Warren,
I may not have been clear, but you should not wait for your filter to become a biological filter while your fish are sick. You should move them to the QT now and begin treatment.
You don't need an active biological filter to operate a QT. Instead of relying upon the biological filter, you'll be making large water changes, up to 80% two or three times a day. Eventually the filter will 'kick in' but don't wait for it in order to start treatment.
The quarantine process is still in effect. That is, if the biological filter is running you'll still be making water changes once every other or third day. If you start treatment now, you'll be making more water changes (see above).
You can use the siphoning method as the beginning of a water change, or you use a siphon with a filter on it -- filtering the water you siphon into a clean container, to return to the QT. Another device, like those sand cleaners many freshwater aquarists use, can also be used. They have a filter bag to catch the debris and the water goes back in.
Good assumption. Glass containers can be cleaned to get rid of the residual copper, but most plastics don't readily clean well. It's best not to use those containers again for marine live stock. However such containers can still be used for mopping floors and other uses pails might provide around the house.
I may not have been clear, but you should not wait for your filter to become a biological filter while your fish are sick. You should move them to the QT now and begin treatment.
You don't need an active biological filter to operate a QT. Instead of relying upon the biological filter, you'll be making large water changes, up to 80% two or three times a day. Eventually the filter will 'kick in' but don't wait for it in order to start treatment.
The quarantine process is still in effect. That is, if the biological filter is running you'll still be making water changes once every other or third day. If you start treatment now, you'll be making more water changes (see above).
You can use the siphoning method as the beginning of a water change, or you use a siphon with a filter on it -- filtering the water you siphon into a clean container, to return to the QT. Another device, like those sand cleaners many freshwater aquarists use, can also be used. They have a filter bag to catch the debris and the water goes back in.
Good assumption. Glass containers can be cleaned to get rid of the residual copper, but most plastics don't readily clean well. It's best not to use those containers again for marine live stock. However such containers can still be used for mopping floors and other uses pails might provide around the house.