QT tank question - Aquarium Advice

Dr.Nate · 03-29-2005, 04:31 PM

Alright, alright, I've finally decided to start a [acronym:dfbb2b59dc="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:dfbb2b59dc] tank after reading everyone's woes with ick and battling it myself for the better part of a month and a half. But now I'm afraid I did my [acronym:dfbb2b59dc="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:dfbb2b59dc] wrong....I used water from the main tank....didn't put any substrate at all....have a great filter and heater and then put a piece of live rock in there too. It's only a 10 gallon [acronym:dfbb2b59dc="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:dfbb2b59dc] and I'm gonna have three fish in there treated with copper. Did I do anything wrong?

Ximat · 03-29-2005, 04:47 PM

Remove the Live rock, the copper will kill anything living on it, and you won't ever be able to put it in your display tank. Get a couple [acronym:0adcb60142="Plastic pipe"]PVC[/acronym:0adcb60142] pieces for hiding.

No substrate is right, it will absorb the copper.

Filter wise, don't put any carbon in it, the carbon will absorb the copper as well. Remember anything you use in there such as your heater, filter, powerhead, should never be placed back into a display tank that may house inverts.

Also, how many fish do you plan on [acronym:0adcb60142="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:0adcb60142]'ing at one time? a 10g tank *may* be too small.

Phyl · 03-29-2005, 05:09 PM

Using water from the main is fine too. You're going to be treating that water anyway. Just don't use any water from the main once you've started treatments. If you're going to use copper make sure to get the right copper, the matching test kits and have PLENTY of water on hand to do water changes. Is copper the best choice of treatment given your fish selection? If you're not sure ask around the sick fish forum for answers. Those guys are great!

quarryshark · 03-29-2005, 05:33 PM

Agree, unless your 3 fish are all less than about 2" each, you will be battling major ammonia in a 10 gallon. What are the fish and how big?

Dr.Nate · 03-29-2005, 05:37 PM

I have an inch and a half clown, a one inch bicolor pseudochromis, and a 3 inch tang. Can I just use the live rock if I don't plan on adding it back to the main?

Ximat · 03-29-2005, 05:44 PM

The rock is still going to absorb the copper, so make sure you test the copper levels on a daily basis to assure that they are at the proper therapudic levels.

With that many fish you will definatly battle a fight with amonia. I would consider at least a 20g tank. Have pleanty of water so you can do daily water changes.

Phyl · 03-29-2005, 05:54 PM

The Live rock will also have die off contributing to an ammonia spike. I treated with hypo and I put a few pieces of base rock in (nothing to die off, plenty of space for bacteria). It made my fish MUCH more relaxed and I think aided his healing process. Since copper isn't involved that isn't a problem but with copper I would be worried about a very unstable environment with the rock absorbing/leaching copper. Unless I'm mistaken the copper is going to kill off your bio filtration anyway, isn't it? The rock would then be of very little use (no more so than the [acronym:e6b1b452c0="Plastic pipe"]pvc[/acronym:e6b1b452c0] fittings, anyway).

In a 15g tank with just my PT I battle to keep ammo below .2. Tangs are pretty messy fish.

quarryshark · 03-29-2005, 05:56 PM

Quote:

I have an inch and a half clown, a one inch bicolor pseudochromis, and a 3 inch tang.

Yes, I would go with a 20 or sure.

Quote:

Can I just use the live rock if I don't plan on adding it back to the main?

Anything porous is a bad idea in a hospital tank, will throw any med that you may use out of wack due to absorbtion. Just use [acronym:d9a2da3a71="Plastic pipe"]PVC[/acronym:d9a2da3a71] elbows for the fish to hide in.
Bare bottom is the best.

:P

Dr.Nate · 03-29-2005, 06:02 PM

wow, I didn't realize that [acronym:a16c304996="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:a16c304996] would absorb the copper....thanks

Dr.Nate · 03-29-2005, 06:05 PM

Oh, and one more question....can I add new live rock to my main tank while it is fallow? Shouldn't affect the parasite dying off any, right?

03-29-2005, 04:31 PM	#1
Dr.Nate Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: TX Posts: 476 Images: 28	QT tank question Alright, alright, I've finally decided to start a [acronym:dfbb2b59dc="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:dfbb2b59dc] tank after reading everyone's woes with ick and battling it myself for the better part of a month and a half. But now I'm afraid I did my [acronym:dfbb2b59dc="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:dfbb2b59dc] wrong....I used water from the main tank....didn't put any substrate at all....have a great filter and heater and then put a piece of live rock in there too. It's only a 10 gallon [acronym:dfbb2b59dc="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:dfbb2b59dc] and I'm gonna have three fish in there treated with copper. Did I do anything wrong?

03-29-2005, 05:09 PM	#3
Phyl Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 2,107 Images: 30	Using water from the main is fine too. You're going to be treating that water anyway. Just don't use any water from the main once you've started treatments. If you're going to use copper make sure to get the right copper, the matching test kits and have PLENTY of water on hand to do water changes. Is copper the best choice of treatment given your fish selection? If you're not sure ask around the sick fish forum for answers. Those guys are great! __________________ Phyllis Join the NJ Reef Club Today! Saving the world's reefs one living room at a time! Next meeting: Eric Borneman, Dana Riddle, & Charles Mazel on October 25, 2008

03-29-2005, 05:54 PM	#7
Phyl Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: NJ Posts: 2,107 Images: 30	The Live rock will also have die off contributing to an ammonia spike. I treated with hypo and I put a few pieces of base rock in (nothing to die off, plenty of space for bacteria). It made my fish MUCH more relaxed and I think aided his healing process. Since copper isn't involved that isn't a problem but with copper I would be worried about a very unstable environment with the rock absorbing/leaching copper. Unless I'm mistaken the copper is going to kill off your bio filtration anyway, isn't it? The rock would then be of very little use (no more so than the [acronym:e6b1b452c0="Plastic pipe"]pvc[/acronym:e6b1b452c0] fittings, anyway). In a 15g tank with just my PT I battle to keep ammo below .2. Tangs are pretty messy fish. __________________ Phyllis Join the NJ Reef Club Today! Saving the world's reefs one living room at a time! Next meeting: Eric Borneman, Dana Riddle, & Charles Mazel on October 25, 2008

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03-29-2005, 04:47 PM	#2
Ximat Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Arkansas, USA Posts: 278	Remove the Live rock, the copper will kill anything living on it, and you won't ever be able to put it in your display tank. Get a couple [acronym:0adcb60142="Plastic pipe"]PVC[/acronym:0adcb60142] pieces for hiding. No substrate is right, it will absorb the copper. Filter wise, don't put any carbon in it, the carbon will absorb the copper as well. Remember anything you use in there such as your heater, filter, powerhead, should never be placed back into a display tank that may house inverts. Also, how many fish do you plan on [acronym:0adcb60142="quarantine or quart depending on context"]QT[/acronym:0adcb60142]'ing at one time? a 10g tank may be too small.

03-29-2005, 05:33 PM	#4
quarryshark Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 5,377 Images: 53	Agree, unless your 3 fish are all less than about 2" each, you will be battling major ammonia in a 10 gallon. What are the fish and how big?

03-29-2005, 05:37 PM	#5
Dr.Nate Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: TX Posts: 476 Images: 28	I have an inch and a half clown, a one inch bicolor pseudochromis, and a 3 inch tang. Can I just use the live rock if I don't plan on adding it back to the main?

03-29-2005, 05:44 PM	#6
Ximat Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Arkansas, USA Posts: 278	The rock is still going to absorb the copper, so make sure you test the copper levels on a daily basis to assure that they are at the proper therapudic levels. With that many fish you will definatly battle a fight with amonia. I would consider at least a 20g tank. Have pleanty of water so you can do daily water changes.

03-29-2005, 06:02 PM	#9
Dr.Nate Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: TX Posts: 476 Images: 28	wow, I didn't realize that [acronym:a16c304996="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:a16c304996] would absorb the copper....thanks

03-29-2005, 06:05 PM	#10
Dr.Nate Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: TX Posts: 476 Images: 28	Oh, and one more question....can I add new live rock to my main tank while it is fallow? Shouldn't affect the parasite dying off any, right?