QT Tank Questions

[MatthewScars]

So im getting some fish today (hopifully). I set up a QT tank sunday and planned to QT the fish for a week or so and slightly up the temp for if they had ich it will present faster.

its a 10g with a HOB carbon filter and a sponge filter thats been in my main tank for a month.

from everything i read off RC awhile ago, i should be cool on the bio filtration from the sponge filter. I checked my Amonia yesterday and there was trace but barely anything (need to check today).

My question is - if i drop a 8lb LR from my main in there, will that be enough with the sponge filter to take the shock of 4 or so fish for a week?

im getting 6x chromis, two spot goby, 3x anthias, bangai cardnal. the number depends on WWOF stock today.

 

[Tangs Rule]

Are you planning to use this tank as a QT tank in the future and possibly use medication? If so, I would not put any live rock in the tank.

 

[Killerdrgn]

The two spot goby may not be a great candidate to QT, that is unless it is eating flake or frozen already. They need sand to sift and junk.

 

[MatthewScars]

I never use meds.

the ammonia is now 0.5 today. which isnt so bad. im gonna add the LR from my tank and see if i can get that to 0.

it's tough man, if i dont QT and i get ich, all the fish in my tank are dead because i cant treat or catch them. but ill definately ask steve or eddie if the gobbie is eating flake.

 

[KathyC]

Do you plan to add ALL of those fish you mentioned into the QT tank at the same time? If so, that is way too many at once, for the Qt AND for adding to your tank at once. Think 1 fish every couple of weeks and you'll ultimately have way fewer issues.
Any ammonia above zero is too much, it will burn their gills (think of yourself taking a wiff over an open ammonia bottle).

A few pieces of PVC pipe will make the fish more comfortable and if you want you can always add some plastic plants (that can be disinfected if any diseases or parasites do turn up.) The live rock is a poor idea as it will be garbage if any issues do appear.
Also good to paint (or cover with paper or something) the 2 sides & rear of a QT tank to keep the fish calmer and less 'on their guard' from motion being seen on all 4 sides of the tank.

Instead of raising the temp (that works way better with FW ich as that has a much shorter life cycle than SW ich - different parasite) as that also causes their metabolism to be higher, requiring more food (and if you don't feed them more, they will stress more), which means more poop, meaning more ammonia... (quite a vicious cycle isn't it?) better to leave them in the QT for at least 2 weeks and observe them.

just some thoughts

 

[MatthewScars]

thanks. I already have stuff on the sides of the tank. Its in my bedroom so there is no motion all day.

I have so much LR if I toast the 8lb peice, ill just buy a clam and put it in its place

I got a PVC pipes and all. Ill try to stagger out getting the fish to 3 a week. Im confident my system will be able to handle that. Plus these are all tiny fish.

thanks for the advice kathy!