QT Question - MyFishTank.Net Freshwater Saltwater Aquarium Fish Forum

Joe Fish · 10-10-2008, 11:30 AM

I'm getting ready to QT some fish in my 10g tank. The tank is completely cycled and everything, but I do not run a filter on it. I just have 1 power head. Do you think this will be a problem when I QT fish? I completely forgot about a sponge... I do have an air driven sponge I could put it, but I don't know how long it will take to mature.

Oh, the water I put in my 10g is the water I change out of my main tank.

MatthewLaw · 10-10-2008, 12:57 PM

hmmm well at this point I guess your only option is to frequently do water changes while the fish are in the QT tank? I mean otherwise there is no filtration and it will take a few weeks for your new filter to cycle (causing amonia/nitrite spikes??).

How often are you removing/changing water from your main tank?

Joe Fish · 10-10-2008, 01:53 PM

Not necessarily, I do have live rock in the QT tank to help out. I do bi-weekly water changes.

MatthewLaw · 10-10-2008, 02:15 PM

but most of the filtration will come from your bi-weekly water changes?

foolish question. what happens if you put a filter in there now? will it cause spikes even though the water/live rock are cycled?

Lotus · 10-10-2008, 09:29 PM

If you have live rock in there, you should be fine. I have LR in the tank I use for QT. Should I have to medicate, or if the fish get sick in there, I'd throw out (or cook) the LR.

No matter how well cycled your QT is, it's always a good idea to monitor ammonia. I've used the Seachem alert badge as an indicator (but I still check with a test kit). The alert badge just means I don't have to test daily or twice daily if there is an ammonia spike, I just know if a water change is needed.

Joe Fish · 10-10-2008, 09:46 PM

I thought so too, but I just l ike to make sure. I plan on testing to make sure I don't get a big spike. Would a 3 week QT be sufficient?

Lotus · 10-10-2008, 10:05 PM

Three weeks is normally enough. If you do need to treat for disease, then you have to restart that three week period from the first day the fish is healthy again.

Joe Fish · 10-10-2008, 11:35 PM

Cool, I'm trying for 2 cardinals... again... This time i'm acclimating them very very slow with no lights and with only 1 other fish. I'm getting a randall's goby as well. I don't think he'll bother them.