The Best Way of Set Up a QT Tank....

[32Bit_Fish]

Hello,

Sorry about this noob question and after done some research on the web. I want to set up a small 10g QT tank for my future use.

I just want to validate my set up with you experts here. Please feel free to provide advices since I've never set up a salt water QT tank before.

I am planning to get a pair of small True Percular Clown Fish (2" each). So a 10g tank is probably good enough and that is the tank I have available.

Do you guys even tried to cycle your QT tank? I figure it's pointless to cycle a QT tank since the medication will eventually kill them all.

I have the following equipment:
1. A 8W Flourence Light
2. A 50W heater
3. A small power head

What else do I need? I figure the fish will be in there for at least 6 weeks. How would they survive with all the ammonia in the tank?

There is no sand or rocks in the tank to reside bacteria or any sort of filtration system..

I would appreciate any input..

Thanks

[Warnberg]

I'd use a HOB filter or a sponge filter, either way placing a piece of sponge in your current system's sump for a week or so will populate it with the bacteria you need to keep the cycle in QT to a minimum. Most medications will not kill the bactera but you should check parms on a regular basis just in case and be ready to do a water change if they get out of hand.

[lcstorc]

Many people use a HOB filter w/a bio wheel. They keep the bio-wheel and some sponges in the sump of the primary system so they grow the good algae and then you use those on your qt.
Personally, I had nothing but trouble when I tried to use an uncycled qt. Now I keep the tank up an cycled all of the time so I can use it as needed. I also have some lr in my qt. I realize if I ever medicate the rock will die and be useless, but it gives the tank a more natural look plus helps with the levels.

[32Bit_Fish]

Thanks for the input.. I've seen AquaClear powerhead that comes with a cartridge. I probably could stuff some sponges in the cartridge. So there is something that the bacterias could live in..

I also might add a small piece of PVC tubing in the tank for the fish to hide in.

[Warnberg]

Originally Posted by lcstorc

Many people use a HOB filter w/a bio wheel. They keep the bio-wheel and some sponges in the sump of the primary system so they grow the good algae and then you use those on your qt.
Personally, I had nothing but trouble when I tried to use an uncycled qt. Now I keep the tank up an cycled all of the time so I can use it as needed. I also have some lr in my qt. I realize if I ever medicate the rock will die and be useless, but it gives the tank a more natural look plus helps with the levels.

Actually, the rock does not die. The reason most do not use rock in there QT tanks is because if you use copper as a treatment it will permiatly stay in the rock.... so any rock used in QT will be fine until you use copper as a treatment, then that rock should never be used in a reef tank.

[lcstorc]

Ok so I messed up the details. Sorry. So are you saying even if I were to medicate in the qt, the rock would still be good LR I would just be committed to leaving it in the qt and not allow it in the reef? That would actually be a bit better than what I thought so sorta good news.
Hopefully I never have to medicate and then it just doesn't matter.

[Warnberg]

The biggest concern is copper, most all other meds will not stay in the rock but copper will. So if you use live-rock in your QT as long as you stay away from copper it should be fine. This is another reason when purchasing a used tank be sure there was never any copper used in it, copper will permeate seals, rock, sand, everything... then it will leach back out into the water.
When medicating fish in QT, be sure to read the contents of the medication, some meds will kill your anaerobic bacteria but most will not. Also keep in mind any inverts in the rock will probably not survive most treatments.

[32Bit_Fish]

Thanks for all the info. I am not planning to use any LS or LRs in my QT tank.

I will use copper since the ich problem is so common among Clown Fish and the copper is the best medication to cure the problem.

Would you ppl recommend any brand of the copper medication for SW tank? Something that you had a good result with.

Thanks

[Warnberg]

I've used the hypo-salinity treatment for ich, it's easier on the fish and no chemicals to mess with. Just be sure to use a refractometer to measure salinity.

Ich treatments

[Dentoid]

32_Bit you may want to look at this thread for some pointers. It's wordy, but you may get something out of it.

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...ght=quarantine

My QT was not cycled and it required daily WC's when I quarantined some fish. It has been set up for about 2 months now and is cycled, bare with only a handful of gravel and a plastic rock I bought at Petco. The rock provides a hiding place and also increases surface area for bacteria to adhere to. I'd be comfortable putting fish in there now.

[32Bit_Fish]

Hello Warnberg,

Did you get a good result of using this type of treatment on your fish? I've heard some of the feedback from using this treatment method isn't very promising.. But I would definitely want to try it since this is a chem free treatment.

Dentoid, thanks for the link. I will read it before set up my QT tank.

[Warnberg]

It worked fine for me, they key is to keep the salinity where it should be for the recommended period of time.

[32Bit_Fish]

Originally Posted by Warnberg

It worked fine for me, they key is to keep the salinity where it should be for the recommended period of time.

Does this hypo-salinity treatment works on all parasite related diseases?

[Warnberg]

As far as I know it is only effective on cryptocaryon irritans.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-08/sp/index.php

[32Bit_Fish]

Originally Posted by Warnberg

As far as I know it is only effective on cryptocaryon irritans.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-08/sp/index.php

How would I know if the clown fish infected by which parasite?

Ummm.. never mind. I think I found the answer to my question.

White Spot disease mostly caused by cryptocaryon irritans.

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/ich...yptocaryon.htm