QT setup timeline?

Trying to sort this out, how long should a qt tank run (assume seeded media works) before adding new fish? How quickly should new fish be added before you risk the bacteria starting to die out for lack of food/ammonia?

Will be using a new sponge filter but putting one of my seeded (hopefully) sponges from my current filter in the quarantine tank. Also plan to add from my current tank a decoration and small bag of seachem matrix (both of which theoretically have some bacteria).

If I set it up today, should I immediately add fish? If it runs for a couple days without fish will that kill the seeded media/cycle?

I'm trying to avoid getting fish, having them in a bag, and then setting up the tank and potentially finding out the seeded media isn't working.

 

I would set up the tank with water filter and heater. Let it run until you get your fish. By doing this your will know your filter and heater are running as they should. Move the seeded media over to this tank the day you get your fish.

I do have to ask though. How many fish will you be quarantining and how many fish are in the tank you are taking the media from? How long has the cycled tank been cycled? these things will determine whether the seeded media will instantly cycle the QT or just jump start the cycle in it.

 

QT well planned, you are lucky
I think you plan is sound. But even if it is not a well prepared tank, the main thing is to keep an eye on the parameters and if they show that the tank is not able to handle the bio load, then there are the frequent daily water changes.

 

I do have to ask though. How many fish will you be quarantining and how many fish are in the tank you are taking the media from? How long has the cycled tank been cycled? these things will determine whether the seeded media will instantly cycle the QT or just jump start the cycle in it.

Thanks. Main tank has been running for almost 6 weeks. Currently has two Platies, a swordtail, and a few shrimp. Will be quarantining 2-3 together at first, and after they move out into the main tank probably a 5-6 school of danio.

I have seachem stability but should I jump start the qt with something like tetra safe start plus?

Edit: I did check out my sponges in the filter (hob) today and they weren't "dirty" really. They were blue (residual from the ich meds 4 weeks ago). My intake sponge on the filter is pretty crudded up and some of the seachem matrix in the bag in the filter looked brownish.

 

Thanks. Main tank has been running for almost 6 weeks. Currently has two Platies, a swordtail, and a few shrimp. Will be quarantining 2-3 together at first, and after they move out into the main tank probably a 5-6 school of danio.

I have seachem stability but should I jump start the qt with something like tetra safe start plus?

Edit: I did check out my sponges in the filter (hob) today and they weren't "dirty" really. They were blue (residual from the ich meds 4 weeks ago). My intake sponge on the filter is pretty crudded up and some of the seachem matrix in the bag in the filter looked brownish.

At just 6 weeks I really wouldn't consider a cycle well established. I do think the intake sponge would be the best thing to use to seed this tank. It should have to most bacteria on it if you have had it running this whole time.

The number of fish you are planning on putting in the QT should work out well. Just keep a close eye on the ammonia level and be prepared to do water changes should it spike any higher than about .25

Adding some TSS+ might not be a bad idea. If I had to choose between Stability and TSS I would choose the TSS. From all I've read, unlike Stability, the TSS contains the actual bacteria we are growing in our tanks.

 

Got it, thanks. Maybe I'll add the intake sponge to the qt. I can just lay it down in the qt right (doesn't actually have to be hooked up to anything) since I have one of those small caf-10 filters for the qt. Will definitely watch the water quality.

 

Got it, thanks. Maybe I'll add the intake sponge to the qt. I can just lay it down in the qt right (doesn't actually have to be hooked up to anything) since I have one of those small caf-10 filters for the qt. Will definitely watch the water quality.

It will work better if it is actually in a filter so water is being pulled through it or at least running over it.

 

In my experience TSS+ is like a 3-5 day cycle. Also, Stability has you adding it daily for a week. TSS is a one time add. I wont use anything but TSS anymore.

 

Got it, thanks as always for the great tips. Will rig something up to get that prefilter sponge on my temp qt filter. Also will pick up some tss when we get our new fish to quarantine.