Setting up a QT

[ReeferMan]

OK i admit that i have never set one up before but after all this fish desease stuff i have been through, i will. I need to know a few things though. Should a QT always be running and ready or is it something that people setup overnight. If its running 24/7 what maintanece needs to be done? Whats needed besides a pump and a heater? How often do water changes need to be done?Is a hang on filter needed? How often is copper put in the tank?

[rocko918]

Chris, what i do is always have a few sponges in my sump of my 75, just in case i do have to setup a q-tank. If i need one i take enough water from the 75 (basically do a water change) use that water for the q-tank. Then i use one of the sponges from the sump and stick it in a filter. Can be hob, canister, what ever you want. Add a heater and a power head or 2.

 

You do want to keep an eye on the water params, so water changes weekly is always good. I never do a full water change on it. Stick a light on it and maybe some cheato to help with nitrates. I keep some chemicals like prime or amquel on hand as well. I have only had to set it up onces when i had ick.

[ReeferMan]

will water prams be a problem day to day? Sponges (what kind, I m thinking household)? If you put in chaeto do you put it back in the sump or throw it out?( I am thinking chemicals will on the chaeto)

[Ne0eN]

will water prams be a problem day to day? Sponges (what kind, I m thinking household)? If you put in chaeto do you put it back in the sump or throw it out?( I am thinking chemicals will on the chaeto)

 

Chris, we keep a cheap corner sponge filter you can buy at PetCo running in a sump. Most household sponges you buy at the supermarket come laced with detergents. Good idea about the chaeto, Bob... I'll have to try it.

 

-- Rob

[flowerseller]

Bob,

The sponge in the sump idea is a good one.

 

(what kind, I m thinking household)?

Chris, stop thinking.

[rocko918]

when I say sponge, I mean the type you get with filters, not household!!!!! They are usually black, sometimes they come with power heads.

 

If you do put cheato in there with chemicals you can toss the cheato. It grows so fast I doubt you will miss it. If you do need more I have plenty.

[ReeferMan]

when I say sponge, I mean the type you get with filters, not household!!!!! They are usually black, sometimes they come with power heads.

 

If you do put cheato in there with chemicals you can toss the cheato. It grows so fast I doubt you will miss it. If you do need more I have plenty.

 

 

Man its been a wicked two days for me and i wasnt thinking. I have a few sponges, ill give it a try. I think i am going to setup a QT 24/7 from now on. If i dont have the sponge that been in the sump for some time, can i assume that there is enough bacteria to process ammonia? Or is 2-3 small water changes a week enough?

[Guest Bemmer]

You need to leave the sponge in your sump for as long as you can to grow the bacteria on it. Also, if you have a few small pieces of LR from your main tank you can put them in the QT tank as well to help build up the bacteria in the tank. (don't put the LR back in your main tank if you treat the QT tank) I have two QT tanks, one for fish and one for corals. I keep them both up 24/7...at least until I get my main tank fully stocked with the fish. Anyway, if you keep a couple of filter sponges in your sump at all times and have a powerhead, HOB filter, heater and some larger 2"-3" diameter PVC connections (90 elbow or 45 or a "tee") laying around, you can set up a QT tank in very quickly.

 

Also, I forgot to mention in my PM to you, that I keep my salinity at 1.009 when treating for Marine Velvet or Ich. Have you done a hypo salinity before? You have to reduce the salinity gradually over about a week so the fish are not shocked by the change in salinity. I have not used cooper in my QT tanks yet.

[rocko918]

IMHO - i would skip the LR all together. No need to do that, you might get it mixed up with some other rock and put it back in the main tank. Could be a disaster.

 

For now, just use tank water, and power heads until the sponge has been in the sump for a while.

 

Or you can swing by and take one of mine, I have a filter pad in there now.

[ReeferMan]

IMHO - i would skip the LR all together. No need to do that, you might get it mixed up with some other rock and put it back in the main tank. Could be a disaster.

 

For now, just use tank water, and power heads until the sponge has been in the sump for a while.

 

Or you can swing by and take one of mine, I have a filter pad in there now.

 

 

once sponge goes to the QT its safe to assume that i can be tossed right?

[rocko918]

Depends on what you do with it. I have never used any chemicals in my q-tank other than prime or amquel. Maybe some other treaments but not copper. I guess it depends on what you use in the q-tank.

 

I have not tossed any of the sponges i use.

[ReeferMan]

Depends on what you do with it. I have never used any chemicals in my q-tank other than prime or amquel. Maybe some other treaments but not copper. I guess it depends on what you use in the q-tank.

 

I have not tossed any of the sponges i use.

 

 

if you use copper you cannot put it back in the sump though. Right now i have ruby reef and copper in my QT so i would have to toss them

[rocko918]

you could reuse them in the same tank, just not in your sump. If you plan on keeping the qtank up an running you would not have to toss them.

[tygger]

How about if after 1 month in the quarantine and you don't notice any diseases, is it safe to put the sponge back into the main tank/sump?

[rocko918]

Depends on what you put in the q-tank. What chemicals?