Quarantine Tank Question

[sdellin]

I've just learned that I can't leave a tank sitting long without fish because the benficial bacteria can die. How do I manage my QT in that respect?

I generally leave it up and running until I get a new fish or sick fish. Advice please.

 

[melosu58]

Some people just put a little bit of food in the tank so that the bacteria will be fed. And I mean something small like a few small flakes or few brine shrimp. this of course is IMO

 

[AquaReefer]

I agree with melosu. Thats what I was doing I would just throw a peice of krill/or some brine in there so its spikes some ammonia. But now I just try to keep a Damsel or a molly in there.

 

[Brenden]

flake, krill, anything will keep the population up.

 

[spinman]

I have 16 ozs. of ammonium chloride powder I bought to do a fishless cycle when I set up my 120. I used a fraction of the bottle.

For my QT, once its empty of fish, I plan on using about 1/4 of 1/4 tsp every other day to keep the bio filter going. unlike food, there's no mess with ths stuff.

Cost about $8 bucks I think.

Spin

 

[binaryterror]

I was also wondering something... is it OK to have carbon filters in your QT if you are medicating? Or do you just not run the filter when you medicate?

 

[theatrus]

Carbon can strip medications out of the water in short order. I'd leave out the carbon.

 

[sdellin]

I remove the carbon and put just a bunch of plain filter floss in mine when I'm medicating. Then afterwards, I put new carbon in to help remove the medication, along with water change.

 

[melosu58]

You`ll have to remove carbon to medicate

 

[cabezon]

I need to start a quarantine tank. Every time I bring home fish from the LFS they bring ick. its like buy two lose three. My main tank is a 55 gallon with emporor 300 HOB filter. The tank is gosh, 6 onths old now, and has 4 giant danis two wags two barbs, a pleca and a bunch of plants.
So what kind of tank makes a good quarantine tank? should I get a 5 gallon kit and use water from the main. then what? I am really sick of killing fish.
TIA
Shaw
ps, I realized a hijacked a saltwater thread, sorry

 

[melosu58]

Yes you did. Bit thats OK. I agree that QT is the way to go. Dont know much about FW but I know you cant go wrong either way if you QT

 

[quarryshark]

If the fish you bring home all seem to have ich, I would consider another source.
Other than that, a qt tank (preferably a 10 gallon or bigger) is a must.

 

[cabezon]

This is two of the bigger pet stores. Would a smaller store be a better source in general? I've seen some replys in threads that they don't go to pet smart or petco. I've been alternating so that they dont see how many fish I am killing