Cycle QT/hospital tank?

[Erok7620]

Okay, I've made the mistake of not putting new fish in a QT. Live and learn I guess. After seeing some spots on my fish recently I bought a 10g, filter, PH, heater, PVC fittings. Its all set up as I've read... no substrate or any live rock. I removed the carbon from the new filter cartridge and put in my main tank filter over night. Filled the QT with 1/2 RO 1/2 water from main tank. Added some stress zyme (mistake i think)Tested the water a few hours later and the ammonia was at 1. Ammo in my main is 0. Trites 0, trates 10, PH 8.4. Other QT tests: trites around .25, trates 5-10, PH at 8.8 I was under the impression I wouldnt have to cycle the QT.. I dont know why, I just read it in an article here or somewhere. I know most dont leave a QT setup and only set it up when needed. So what do I do? I dont want to wait a month to begin treatment on the fish. Any help would be appreciated.

[Innovator]

Depending on what you are treating for and if this animal is coming from the main display or a new acquisition, you will probably have to perform about 50% water changes/day to avoid a cycle. Most quarantines can consist of a 20g, heater, pvc, and a sponge filter or Aquaclear Mini (airstone depending on medication). Most medications would require water changes between treatments anyways. There is nothing wrong with keeping a cycled qt if you have the space.

[Erok7620]

what is the reason why there is no substrate or live rock used in a QT. Wouldnt that help filtration?

[Innovator]

Most medications will negatively influence and even destroy biological filtration. Live rock and various substrates also dilute many medication concentrations.

[Kurt_Nelson]

Putting the filter in your main tank overnight just wasn't long enough to get an effective biological filter. And since the bacteria isn't in the water, adding water from the tank didn't really do anything either. Adding stress zyme probably didn't help, but it didn't hurt either. So yes... you're going to see a cycle.

The only way you may not see a cycle is if you have a sponge filter or a HOB filter running on your main all the time, that can be switched over to the QT. Then, assuming your bioload in the QT doesn't exceed the bacteria levels in your seeded filter, you won't experience a cycle.

If you're treating with copper, live rock and sand will make it nearly impossible to keep the correct dosages of copper in suspension. The rock/sand will suck it out of the water.

[roka64]

Just a side hint. Some folks like to keep a sponge in their sump/fuge. This will help to host the beneficial bacteria that you can move to your QT. I agree, copper will leech into your substrate/LR/silicone seals/plastic and everything else it can, and will kill that same beneficial bacteria and/or inverts.

[litebrite]

Sometimes my fish have to stay in QT longer than I expected. I took a clear plastic water bottle, drilled holes in the upper top for overflow close to the lid, put a 75 gph power head at the bottom with some hard stones to keep it down and a sponge where the water flows in and filled it with a hand full of small bio balls.

Instant wet dry and filter for a 10 gallon tank. It's fully cycled so I can do just monthly water changes if I need to. 0 ammonia, 0 nitrate, and I change the water when nitrates get to about 15 ppm. But that takes about 2 months to reach that level.

When I'm done, I can empty the tank and take out my water bottle and just keep it filled so the bacteria stays wet. When I need it again, fill a tank, drop the water bottle in, plug it in and instant cycled tank ready to go provided the bacteria did not die off in the bottle.

I couldn't keep up with the daily water changes so this is second best for me.

[cmor1701d]

If I remember from your other posts you set up the QT for a hypo treatmetn for Ich. Bare bottem helps is that yo ucan vacuum out the cysts with your water changes. If you did not have a filter in the main for a week you will not have enough bacteria to avoid a cycle. Best if you are prepared to do 2x daily 20% water changes. Once in the morning and once in the evening. This will help keep the water parameters in check. It's also hard to maintain pH in hypo, so pwc's help there too.

[pat8you]

Don't mean to jack the thread but i have a quick question. People say to keep a small HOB in the sump to be ready for QT. So assuming i do that and put it in there and treat my fish for ick or something. When i'm ready to break down the QT again i can't exactly put that filter back in the main tank because it will carry over medications and possibly ick? how do you guys clean out the filter to put it back in the main?

[cmor1701d]

Ich, no. Meds, probably. If you are using it for a hyposalinity treatment the Ich parasite in all of its forms will be dead. I would dispose of the filter and use a new filter for the next time. The eqipment get's cleaned in a white vinegar bath overnight followed by fresh water rinsing, then dried and put away.

I only keep the biowheel in the sump of the main. The filter pads are new each time.
So it depens on the type of filter you are using and can you clean it of meds. Other than copper most meds will be cleaned out by gac (carbon).