quarantine tank question

G

gmcb

AC Members
Sep 28, 2008
171
0
0
Pennsylvania
Hi!
I have a 40 g. tank with goldfish (going great).
I have a 10 g. tank that I kept as a hospital tank for the goldfish. Kept the water changed, etc.
Had some snails in it while growing to appropriate size to go to the goldfish tank.
Then, decided to add substrate etc. and buy tropical fish. I have 4 rasboras and an oto cat who are all doing well. Tomorrow is day 7.
Here's the question.
Everyone recommends quarantining new fish before adding them to the tank.
Does that mean I must purchase another 10 g. tank? I don't have room for another tank. What are my options?
Thanks.
 
It's pretty simple. You can choose not to quarantine, but you risk the health of all the fish in your tank. You can use a smaller tank, my current one is only 1 gal.
 
Hey gmcb, many other things can serve as a quarantine "tank" in a pinch if you don't have another fish tank available... from a large bucket (clean/unused) to one of those oversized tupperware storage bins. Just use something appropriate to the size of the fish.

Keep a spare air pump and air stones handy, along with a thermometer and a small heater. A small filter you could use would be helpful too. But even without that, you could get by doing daily water changes. Just keep the water clean and use conditioner. Having some leafy plastic plants on hand would also provide cover for the fish. Those are easy to clean in very hot tap water before you need to use them again.
 
Thanks for the quick replies. I have everything but the small heater. I don't keep it up and running, just use it when I am adding fish? I guess set it up a few days before getting the fish so that the temperature is stable.
I don't want to risk losing my fish. Been through too much of that early on.
 
If this is something unexpected, you could scoop out some tank water that's already available - you're not waiting then for the temperature to adjust. Keep a spare sponge or some filter floss in your HOB (or canister if you want to break that open to get to it). Rinse that out in some tank water and set up your spare filter with it. Can also bring over some sand or gravel from your main tank by putting it into a media bag or knee-high pantyhose. If you have everything else already, you can get a well functioning holding tank or QT set up in 30 minutes and it's fairly well balanced already to handle the bioload. If the fish turns out to be healthy, everything can go back where you got it with just a quick rinsing.

If you need this setup to observe or medicate a sick fish, you may or may not bother to transfer beneficial bacteria and just rely on frequent water changes instead.
 
FYI: You can purchase a 5 gallon bucket from home depot for $2.50. Just went in there today and they're having a sale. lol! :)
 
I run a small sponge filter on my large tank for just this occassion it is always cycled all I have to do is take some water from my tank. pop in a heater and the cycled filter. If I use it for sick fish I just replace the sponge and clean the filter before placing it back in the big tank to cycle again.
 
Kashta said:
Hey gmcb, many other things can serve as a quarantine "tank" in a pinch if you don't have another fish tank available... from a large bucket (clean/unused) to one of those oversized tupperware storage bins. Just use something appropriate to the size of the fish.

Keep a spare air pump and air stones handy, along with a thermometer and a small heater. A small filter you could use would be helpful too. But even without that, you could get by doing daily water changes. Just keep the water clean and use conditioner. Having some leafy plastic plants on hand would also provide cover for the fish. Those are easy to clean in very hot tap water before you need to use them again.
Click to expand...
:iagree: Just do 100% WC daily and good-to-go ;)

Before I picked up a 10G freebie at a yard sale I used a 5G kitty litter bucket (cleaned of course)! Air hose/pump and heater. I just set the bucket near a window for ambiant light
 
Excellent suggestions regarding the transferring the tank water. And, I have four of the Home Depot buckets. Ha ha. Bought them before I bought the python! I have a big heater (set for 40 g tank). I thought to buy a smaller one. I think I'm set based upon your wonderful guides.
Thank you.
 
Haha. BTW: The quickie set up everyone was refering to has worked out really well for me. Gravel in a mesh bag, filter bio from the original tank and some water from the original tank. WC's daily if used for fish sick.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom