Help Me Set Up A Qt

So I'm prepping to restock some fish. I don't have a QT, and as a result I had a lot of death trying to introduce new fish!
So now as I get ready to start building up to fully stocked again, I want to do it right and use a QT!
So, tell me about your QT's!

What pump/heater do you use?
-can you explain how a sponge filter works?

I have a spare 10 gallon I'll be setting up as the QT.
Based on what I've read I think I want to use a sponge filter, so I can just transfer media from my main tank when needed, right?

If the new fish never show signs of illness, can I return the media to the main filter when I'm not using the QT? Or do I need to replace it every time?

How long do you quarantine for?
How many fish would you quarantine at one time?

When setting up the QT, could I use most water from my display tank, and some new water, or should it be all tank water? (Gonna have to carry the water from the display to QT upstairs, so I'd rather just use partial tank/partial new)

Thanks for your help!

 

So I'm prepping to restock some fish. I don't have a QT, and as a result I had a lot of death trying to introduce new fish!
So now as I get ready to start building up to fully stocked again, I want to do it right and use a QT!
So, tell me about your QT's!

What pump/heater do you use?
-can you explain how a sponge filter works?

I have a spare 10 gallon I'll be setting up as the QT.
Based on what I've read I think I want to use a sponge filter, so I can just transfer media from my main tank when needed, right?

If the new fish never show signs of illness, can I return the media to the main filter when I'm not using the QT? Or do I need to replace it every time?

How long do you quarantine for?
How many fish would you quarantine at one time?

When setting up the QT, could I use most water from my display tank, and some new water, or should it be all tank water? (Gonna have to carry the water from the display to QT upstairs, so I'd rather just use partial tank/partial new)

Thanks for your help!

Hi! I'm going to try to answer your questions:

I also use a 10-gallon for a QT. I have a Tetra Whisper HOB filter that I use. I don't use actual Tetra filter media though. I run two HOBs on my main tank and keep them stuffed with lots of media. When I need to QT, I move media into the Tetra filter.

I use an Aqueon Pro 50W adjustable heater. They are a little more expensive than some, but they have been very reliable for me and keep the temperature nice and steady.

If the fish never show signs of illness, I think it would be fine to move the media back to the main tank.

Personally, I QT for a minimum of 2 weeks. If you can be patient, some people recommend even longer (4-6 weeks).

The number of fish quarantined at once depends on type of fish. Size and bio-load matter here. Ideally, all the fish should be coming from the same tank. Otherwise, you could be mixing a healthy group of fish with unhealthy fish, which is what you are trying to avoid by quarantining in the first place.

I do not believe that you need to move any water from your main tank. The filter media is the most important part. The water itself can be completely new--just treat it with Prime as you would during a water change.

I usually move over a couple of moss balls from my main tank into my QT. I now have all real plants in my main tank, but I saved a few artificial ones that I can use in my QT. If you are getting mid/upper level fish, a bare bottom tank is probably simplest. When I had cories in my QT, I did add a thin layer of sand that I moved over from my main tank.

Personally, I just keep the water pristine and observe the fish closely for signs of illness. Others have certain medications that they choose to use proactively. You can do a little more research on that. There was a thread here not long ago about that topic. I don't have it bookmarked or I would include the link.

Let me know if you think of other questions. Good luck!

 

We have for quarantine:

1. a 10 gallon.

2. Florescent lighting

3. Undergravel filter and a HOB Penguin.

4. Plants. Xmas moss, anacharis, anubis and java ferns.

5. Heater is a Acqueon.

6. The air is from the house system. A magnetically driven piston air pump.

7. Do not move the filtration to another aquarium it is not worth the risk. We keep snails and shrimp in the quarantine to not completely loose cycle. Then when I add the new fish to the quarantine I add

8. Isolation time, 4 weeks.

9. As all our aquariums are at or near full stock it is never more than a few fish at a time.

10. The water is from our five stage RO/DI unit that has been remineralized with I never take water from one aquarium and put it in another. The risk of cross contamination is too great. We have separate nets for each aquarium and I never put my hands from one right into another.

 

I have a 10 gal qt with an aquaclear 20 filter. I keep a bag of biomax in my main filter, and put it in the qt if needed. If all is healthy I stick it back in the main tank. I also use an aqueon 50W adjustable heater. Unless it's specifically a hospital tank, I have a thin layer of white sand (so I can see debris easier) a small cave and artificial plants.
When I get new fish I give them a methylene blue bath during acclimation. This helps to kill bacteria but also relieves any stress/damage from minor ammonia poisoning from transport. I also dose prazipro as a preventive for worms. Other than that, I only use meds if I see symptoms.

 

When I get new fish I give them a methylene blue bath during acclimation. This helps to kill bacteria but also relieves any stress/damage from minor ammonia poisoning from transport.

Can you tell me more about this? I haven't read about it before but it sounds like a good idea.

 

I use Kordon's methylene blue I order from Amazon. The dose is 10 drops per gallon. I have a clear Rubbermaid type "shoe box" I fill with clean water. You can use tank water as well. *if you dechlorinate the water in the "shoe box" wait at least 30 minutes before dosing the meth blue, as it will make it ineffective.
I pop and plop shipped fish, I'll just use the bag water if I buy locally. Let the fish chill in the bath for 15-30 minutes, as long as they don't look too stressed. Do NOT dump this water in your tank! Methylene blue will kill your beneficial bacteria. Acclimate to your tank as you feel best.

 

I use Kordon's methylene blue I order from Amazon. The dose is 10 drops per gallon. I have a clear Rubbermaid type "shoe box" I fill with clean water. You can use tank water as well. *if you dechlorinate the water in the "shoe box" wait at least 30 minutes before dosing the meth blue, as it will make it ineffective.
I pop and plop shipped fish, I'll just use the bag water if I buy locally. Let the fish chill in the bath for 15-30 minutes, as long as they don't look too stressed. Do NOT dump this water in your tank! Methylene blue will kill your beneficial bacteria. Acclimate to your tank as you feel best.

Thanks for the info. I've never brought home a fish that didn't look too stressed! Might be hard to tell.

 

Well, like doesn't get worse... new fish are always stressed.

 

I never had to QT a fish but this is what I have.
its a 25g under my 55 with a plastic plant a heater a sponge filter. Currently have some fry in there for grow out. If it was to be used for qt id throw some live plants in for comfort maybe as I have an abundance of elodea, and this.

a seeded power filter that runs in my 55. To be fair you could qt with a tank and heater and just do daily water changes IMO.