View Full Version : quarantine filter seeding help..
ajolie30
12/31/2008, 02:00 AM
hello everyone I am setting up my quarantine tank for my new arrivals I am going to use a hob filter that will have a sponge filter in it I currently have the filter sponge in my sump how long do I need to keep it in there to have some biological fliter???? also my lfs said I should put some live rock in my quarantine as well but remove it he said if I need to treat for ich...
Shmax
12/31/2008, 05:03 AM
A sponge sitting in a high flow area of the sump should be well seeded in 2-3 weeks. I put texas holey rock in my QT, figured it was good for bacteria as well as a place for fish to hide. I had to medicate the QT once, removed the rock for that, but it's worked well so far.
EnglishRebel
12/31/2008, 06:58 AM
What happens to the rock once the need for the QT is over? Most people leave their QT tank dry until needed. If you put the rock back in your DT don't you stand the chance of introducing parasites?
Jason Donohoe
12/31/2008, 08:23 AM
I use pieces of PVC in my QT tank for hiding places to avoid the 'what happens after' question. Even with seeding your sponge for 2 to 3 weeks be prepared to monitor ammonia and do frequent water changes (every few days). I found the ammonia alert badge from Seachem to be very useful. It monitors ammonia continuously so you can just glance at it to see how you are doing. Having some Ammo-Loc or something similar on hand may also be useful.
Indymann99
12/31/2008, 09:02 AM
+1 on the PVC and the SeaChem badge. I store a couple of pieces in my sump at all times to help seed the QT when needed (in addition to the filter sponge media). Also the PVC is easy to clean (wash and dry) then return to the sump so QT can quickly be turned up.
Unless you plan a lot or continuously keep your QT running (not hospital), it is difficult to have a cycled QT... about the best you can do is monitor amonia and correct with water changes. Usually your QT cycles just as you are DONE with QT for the fish (4-6 weeks)..... if you medicate then often a cycle wont ever even start.
my 0.02
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn10/Indymann99/QTtankwclowns.jpg
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn10/Indymann99/FugewPVC.jpg
IslandCrow
12/31/2008, 09:23 AM
also my lfs said I should put some live rock in my quarantine as well but remove it he said if I need to treat for ich...
The biggest problem with that plan is if your fish does get ich, now your rock most likely has it, and you can't put it back into your DT.
I'd suggest seeding your sponge as already stated, and do regular water changes to keep ammonia from building up.
ajolie30
01/01/2009, 12:14 AM
I currently have on my 65 gallon tank that will convert over into my 180 a eheim canister filter is on this tank as of now my new 180 will not have this fliter any longer I have built a sump and refuge for the new tank... This tank was up and running from a previous owner for 5 months I took everything sand, critters and all bought some new sand and more live rock and a 65 gallon tank which everything came from a 40 gallon and have had the tank running for an additional 4 months... I was just wondering if I could remove the canister filter and put it on the qt tank I just changed out the filter pad in it last week when I did a water change but shouldn't there be sound to use as my biological filter
Jason Donohoe
01/01/2009, 01:49 AM
If the new filter has only been in the cannister for 1 week it may not be adequately seeded. You could remove the filter from your cannister and leave it sitting in your sump for a few weeks and then pull it out to set up the QT.
I would still monitor the ammonia and be prepared to do some frequent water changes.
I use an old cannister filter on my QT.
ajolie30
01/01/2009, 10:25 AM
the filter has been on there for months just the foam padding I changed last week to a new one
EnglishRebel
01/01/2009, 11:51 AM
I have a Fluval canister on my QT and I intend to keep the foam filters that come with it in my sump so I can get the canister running in short order.
What do you guys do about the carbon packs and bio "bricks" that also come with canister filters?
Jason Donohoe
01/02/2009, 01:48 AM
It is my understanding that the bio bricks are just to provide surface area for ammonia and nitrite converting bacteria. My Eheim filter has gravel and small cylindrical pieces for the same purpose. I don't see any reason not to use them in the cannister for the bacteria to grow on when seeded with the sponges from your sump. I don't know how much benefit you would get from a carbon pad on your QT. From my limited experience I found I was doing 25% water changes every other day to keep the ammonia in check. I can't imagine there would be much left for the carbon to pull out.
ajolie30
01/03/2009, 12:09 AM
so while fish are in qt I should do a 25% water change every other day.. what about ammo lock is this good to use as well
Playa-1
01/03/2009, 08:39 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14067635#post14067635 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ajolie30
so while fish are in qt I should do a 25% water change every other day.. what about ammo lock is this good to use as well
I think your better off to plan and deal with Ammonia with a seeded sponge filter and water changes. In my opinion, the Ammonia binders are better left for emergencies and should not be a part of standard qt procedure. I don't even own a bottle of the stuff, but I keep plenty mixed salt water handy.
Jason Donohoe
01/03/2009, 10:32 AM
I do have a bottle of Ammo-Loc for emergencies but as Playa said water changes should be yor primary means of controlling ammonia. 25% every other day is what has worked for me in the past. You should plan on measuring ammonia daily and basing water changes on your levels. The Seachem badge that I use measures ammonia continuously to avoid the hassle of getting out the test kit every day. It has 4 indicator levels - none, low, warning, and toxic. I aim to keep it in the low range. I have found it near impossible to keep it in the non detectable range wthen QT fish with a newly set up QT tank (even with sponges from my sump). As Idyman mentioned, the tank may not be fully cycled until near the end of the QT period.
FIsh and inverts can live nicely in new salt water with no cycling, as long as you check for salinity, ammonia and nitrate very often, don't overload, and keep something like Amquel and a 20% change of water ready to handle any ammonia spike. I'd run carbon and plain filter, and just test a lot.
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