Creating a QT Tank

[WaterPond]

Well... after many comments about me having alot of aquariums, and not having a QT made me think about making one.

So. here is the plan.

I am going to dispurse the reisdents of my 15 gallon throughout some of my other tanks, then i will have this one free.

So... its...
15gallons
temperature 78F
ph- neutral (7)

I am just wondering what i will need for decor and hiding spaces.

I al also wondering if live or fake plants would be more sanitary.

Any suggestions?

[theotheragentm]

I would say to go with fake plants if any at all. Basically you want this tank to have ideal conditions for sick fish or new fish before putting them into your other tanks. You don't want to have to deal with cleaning too many decorations or trying to grow plants on top of caring for the fish. I would go minimalist with it, using any substrate you have, putting a background on it and a few decorations for the fish to hide behind, but not much else.

[QTOFFER]

Definitely go the minimalist route. Substrate isn't necessary and is a PITA to clean. A bare bottom tank is much better for hospital/quarrantine.

Forget plants - fake or otherwise. Decorations (plants, driftwood, ornaments, etc) are primarily for human satisfaction, but they do provide a place for a sick fish to hide and feel secure. Instead, I'd add a few different sized PVC pipes - clean, of course. They are easy to disinfect with bleach or boiling. (Clay pots are porous and may retain medications.)

[WaterPond]

ok. so maybe some flower pots? that might look nice. I was actually thinking of totally replacing the substrate with pool filter sand. Maybe i wont go that far.

Any more suggestions.

It would be nice if i could see some pics of your guy's QT tanks

UGgggh... the dreaded POSting WHILE YOU WERE POSTING THING :P

ok, so no flower pots.

What about filtration?

[QTOFFER]

SIMULPOST!!!!

I just find that plastic is easier to clean.
A plastic pot would work - you might have to stick a few rocks in it to make it sink.

My 10 gal quarrantine tank is completely knocked down when it's not in use. I keep it's biowheel filter running on my 58 gal so it stays cycled. Another option is a small air driven sponge or corner filter that you can run hidden behind some plants in one of your other tanks when it's not needed. I do this too in case one of my HOB filters die or in case I need to have two QTs running at the same time.

If you don't have a cycled filter ready to go, you just have to do daily water changes with aged water (to prevent pH differences).

One time, I bought some aggressive cichlids that I didn't want to quarrantine with the peaceful fish already in my filtered QT. I used a brand new 5 gal paint bucket as a makeshift QT. Since I had no extra filter at that time, I removed 50% of the water every day and replaced it with water siphoned from my main tank. That eliminated pH AND temperature shifts. It worked out fine, although the daily water changes were a chore. That's when I decided that I would probably never keep discus!

Oh, yeah - you'll obviously need a heater for the QT. I have a spare 50W kicking around somewhere in case I go on a fish buying splurge.

[WaterPond]

ok... i have a cycled filter already, yes. so thats what i will use. Thanks for your help. I will let you know how it goes.