QT tank

[tommyp]

Alright,

This is the first time I setup a qt tank for new arrivals. I floated sponges from my ac mini in my sump for a couple weeks. I setup my 33L by filling it up with new saltwater and then did a water swap with the main tank. I punked on the ac mini and sponges. Threw a MJ900 in it and a heater in it plus a small piece of liverock. I put in a rabbitfish that I got from the lfs in there today. A day after I set it up. I am really still afraid that I am going to have a spike of some sort. How frequent should I change water on this tank?

I have a copperband on hold at the lfs for a month now. It is doing real well I have it eating mysis but it has like 3 small spots on each fin. I imagine it is ich. I am going to try to do hypo on it in this qt. But I am afraid that the new qt might stress it too much. What is everyones take on this. I imagine if the qt is running for a week or so and not testing anything it would be okay. I am betting on the sponges taking care of the cycle. but it doesn't seem like it is going to work.

tom

[Witfull]

Originally Posted by Movie: Kellys Heros

always with the negative waves Moriarity, say something positive for a change~~

im sure with the sponges and rock and water swap and low bio load you will be fine~

[Woodstock]

Ditto to witty... that is unless you do a hyposalinity... I think the low salinity would kill the sponges and any inverts in the tank which, in turn, would polute it.

[tommyp]

Thanks, If I did hypo i'd pull the rock. Has anyone here done a sucessfull hypo qt?
It seems like the hard part is keeping up with the cycle as the hypo kills alot of the bacteria.

Tom

[Woodstock]

Yes, I have successfully done hyposalinity a few times. Make sure you use a refractometer to check salinity! Definately keep a check on the ammonia and nitrItes during it... use a large sponge from the main tank if possible... those bacteria are very tough (just ask rougiem ) and keep the bioload light! Keep us posted~

[tommyp]

Cool, my refrac will be here tomorrow. I was reading on rc that someone was using the seachem ammonia badge to check ammoina. That seems like a neat way to go instead of test kits. I have some sponges from my main tank in my QT I wouldn't call them large. I might have to add more.

Thanks

Tom

[Warnberg]

Here is a really good artical on QT tanks and setup:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...ture/index.php

Here is an artical on hyposalinity treatment:

http://www.petsforum.com/personal/tr...osalinity.html

[tommyp]

Yeah those are good articles and I have read them before a few times.

I would like to know how others qt though and what to look out for when doing hypo.

thanks

tom

[SaltyTank]

Originally Posted by Warnberg

Here is a really good artical on QT tanks and setup:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/20...ture/index.php

Here is an artical on hyposalinity treatment:

http://www.petsforum.com/personal/tr...osalinity.html

Wow, thanks for the links Dave! I just learned alot from both of those and I'll be following this thread with great interest.

-dave

[tommyp]

I can update the tank so far. It has been running for a few days now. Foxface seems to be okay. He didn't eat for a while but he started yesterday. I had some nori and red algae that was growing in my tank in there. He ate all the red algae and left the nori. I didn't check on him this morning. I should probably do an ammonia test on the tank to see if it is cycling or not. I have been too lax on that. I am hoping that the filter and rock that I put in there is doing the job.

Tom

[Warnberg]

Tommyp, just before I went on vacation I noticed that my regal tang had ich (perfect timing) so I set up a 20 gallon QT, added two 6 inch pieces of rock I had in the sump, a piece of filter (the blue and white stuff) to my HOB biowheel filter. After many hours of catching fish and moving them to the QT tank (Regal, two clowns) I was worried as well about an ammonia spike. I spent the next three days lowering the salinity and testing the water. I never saw a spike in ammonia, I did see a rise in Nitrites and then I left for vacation. I had my neighbor keep toping off the QT with RO water to maintain the salinity. I fully expected to come home to dead fish after the week in the keys. To my supprise all fish where fine, QT tank was clean and the fish didn't have a single spot of ich on them. I tested the water just to see what was going on, Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0, Nitrates 8 ppm..... maybe I just got lucky, but all my fish where fine and lived the entire 8 weeks in QT. At week 7 I slowly raised the QT salinity back to what the main display was and after week 8 completed they went back in the main display.

May the reef gods bless you with the same luck as I have had....

Good Luck

[tommyp]

Awesome thanks dave!

I just brought home my Copperband, I am acclimating him right now. I will add him to the QT and Then will start the hypo in a few days. I should be right on target to put my wedding in the middle of the qt period. But we aren't going away so I should have time to tend to the animals.

Also the foxface doesn't like me. any time i o near the tank he changes colors and puts his spikes up. I hope he gets calmer in time.

[tommyp]

Both my little guys are eating flake like pigs and the CBB has quite the taste for aptasia. At least the ones on the piece of LR didn't stand a chance I have been letting the ones in the display run wild so I hope he makes it into the main tank. I bought an ammonia badge today at petsmart. They are pretty cool. I also bought some of seachem's prime which is a good Ammonia remover. My refract came in so i can start the hypo. I just have to pick up a new bucket of salt and then start dropping the salinity.