Creating A Stressless Display Qt...

Hi,
I am new. My display tank is currently in the process of being set up. I have a 29 gallon that I am wanting to stock with African Dwarf Frogs, Amano shrimp, a couple of KillI Flagfish and some GloFish Danios...

So, Ive been reading and researching, and have come to the conclusion that a quarantine tank is probably needed... In all honesty, QT's sound similar to a gun... "better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it..."

However, I do not want to just purchase a tank that will be used for a small period of time and then put up to be used only when needed.... I would like a tank that is running all the time and can be easily turned into a QT in a jiffy...
so my thoughts were to get a Fluval spec V 5 gallon tank. Lightly decorate it with some fake silk plants and a fake driftwood decoration with a substrate. I read online at advancedaquariumconcepts.com that a bare QT is the wrong way to go. due to the fact that this setup is a very stressful environment for a pet, which in turn makes the pet weak and more prone to infections... so his advice was to have a quarantine tank set up that is as similar to your display tank as possible. meaning that it should have substrate, decorations for hiding and plants.

My bottom line is to have a second smaller tank to quarantine the pets in before I put them in the display tank. but I also want it to be running all the time as a secondary display tank...

any thoughts on a display QT?

 

this is the website

 

and in case any of you were wondering, I don't mind spending a little bit of money to get a quality product that lasts... I firmly believe that you get what you pay for... that's why I would like to have the fluval spec v. it looks nice as a display and fluval makes pretty good stuff...

 

So, I guess no one has any thoughts on this?... did I just stump the forum?...lol

 

I understand your need for a display QT that minimizes stress. I would still keep it bare bottom if possible so you can clean it easily and examine poop if needed. Fake plants are definitely the easiest to maintain. I would "pot" them in unglazed terracotta pots so that its not so obvious that they are artificial. I usually throw a handful of frogbit into my QT as well since the fish appreciate the surface cover and dims the lights a bit. I am always in excess of frogbit so I just toss them when I am taking down the tank and replace with new frogbit whenever I set it back up.

If you're QTing schooling fish, I like propping a mirror up against one side of the tank. The reflection makes the fish think there's a lot nore of them in there so I feel like that should reduce stress at least a little bit.

Hope that helps

 

thank you for your input and advice.
its not so much of a need of mine to have a minimal stress tank. the website that I got that from, suggested a stressless qt tank in order for the animals to not get weaker and thus enable the disease to take shape. the idea was to have a tank that was an environment that the animal could rest and let its own body heal itself kind of like how when humans get a cold. we rest, drink plenty of fluids and let our body do the rest...

I just wanted a tank that I could quarantine animals in and then just leave it up and running as a miniature display tank... if that's even probable...just wanted experienced fish keepers thoughts on this matter. the website I linked to is the only place that has had this particular viewpoint. and for a layman, it kinda makes sense. however, I have not kept fish. have never seen a fish get sick or infected. and I have no idea on the immunity system of a fish... what its capable and not capable of handling on its own... so, that being said, I guess I will try a hybrid of some sorts. with your ideas and some of the website guys ideas. I guess part of this hobby is a trial and error game... experiment and see what does and doesn't work.

but I am lazy, and if I can get the cheat sheet from someone who has already done their homework and taken the test, so to speak, then I will gladly shut up and listen to the people who have been there and done that...

thank you for your time and knowledge Lchi!!

 

My QT was set up as a display tank. I saw no difference in behavior between decorated/substrated and mostly bare. I kept 1 mangrove root ornament and some frogbit in it either way. Be wary that keeping a QT as a display tank makes it really hard to resist stocking it. (I want to edit that I've never kept a QT 100% bare, it has something in it, just not necessarily eye-pleasing for us).

 

I kinda have the same thought. If you are buying assumingly healthy fish, qt shouldn't feel like a hospital tank. If they are stressed in qt, it could bring on illness. But then again, maybe that's a good thing, so you can catch it before it goes in the main tank. (Not talking about purposely causing significant stress) Substrate isn't necessary, but a white sand would cover the bottom and also let you keep an eye on poop, etc. definitely fake plants, but they can look good too. And something like a cave or decoration to hide in, but is easily seen into or moved so you can still observe without unnecessary stress. The light on my 10 gal qt is the little dinky led light that came with a 1.5 gallon "betta tank" I bought as a temporary home/future hospital tank, gives just enough light to see, not bright at all. I suggest not having a terribly bright light on qt.

Just know that if you have any outbreaks in qt, or need it for an actual hospital tank for a sick fish, you will probably have to bleach everything or remove/replace it.

 

Many won't agree with me but a QT tank doesn't have to be ugly. I have to look at it constantly so my QT tank has a very thin layer of gravel I can easily vacuum. Sometimes at least one fake plant. If I am not using harsh Meds I may even throw in a few live floating plants for species that it makes feel more comfortable. Fish are most susceptible to disease when they are stressed so I try to make them comfortable. I can't prove it but giving them a place to hide has some value IMO. Just having a QT tank at all takes you 90% of the way toward healthy fish. That said, if you go crazy with decoration you need to pull it and sanitize it regularly.

 

I QT in fully set up tanks - planted, cycled, the works. it's no use stressing a fish for no reason.
I am receiving some new fish this week, so I prepared a tank for them by moving some fry to another tank.
I would never use less than a 10 gallon for a QT though. The stress issue again...if you are going to hold a fish for a few weeks, the tank has to be adequate.

If you get your fish from a good source, the chances of disease are tiny. I haven't had to medicate a QT for several years. Ich a while ago - that's all. If you get your fish from a chain that uses faraway fishfarms, good luck...

 

Guys and Gals...
Thank you soo much for your experiences and knowledge.

I'm not planning on setting up a full on "hgtv" fish tank... just want it to be as comfortable as possible for the new arrivals when they come in. with that in mind, the only reason I'm getting a 5 gallon is because the fish and invertebrates that I plan on stocking with are probably only going to be 1 to 3" fully grown. (danios, ADF's, KillI fish and some amano shrimp). From what yall have said on this thread, it seems like a general consensus that it should be as stress free as possible, while making it very easy to clean and disinfect if the new arrivals do come down with something. I'm not afraid of a little work if I need to tear it down and do the whole nine yards with bleach and whatnot... its only 5 gallons... shouldnt be too bad.

Thank you Keep swimming, Angel the Gypsy, On the Fly and Navigator Black.

I planned on getting most of my livestock from liveaquaria.... they seem to have good reviews saying that their shipment of fish and invertebrates were very good. of course there is always some mistakes that happen and extenuating circumstances...( I mean come on... they are shipping live animals in bags...) but will try them out to see how they do...

Again, thanks fishy people!!

 

Guys and Gals...
Thank you soo much for your experiences and knowledge.

I'm not planning on setting up a full on "hgtv" fish tank... just want it to be as comfortable as possible for the new arrivals when they come in. with that in mind, the only reason I'm getting a 5 gallon is because the fish and invertebrates that I plan on stocking with are probably only going to be 1 to 3" fully grown. (danios, ADF's, KillI fish and some amano shrimp). From what yall have said on this thread, it seems like a general consensus that it should be as stress free as possible, while making it very easy to clean and disinfect if the new arrivals do come down with something. I'm not afraid of a little work if I need to tear it down and do the whole nine yards with bleach and whatnot... its only 5 gallons... shouldnt be too bad.

Thank you Keep swimming, Angel the Gypsy, On the Fly and Navigator Black.

I planned on getting most of my livestock from liveaquaria.... they seem to have good reviews saying that their shipment of fish and invertebrates were very good. of course there is always some mistakes that happen and extenuating circumstances...( I mean come on... they are shipping live animals in bags...) but will try them out to see how they do...

Again, thanks fishy people!!

If you're interested, Doctors Foster and Smith have free shipping no minimum for the next 2 days. When you receive your order there will be a flyer with a coupon code for 15% off your liveaquaria order. The code is good for a month/month-and-a-half. Just FYI.

 

Give Imperial Tropicals a look . I've had a good experience and like their free shipping a lot. All fish have been healthy and larger than advertised.

And a 5G is fine QT for a lot of species. Not fine for many others. If they need a 30G+ tank a 5G QT is a bad idea.

 

thanks keepswimming and on the fly...
not sure if I mentioned this, but my aquarium was just set up this weekend... no cycle or plants yet. just needing advice and input on how to proceed... but I will look into that when I get ready.

its very much appreciated.

I have pics of my tanks "rough draft" setup if yall care to see it...

 

We all like pics . At least I do.
Let us know whatever you have questions about and we will help where we can!

 

 

driftwood on the right is (Hopefully) going to be a java moss tree... see how that goes... and the rock on the driftwood on the left will be removed once its waterlogged again... left it out for too long... and I need a little more sand to finish the substrate...
and the blue lights look way bluer in the picture than in real life... it almost looks like a rave in my tank...lol... just need some glo sticks and some techno music...lol.

and thank you gypsy!!

 

It should look great when it's done!
Can I suggest Christmas moss or weeping moss for the tree? I have java moss on one driftwood piece and it's just a big jumbled mess going everywhere. I just made a Christmas moss tree today and it looks so much better, and the weeping moss will hang down in the water instead of float up. I haven't tried it yet, but I want to eventually

 

thanks,

I will use anything as long as it is somewhat "hardy".... my thumb is not that green...lol.. I have killed a boston fern in my house before... not sure what I did... that's the reason for java moss.. "they" say it is pretty much indestructible... so as long as christmas moss and weeping moss is along those same lines then I will use it... is that the case with these other 2 mosses?

 

As far as I heard. I've had the Christmas moss in a breeder net for a week before I could use it and it still looks great, after being in a box for shipment for two days. I believe weeping moss is easy as well.

I can post photos of my mosses if you like?

 

by all means, I like pics as well....lol.
just want a plant that will survive my attempts to "help" it grow... that's why the only plants I have planned so far is java mosss (or was) anubias nana and petite and water wisteria and bacopa... these seem to be idiot proof plants from what ive gathered.. and low light as well... my lighting system is a test... its not an aquarium light... and I'm not sure what the wattage is or par is... so I'm operating under the assumption that it is a low light... bought leds at lowes for about 40 to 60$ and siliconed to the underside of my glass top...

 

Add a little green and that will look very nice.

 

Java moss (and fern)


Christmas moss (ignore the orange thread, I couldn't find my black)


I originally tied the java moss with thread and then went back and used super glue, I trimmed it down today and used super glue again. I didn't super glue the Christmas, just thread.

 

I'm workin on it On The Fly...lol

working out of town makes me take this wayyyy slower than I want it to go...
hopefully I can get some plants going in a couple of weeks... I will post some more pics when I can.
thanks for the encouraging words and advice.

and thanks gypsy.
I see what you mean.... java is kinda all over the place... christmas is more of a "tree" like look. I think I'm sold. now I gotta hunt some down...

 

It's pretty easy to find online. I got mine in trade

 

I'm workin on it On The Fly...lol

working out of town makes me take this wayyyy slower than I want it to go...
hopefully I can get some plants going in a couple of weeks... I will post some more pics when I can.
thanks for the encouraging words and advice.

and thanks gypsy.
I see what you mean.... java is kinda all over the place... christmas is more of a "tree" like look. I think I'm sold. now I gotta hunt some down...

I'm not that far ahead of you on plants actually. I really didn't know anything about them until a month ago. I've learned some from Angel, Jocelyn and a few others, but I stick to the easy stuff for now. Plants are way too expensive to be killing them because I am clueless lol.

 

I'm not that far ahead of you on plants actually. I really didn't know anything about them until a month ago. I've learned some from Angel, Jocelyn and a few others, but I stick to the easy stuff for now. Plants are way too expensive to be killing them because I am clueless lol.

Haha,

you are right there... they are too dang expensive... and I already have a habit of killing my house plants.. had to give them all over to my wife to nurture back to life... so, hopefully I can get some going that are for lack of a better word, idiot proof...lol.