Red tailed sharks

We plan on treating Ick for 4 weeks to make sure that the parasites have gone through 2 life cycles, don't want to take the chance of getting it again.
Before we even think about getting any new fish we will definitely look into a 10 gallon quarantine tank. Thanks for all the info.
 
Litespeed said:
We plan on treating Ick for 4 weeks to make sure that the parasites have gone through 2 life cycles, don't want to take the chance of getting it again.
Before we even think about getting any new fish we will definitely look into a 10 gallon quarantine tank. Thanks for all the info.
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Litespeed

What I will be saying everyone will indicate is coming from a heretic!

Forget the Q Tank!

If the RTS is exhibiting the symptoms then other fish may soon also.

Slowly increase the temperature from 78F to 84F and the salt concentration from 1 Tablesponn/20 Gallons to 1 Tablespoon/10 Gallons over a four day period.

If the ich on the RTS is not gone than increase the temperature to 86F and the salt concentration to 1 Tablespoon/5 Gallons.

If the ich on the RTS is not gone then it is time for Melafix while maintaining the temperature and salt concentration.

Once the ich is not observable decrease the temperature and salt concentration slowly over a 5 day period.

TR

Please note that you will observe a very distinctive odor due to the Melafix.

In addition the instructions on at least one Melafix bottle are misleading.
The recommended dosage of Melafix is daily.
 
Jones, they are saying QT before putting new fish into an established tank.
 
That's right TR. The quarantine tank is for the future. It's a bit late now for the current fish! I wouldn't suggest that you are a heretic - unless you are saying that it wouldn't be a good idea to have that quarantine tank for future purchases?
Beasts
 
We are going to use the quarantine tank for any future fish we purchase. I'm very leery about purchasing ANY fish from our local aquarium store, since the three we purchased from them died. The red tailed shark we did purchase at Petco or Petsmart, but I have a feeling something else happened there, like he got tangled in one of the fake plants while we were taking out the water and couldn't get out in time. He was just to lively before that.

My husband has an moral issue with keeping any fish in the QT just to keep the filter going. I know it probably sounds stupid but he feels like he would be putting the fish in the QT in prison while the other fish live the high life.
Could we just add fish food and let that make the ammonia to keep the bio filter alive???
 
Litespeed said:
My husband has an moral issue with keeping any fish in the QT just to keep the filter going. I know it probably sounds stupid but he feels like he would be putting the fish in the QT in prison while the other fish live the high life.
Could we just add fish food and let that make the ammonia to keep the bio filter alive???
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LS:

Please excuse my straightforward West Texan here.

My comments are based on various experience as well two 5G tanks which I am using for acclimatization of fish to the water parameters of my main tank and not necessarily for quarantine.

My two 5G's have very, very rudimentary biowheel filtration and although I keep the media cleaned I do not count on it for filtration.

I do approximate 90% WC's daily of the two 5G's from the water in my main tank.

As I have never had an exclusively "quarantine tank" I can only state that I do not believe that the adding flakes and generating ammonia is "the way to go" as IMHO this will be at least detrimental if not lethal to your newly acquired fish.

Maybe keeping a small sponge filter in your main tank which can be moved to your QT tank along with 90% daily WC's will work for you.

BTW: LS please ask BT what the life of fish bred by the major commercial vendors was like prior to your TLC?

TR
 
Litespeed,
I suppose it's all relative. Those comets I suggested would probably have gone for oscar food if I hadn't purchased them. In the pet stores they keep hundreds in 55 gallon aquariums. That is certainly worse than 2 in a 10 gallon aquarium. Confining any fish to an aquarium could be considered morally wrong when you compare the space in most any home aquarium to what is available in the wild. However, a good hobbyist provides a clean environment with ample food and no exposure to predators - a cushy life.
Just playing devil's advocate here but do you and your husband eat veal, pork or chicken. If so consider the conditions those animals are kept in prior to slaughter. When commercially raised all of these animals are kept in tiny pens, indoors where they rarely see the light of day and have a very abbreviated life span. Not trying to be difficult, just food for thought.
Beasts
 
I agree with you entirely, it's my husband I have to convince. Maybe if I put it to him that way he might see it in a different light. I will also have him talk to someone at the aquarium store and maybe they can convince him it's not such a bad life for a fish. It's not like we are going to feed the fish to a turtle or something. I think he still feels really bad that we lost so many fish so quickly. He originally thought that since we had the killer filter and a big tank and would do regular water changes and check the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate every few days, the rest would take care of itself and we wouldn't lose any fish. About 25 years ago when he had another aquarium he only had 4 or 5 big fish, Oscar's, silver dollar, stuff like that in the tank and he NEVER EVER checked the ammonia, nitrite or nitrate and he would only do water changes when the filter started running slow. Somehow or other the fish actually lived quite a few years and he had no outbreaks of any illnesses. The only reason we lost the fish was because my brother didn't know anything about aquarium, thought the heater was to hot and shut off everything while we were on vacation. That about killed my husband, he was VERY attached to those fish and decided he didn't want to start all over again, so we have never had an aquarium until now.
 
fishorama said:
You don't need fish in the Q tank, just keep the filter on the big tank when not needed. (read my earlier post, a bit rambly)
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Folks:

My comments were addressed to my experience with small tanks (only two 5G) and I would appreciate your input.

As I indicated in a previous post the biowheel filtration which "came with these tanks" was very rudimentary and I did not believe "that I could count on it for adequate filtration".

Placing the media in the main tank would be unaesthetic for me.
My tact, although I have only done it once, is to "fire up the small tanks" twenty days prior their actual use when filled with main tank water and add a teaspoon of flakes ever few days.

Then immediately prior to receiving new fish do a bottom cleaning of the tanks and a 90% WC with the main tank water.

TR
 
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