Quarantine Tank Setup Help

...if people don't like me or I'm just not doing this right but I need some help if you can provide it.

I need to get a 10 gallon QT going. And I need to get a fish in there asap. So my question is what do I need to do? Like with cycling and using water from the main tank...things like this.

What I do know is that I need to make it comfortable for them with substate and hiding places but not over doing it. A basic sponge filter is good because carbon and medicine don't mix.

So....I know I need it to get to temp and pH balanced and what not. But do I need to worry about cycling? Because if I understand right any antibiotic will kill the good bacteria anyway.

Maybe no one responds to my posts because I don't make them short enough?

Please help with this one guys. I lost one gill baby today. I don't want to lose anymore.

 

If you can take some media from your main tank I would. Not all antibiotics will kill a cycle. In the future just keep your sponge filter hidden behind something in your main tank then transfer to your qt when needed. Replace in main tank after cleaning if not using in qt anymore.

If not you will have to do water changes often, but that can be difficult with a medicated qt.

 

If you can take some media from your main tank I would. Not all antibiotics will kill a cycle. In the future just keep your sponge filter hidden behind something in your main tank then transfer to your qt when needed. Replace in main tank after cleaning if not using in qt anymore.

Sorry let me edit: Okay so if I go get the tank tonight and the HOB filter, would putting it on the back of the main tank tonight do anything for me?

 

Hi, sorry you're having a rough time. I haven't been on since like last week so I don't know what's up.

A 10 gallon with a sponge filter makes a decent quarantine/hospital tank. Usually you would want it cycled depending what meds you will be using. But if you're in a pinch then just set it up.

I use API general cure, erythromycin or ick cure depending what I'm treating or or if I'm quarantining new comers. Going that route you could/would be doing water changes every two days so it wouldn't really be an issue that it's not cycled. Especially if you use Prime water conditioner (dosed for the full 10 gallon each time).

I might be able to help more if I knew your exact situation. Like what fish would go into the 10 and what they'd be treated for etc.

 

Sorry let me edit: Okay so if I go get the tank tonight and the HOB filter, would putting it on the back of the main tank tonight do anything for me?

You'd have to have it running in the main tank for at least 2-3 weeks for it to be seeded. That's why transferring some that's already cycled is so much better/faster.

 

If it's a new job it would have to run approximately a month on the main tank to be cycled, so no.

But in the long run that's another option, I run 2 hob's on all my tanks.

 

I never cycle my hospital tank. I set it up when I need it. To make this work I change 75% of the water daily and dechlorinate with Prime. Fresh clean water is the best medicine for fish. It doesn't replace the medication needed, but it helps the fish regain their strength to fight off whatever it is fighting.
Changing water daily, however, takes the medicine out of the water, so must reapply the meds for the water taken out.
This is best anyway, antibiotics break down quickly in presence of organics: from fish waste, excretions, and feeding.

 

Hi, sorry you're having a rough time. I haven't been on since like last week so I don't know what's up.

A 10 gallon with a sponge filter makes a decent quarantine/hospital tank. Usually you would want it cycled depending what meds you will be using. But if you're in a pinch then just set it up.

I use API general cure, erythromycin or ick cure depending what I'm treating or or if I'm quarantining new comers. Going that route you could/would be doing water changes every two days so it wouldn't really be an issue that it's not cycled. Especially if you use Prime water conditioner (dosed for the full 10 gallon each time).

I might be able to help more if I knew your exact situation. Like what fish would go into the 10 and what they'd be treated for etc.

Awe thanks Momma. So let me try and fill you in. This is gonna take a minute. I'm sorry. I got a bunch of new babies in 3.5 weeks ago. They all looked good and healthy but it was noticed that the yellow labs looked sunken. So I treated the tank with Prazipro. It seemed to help. Did that on week 2 with the main tank. More as a preventative thing. After that I received a big bag of metronidazole flakes and fed them that twice a day for 6 days. Everyone seemed good especially Dot who looked the worse for wear than any of the others before that. Her belly got full and she was swimming around like normal. I'm sorry I need to back up a second. On day 3 I noticed one of my white tail aceI was bloated. Both of them actually. I posted it on here but general concensus was that those two were just little fatties. So back to the main story. Of the two fatties whom I call Laurel and Hardy the fatter one looks way fatter but he has been mo ing like normal, eating like crazy and there hasn't been any sluggishness or "pineconing". I think he's either constipated or he is just fat. Dot a yellow lab was doing great but another yellow lab lost her tail fin. She's been eating but she lounges on a rock or in the sand. This loss wasn't gradual. I think she got caught in the rocks or even maybe one of my wave makers. Anyway. Found Dot passed away when I got home from work. Laurel and Tailfin are still good. I want to get Tail fin out so she can eat alone without struggling to swim. And I want to get Laurel out so I can starve him or someone suggested peas as a laxative. My trouble is I don't know which one to take care of first.

All caught up. I hope. My parameters are good as of this last weekend. I do 30% water changes every Friday night Saturday morning.

Lol...I'm so sorry

 

I want to get Tail fin out so she can eat alone without struggling to swim

Is this fish bloated too? Why is it struggling to swim?
Sometimes if fish have a severe case of intestinal worms and are treated with Praziquantel some of the worms die and get caught in the intestinal tract. I would recommend doing an Epsom salt treatment on all fish displaying bloat, difficulty swimming etc...
Do not feed for at least three days.

 

Is this fish bloated too? Why is it struggling to swim?
Sometimes if fish have a severe case of intestinal worms and are treated with Praziquantel some of the worms die and get caught in the intestinal tract. I would recommend doing an Epsom salt treatment on all fish displaying bloat, difficulty swimming etc...
Do not feed for at least three days.

Sorry my phone died. Was waiting for some charge. No she is not bloated only the two Whit tails. Tailfin lost her tail fin somehow. Again...this wasn't gradual. It was there at least 2 days before I noticed it wasn't anymore. She seems to struggle to keep the tail moving. Like...she eats but then comes back down and just lays there adjusting every once in awhile. I just want her to regain her strength witour fighting for food from the others. You know?

 

Is this fish bloated too? Why is it struggling to swim?
Sometimes if fish have a severe case of intestinal worms and are treated with Praziquantel some of the worms die and get caught in the intestinal tract. I would recommend doing an Epsom salt treatment on all fish displaying bloat, difficulty swimming etc...
Do not feed for at least three days.

Unfortunately I have live plants in my main. I can't do salt. And I'm not sure who all has been affected by the worms so pulling all 30 fish our seems silly. Idk. I'm so crazy right now about this!!

 

Sorry my phone died. Was waiting for some charge. No she is not bloated only the two Whit tails. Tailfin lost her tail fin somehow. Again...this wasn't gradual. It was there at least 2 days before I noticed it wasn't anymore. She seems to struggle to keep the tail moving. Like...she eats but then comes back down and just lays there adjusting every once in awhile. I just want her to regain her strength witour fighting for food from the others. You know?

Can you upload a picture?
If the loss of her tail was that quick it could be an aggressive bacterial infection.

 

I never cycle my hospital tank. I set it up when I need it. To make this work I change 75% of the water daily and dechlorinate with Prime. Fresh clean water is the best medicine for fish. It doesn't replace the medication needed, but it helps the fish regain their strength to fight off whatever it is fighting.
Changing water daily, however, takes the medicine out of the water, so must reapply the meds for the water taken out.
This is best anyway, antibiotics break down quickly in presence of organics: from fish waste, excretions, and feeding.

OK that's more than likely the route I'm gonna have to go. Thank you for making me feel better about doing it that way.

 

Unfortunately I have live plants in my main. I can't do salt. And I'm not sure who all has been affected by the worms so pulling all 30 fish our seems silly. Idk. I'm so crazy right now about this!!

No, I said if there are any bloated fish, unable to swim from bloat, these are the fish that would get treated with Epsom salt.

 

You'd have to have it running in the main tank for at least 2-3 weeks for it to be seeded. That's why transferring some that's already cycled is so much better/faster.

If it's a new job it would have to run approximately a month on the main tank to be cycled, so no.

But in the long run that's another option, I run 2 hob's on all my tanks.

OK I can do the non cycle route first and when I get everyone better I will hang the HOB in the main. Thanks guys.

 

No, I said if there are any bloated fish, unable to swim from bloat, these are the fish that would get treated with Epsom salt.

Oh OK I gotcha. They are all swiming just fine. That's what trips me out about Laurel. He looks huge tho!! I'll post pics in a second. Stand by

 

 

 

Ok Laurel is about 2.25" and Tailfin is about 1.25" now. Maybe 1" now that her fin is gone.

 

I would give Laurel an Epsom salt treatment, just in case he has some worms left over in his intestinal tract from de-worming with Prazi. This will clean him out.
To do treatment: Take a gallon of water from tank and add 1 tablespoon of Epsom Salt. Dissolve completely for about 10 minutes. Add fish and leave in treatment water from 10-15 minutes. If fish rolls over or looks distressed take out and put back into the display tank. He should be able to handle a full ten minutes treatment though.
Do you feed with pellets? If so, make sure that you soak them well before they go in the tank. That way they won't swell in the fish's stomach.
For the other fish I would put into quarantine tank and see if large daily water changes will help regrow the finnage. If there are red areas along the tail, base of tail, or areas of white fungus, however, then you will have to medicate. I can't see that there is either of the two from the photo.
I would also add three teaspoons of aquarium salt per 10 gallons of water ( dissolve salt in cup with a bit of tank water before adding to aquarium) in hospital tank. Each day that you change water- add back salt for the quantity of water you take out.
Keep an eye out for an increase in loss of fins, redness on tail or body of fish, or fungus. If this happens we can help with medications.

 

I would give Laurel an Epsom salt treatment, just in case he has some worms left over in his intestinal tract from de-worming with Prazi. This will clean him out.
To do treatment: Take a gallon of water from tank and add 1 tablespoon of Epsom Salt. Dissolve completely for about 10 minutes. Add fish and leave in treatment water from 10-15 minutes. If fish rolls over or looks distressed take out and put back into the display tank. He should be able to handle a full ten minutes treatment though.
Do you feed with pellets? If so, make sure that you soak them well before they go in the tank. That way they won't swell in the fish's stomach.
For the other fish I would put into quarantine tank and see if large daily water changes will help regrow the finnage. If there are red areas along the tail, base of tail, or areas of white fungus, however, then you will have to medicate. I can't see that there is either of the two from the photo.
I would also add three teaspoons of aquarium salt per 10 gallons of water ( dissolve salt in cup with a bit of tank water before adding to aquarium) in hospital tank. Each day that you change water- add back salt for the quantity of water you take out.
Keep an eye out for an increase in loss of fins, redness on tail or body of fish, or fungus. If this happens we can help with medications.

Thank you Discusluv and everyone else. This has been very informative and helpful. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get to the store tonight but I will go after work tomorrow. For sure. I just started with pellets two days ago but started in the morning so twice a day. I have not been soaking them. That's good to know. My poor babies.

 

Hey Discusluv will this work instead of Epsom salt? I had some from when I had my last tank. There's no expiration date so I am assuming it's still good. Still salty on my tongue.

 

No in can't be used in place of Epsom salt.

 

No in can't be used in place of Epsom salt.

Dang. That's lame. OK I will get this going tonight. I just hope everyone else is doing good when I get home. Thank you again Disucusluv

 

Because I don't know and it might also teach others who read this thread later; what is the difference from aquarium salt and epsom that it doesn't do the same thing?

Also, to OP, I'm glad you got some good help! So much knowledge and support on this forum ️

 

Because I don't know and it might also teach others who read this thread later; what is the difference from aquarium salt and epsom that it doesn't do the same thing?

Also, to OP, I'm glad you got some good help! So much knowledge and support on this forum ️

I am too MommaLake! I love this forum.

 

Because I don't know and it might also teach others who read this thread later; what is the difference from aquarium salt and epsom that it doesn't do the same thing?

Also, to OP, I'm glad you got some good help! So much knowledge and support on this forum ️

They may both be called "salt," but their chemical compositions are quite different. Here is the difference between aquarium salt and Epsom Salt:
Aquarium Salt = Sodium Chloride (like table salt without iodine) - Sometimes used as a disease preventative for fish and/or to create brackish conditions.
Epsom Salt = Magnesium Sulfate Heptahydrate - a source of magnesium (Mg) It can also be used to treat dropsy and constipation in fish.