Setting up first quarantine and need advice

I have a bit of an issue that I don't know how to solve. I have a 55 gallon that's been running and established for around 4 years or so now. At the moment there are only 3 fish.1 rainbow shark and 2 raphael catfish. Ive had problems with what I believe was fin rot in this tank in the past and ive treated the tank with fish mox. All the fins never seemed to really get any better and still remain rather tattered and shredded looking but the fish themselves were a lot happier and healthier in there behaviors and movement. I recently noticed my rainbow shark is bloated. I assume that's what it is because his chest/belly is just giant and out of proportion. I decided I just need to set up a quarantine tank and get them all healed and get the 55 under control water parameter wise (water changes were a little behind, I just did about a 50% water change but I'm still working on getting nitrates down). Plus a quarantine would be very helpful in the long run. So I have an old 10 gallon kit as well as a 5 gallon kit. Both empty and unused for years. Problem is I am very low on money. So there tanks will have to do even though theyre kinda small. The only money I have will have to go into the medication necessary. I'm aware I have to cycle the tanks. Should I fill both quarantines tanks with 60% tank water and 40% fresh new water? I know I can put some filter media from the 55 into the quarantines but I'm not sure itll exactly work. I use carbon cartridges which 1) won't fit in the small filter boxes and 2) id have to take them out when medicating the tanks. I just need to cycle the quarantines as quickly as I can but I'm not completely sure about how to do it. Also, if I take the fish out of the main tank, won't the main tank lose its cycle since there's no waste to keep it going? The whole thing is a little confusing and this is my first time ever trying to set up a quarantine. I appreciate any help!

 

I'm not an expert in this area, but from everything I've read and been told...

The BB do not live in the water column, so taking water from an existing tank will be of little to no use, and provide next to zero BB. They (the BB) live in the filter media and to a small degree, on the tank surfaces, your decorations, and the substrate.

Put a couple of appropriately sized sponge filters (the cheaper solution) or HOB filters (cheaper yet, if they exist from the old tanks) in your 55 and run them in parallel with your existing filtration. In the case of HOB filters, you can also seed then with media from your existing filter(s). Once these are established with BB, just move them to the QT when they are needed. There you go! instant cycled tank. If you use any meds, you would have to toss the sponges, or media from the HOBs and sanitize the filters before putting back in the larger tank as backups.

If you need to quarantine before any new filters can become established, your only choices would be to take existing media from your 55 and put it in the filter of your QT tank, or (shiver), do a fish in cycle on your QT with sick fish. Not what you want to be doing!

Others may have different, or even better suggestions, but this is what I've been told in the past, and is how I'm currently set up in case I ever need to treat my cold blooded buddies.

I hope this helps, and best of luck with your fishes

 

I'm not an expert in this area, but from everything I've read and been told...

The BB do not live in the water column, so taking water from an existing tank will be of little to no use, and provide next to zero BB. They (the BB) live in the filter media and to a small degree, on the tank surfaces, your decorations, and the substrate.

Put a couple of appropriately sized sponge filters (the cheaper solution) or HOB filters (cheaper yet, if they exist from the old tanks) in your 55 and run them in parallel with your existing filtration. In the case of HOB filters, you can also seed then with media from your existing filter(s). Once these are established with BB, just move them to the QT when they are needed. There you go! instant cycled tank. If you use any meds, you would have to toss the sponges, or media from the HOBs and sanitize the filters before putting back in the larger tank as backups.

If you need to quarantine before any new filters can become established, your only choices would be to take existing media from your 55 and put it in the filter of your QT tank, or (shiver), do a fish in cycle on your QT with sick fish. Not what you want to be doing!

Others may have different, or even better suggestions, but this is what I've been told in the past, and is how I'm currently set up in case I ever need to treat my cold blooded buddies.

I hope this helps, and best of luck with your fishes

Thank you so much that's very helpful And I will definitely NOT be doing a fish in cycle with my fish! Do you by chance know how long it would take for the BB to establish in a HOB filter? The HOB filter I have is a brand new Tetra whisper 10 (I believe its the 10 since its a 10 gallon filter). Also, should I take some of the gravel or plants (artificial) from the 55 and put it in the quarantine as well? Thanks

 

What is your current filter?

It's really dependent on your current bio load but the best thing to do is put some media from your established filter in the Whisper 10. It will help the new filter establish a new colony of BB faster. If that's not possible, I would say at least a month. Either way, your total BB will be divided between the two filters, like I said, based on your bio load. In simplest terms, some will die in your current filter as more develop in the new filter, or at least, that's my understanding of how it works.

 

What is your current filter?

It's really dependent on your current bio load but the best thing to do is put some media from your established filter in the Whisper 10. It will help the new filter establish a new colony of BB faster. If that's not possible, I would say at least a month. Either way, your total BB will be divided between the two filters, like I said, based on your bio load. In simplest terms, some will die in your current filter as more develop in the new filter, or at least, that's my understanding of how it works.

Okay that makes sense My current filter is a Marineland Penguin 350. I believe I can make the media fit in the whisper 10 but itll be some work haha, and as for the bioload for the tank, its pretty miniscule. With just the 3 fish not much waste is produced and I try to put just enough food for the 3 of them

 

I hate the Marineland HOB filters. I had the Penguin 150 and the bio-wheel never turned smoothly ...that being said...they are mod-able. This video:

shows the simplest way to "make your 350 more efficient. The 150 I had only has one chamber but the principle is the same. Eventually I did away with the sponge this gut uses, and went with a filter media bag like this, and filled it with bio-rings similar to this, Amazon.com : Marineland Ceramic Filter Rings 140 Count, Supports Biological aquarium Filtration, Fits C-Series And Magniflow : Aquarium Filter Accessories : Pet Supplies.

Here are a couple more vids to give you something to think about...

I hope this helps

 

I hate the Marineland HOB filters. I had the Penguin 150 and the bio-wheel never turned smoothly ...that being said...they are mod-able. This video:

shows the simplest way to "make your 350 more efficient. The 150 I had only has one chamber but the principle is the same. Eventually I did away with the sponge this gut uses, and went with a filter media bag like this, and filled it with bio-rings similar to this, Amazon.com : Marineland Ceramic Filter Rings 140 Count, Supports Biological aquarium Filtration, Fits C-Series And Magniflow : Aquarium Filter Accessories : Pet Supplies.

Here are a couple more vids to give you something to think about...

I hope this helps

Wow thank you, it all really helps a lot! I appreciate all the effort gone into finding the videos and links etc. And personally ive always loved the penguin filters but then again, I haven't used anything but them so its a little biased of me haha. Ive kept fish since I was 13 and ive kinda just stuck to basics and not changed much. I'm only 19 so I guess it hasnt been that long but I want to start branching out and getting further into the hobby and setting up tanks that aren't quite so simple! Anyway thanks for the help it was very, well helpful

 

Don't take me too seriously on hating the Marineland filters, lol. I've had several, and in fact, until I recently bought a Seachem Tidal 55, the only HOB filters I've had were Marineland Bio-Wheels and Eheim Canister filters.

Like I said in my original reply, I'm not an expert, nor am I overly experienced. The key is asking when you don't know. I haven't been 19 for over 40 years, but only got into fishkeeping in the late '90s. I Kept a 30 gallon salt water for about 3 years, as my firsat tank. It was really more work than I wanted so I retires it and got 2 120 gallon fresh waters as they're so much easier to keep healthy. I kept the 2 120s for about 4 years before life got in the way and I sold them.

I only recently got back into fishkeeping last July and now I have a 20 gallon with 2 fish and a snail. My granddaughter is my official helper and helps me feed the fish and clean the tanks. Retired Life is great!