Best way to set up qt

[fishguy99]

What's your best method. Im planning to do this with a 20g

[igot2gats]

Best method? I'm confused. Preferably in a darker room if you have it. Screen top, PVC pieces for hiding, filter, heater, thermometer, Ammonia badge. That's it.

[Hal]

Having opaque material (e.g., newspaper or construction paper) on 3 sides of the tank reduces the visual distractions for the fish.

The biggest thing I've found is to break up the sightlines within the tank and provide hiding places for the fish. I like plastic plants and plastic decorations for this. They last forever and don't absorb medication. It looks like a five year old decorated my QT, but it does the job.

[crvz]

what are you putting in it? I like to keep a QT going year round so that it's well established before I put fish in it, but I know that's not feasible for everyone. That would be the best way in my opinion.

[fishguy99]

I would keep it going and just any fish I get. I always start my fish small but I would probably be putting 1-2" tangs in it along with anything else small since they would be out in a month anyway

[JackandJill]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1846124

[crvz]

I would keep it going and just any fish I get. I always start my fish small but I would probably be putting 1-2" tangs in it along with anything else small since they would be out in a month anyway

In my experience, 4 weeks is pretty short for an honest QT. I've had to catch all the fish out of my 300 gallon tank two separate times due to inadequate quarantine and introduction of ich. I have since implemented an 8 week minimum QT, and at times I will even preemptively execute a cupramine treatment.

On a smaller display/system it's easier to assume a bit more risk, but for me I've found it to be critical to be terribly cautious on the quarantine. My logic is that if you're going to QT fish for a short time to ensure relative health and provide first round of acclimation care, 2-3 weeks would be fine, but if you're really interested in keeping any possible parasites or other issues away from the display you should probably be looking at an 8-10 week QT.

[Hal]

In my experience, 4 weeks is pretty short for an honest QT.
+1 I used to QT for 4 weeks. Then I once had visually ich free fish for 26 days. Eating fine, acting normal. Then on day 27, whammo, visible ich. I got very lucky that the ich didn't wait 3 more days because then it would've been in my DT. Now 6 weeks is minimum for me, and I'm thinking about raising that to 8.

[SneakyPete]

When I bought my clowns, no signs of disease for 7 weeks. 2 days before I was going to drop them into DT, they developed spots. 8 weeks minimum for me.

My QT is a 10g that includes a small powerhead, 3 large PVC fittings (a T, and a couple elbows) a heater, and a small sponge filter. A couple days before I have a fish in there, I put a new filter for the sponge filter in my overflow. Then move it to the QT before I put the new fish in place. No cycle that way. Don't take that for granted though, and still do daily water changes.