasites - you can catch that quick with bare bottom and not just catch the fish pooing on the off chance