View Full Version : quarantine tank question (help please)
tchndie
09/30/2010, 10:23 PM
I just set up a quarantine tank and was wondering how long should it run before using it? It's only a 24 gallon with heater, power head and a fluval 204. Do i need anything else? There is no sand or anything in it. Just going to put some pieces of pvc pipe in it for some hiding places. I am also going to use some of the water from my DT so it will have some established water in it. Any info would be appreciated!!
Sistom
10/01/2010, 09:20 AM
When I setup my QT for fish I just use water straight from my DT and put a scoopful of sand from the DT in a plastic bin and place it on the bottom of the QT. The sand just helps seed the QT and can be disposed of if you need to provide any treatment for the fish. I wait a day to ensure the temp is stable and it's ready for fish (in my opinion). It's also important to keep up on your water changes in the QT based on the amount of fish you put in there. The QT will not be as capable of handling the bio load as well as your DT so it's important to do weekly water changes with the DT water.
Good luck
RegalAngel
10/01/2010, 05:20 PM
I have a 40g QT setup that is bare with a closed loop power filter. I only fill with SW when I am ready to use it and therefore I need to provide bacteria each time.
I use Seachems Stability and it provides the needed bacteria. I have never had any ammonia readings when doing this. I also about 2 months ago started up a 300g system using Stability and never had any ammonia.
I highly recommend it:
http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/Stability.html
Product Description
StabilityŽ will rapidly and safely establish the aquarium biofilter in freshwater and marine systems, thereby preventing the #1 cause of fish death: "new tank syndrome". StabilityŽ is formulated specifically for the aquarium and contains a synergistic blend of aerobic, anaerobic, and facultative bacteria which facilitate the breakdown of waste organics, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Unlike competing products, the bacteria employed by StabilityŽ are non-sulfur fixing and will not produce toxic hydrogen sulfide. StabilityŽ is completely harmless to all aquatic organisms as well as aquatic plants, thus there is no danger of over use. StabilityŽ is the culmination of nearly a decade of research and development and represents the current state of the art in natural biological management.
Sizes: 50 mL, 100 mL, 250 mL, 500 mL, 2 L, 4 L, 20 L
Why It's Different
Illustration of Stability's™ bacteria on biofiltration material. stability contains a synergistic blend of aerobic, anaerobic, and facultative bacteria
The bacteria used in competing products are inherently unstable. The conditions necessary for their growth and development fall into a very narrow range of temperatures, pH, organic loads, etc. When any of these parameters are not strictly within the proper range, the bacterial culture quickly crashes and dies. StabilityŽ does not contain any of the aforementioned bacteria.
The bacteria strains in StabilityŽ have been in development for over a decade. The necessary conditions for growth of our bacterial strains encompass a very broad range. When other bacteria begin to die off (usually from high organic loads caused by the undetected death of an organism), StabilityŽ simply works harder and grows faster! The strains function in fresh or saltwater. StabilityŽ contains both nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria, a blend found in no other product. Additionally, StabilityŽ contains facultative bacterial strains which are able to adapt to either aerobic or anaerobic conditions. The bacteria in StabilityŽ are non-sulfur fixing, another innovation in the industry. Most other bacterial supplements will form toxic hydrogen sulfide under the proper conditions. StabilityŽ will not, ever.
niqiri
10/01/2010, 07:13 PM
Adding used salt water to a tank with an uncycled biofilter (sponge or filter floss) does not create an environment suitable for fish. There is no appreciable amount of bacteria in the water column. If you add fish to a tank with a completely uncylced filter and used water this will result in ammonia toxicity. Additionally, you shouldn't have to use additives like Stability to keep your tank in stable condition. As long as your biofilter is sufficiently established and you don't overstock your tank will not need ammonia/nitrite detoxifiers. DO NOT, whatever you do, "wait a day or so", your fish will most likely die. Put a sponge or HOB filter in your display tank, leave for at least two weeks, and then place into the qt. Watch the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels for another week, then you're probably ok to add fish.
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