Setting up a quarantine tank

[msdolittle]

I don't have one, as I will be getting more fish in a few weeks when my tank is completely cycled.......so, after reading and reading here, and already having to treat for ich....I don't want to do that again, or risk other illnesses.

So, I guess I need to set up a quarantine tank before its time to get more fishies.

Do I need to set up a quarantine tank just like I'd set up my original one? Does it need to be cycled? What size do you recommend? Should it just be up and running at all times?

Talk to me. (or link me to an already established discussion)

Thanks!!!

[msdolittle]

Oh, I should add that the fish I want to get are cories (salt and pepper and panda) and a pleco....I think I've decided on the rubberlips/nose (whichever its called) pleco. It will be a few weeks yet.

[Fishfirst]

The best way to set one up is to by one of those cheapo starter kits and put PVC pipe in there for hiding spots. Then you can treat fish before they even get into your system. By just doing water changes while they are in quarentine (every day or every other day) and lightly stocking it, you shouldn't have problems with water chemistry.

[msdolittle]

Okay, so I don't need to cycle the tank first then? And, I shouldn't have any substrate in there......bc I don't want any ickies to have a place to hide. Right?

[Fishfirst]

right, bare bottom, no cycle (unless you can't do water changes)

[msdolittle]

Super!! I think I will pick one up in the next week or so. One of my favorite LFS's have 10 gallon starters for 30 bucks.......I'll check walmart too, to compare.

[Torpedo]

around here the Walmart starter 10g are $29+tax for the "Goldfish Starter Kits" -basically just means it doesnt come with a heater and $39 for the regular 10g starter.

[msdolittle]

Hm.....I already have a spare heater that would work for a 10 gallon (had it leftover from incubating lizard eggs).

Of course, looking online has yielded NOTHING......I'll have to hit the stores in person I guess. I have a little time to shop around.

[little]

i was going to ask something very simular, hospital tanks? whats a good size to get ? and would i do the same as what was said above? It's to expensisive to treat 60 gallons, thats like 4 packs/bottles of what ever is needed!!!!


and something i found is at petsmart, < we only have 2 local pet stores total> there prices are WAY cheaper online, I called to have a master test kit picked up by a friend, online it was 13 dollars in store was 24, they will give it to you for the online price. even the employee told me to find things online and call and have them pulled for pick up at online prices.

[msdolittle]

Excellent tip Little!!!

[mrmoby]

I wanted to throw in my two cents due to a situation I had here this week. I had the center brace break on my 55g at 4 in the morning. My quarantine tank was full of new fish. Fortunately I had an empty 10 gallon to put my fish in. Admittedly, not an ideal situation for the fish, but good enough to hold me for the day it took to get the new tank. Might be a good idea to also have a bare tank for an emergency like that. Don't neccesarily need to set ip up, just store it in the basement. I used tank water from the 55 to fill it, and ran my 55's filter on the back, as well as the heater. everything is back up and running again, and I am very glad I did't get rid of that 10.

[RockabillyChick]

i'm going to use a rubbermaid bin and a filter that i'm planning on using in my betta tank once the QT is over. because the rubbermaid holds like 25g, it will be very lightly stocked with only 6 small tetras, so the cycle shouldn't be that bad. once the QT is over, the tetras go in my main tank, 3 at a time to prevent a minicycle in the main tank, and the filter goes in the betta tank.

[msdolittle]

Great tips, from everyone!!

[Sprite42]

You can also put extra filter on your cycled tank and just move it to the QT whenever you have to set it up. If you don't have room for an extra filter, stuff in as much extra media in your currently running one. This will help to jump start a cycle (if needed) in a QT.

I keep extra filters on two different tanks and extra media in the ones that will hold it for just this purpose. I, too, have several different size rubbermaid tubs for treating illness, and holding fish while a repair job is underway. I just move my filters, heaters and decorations, but not gravel, to the tub and cover them lightly (in case of jumps). It works really well.

[msdolittle]

Cool idea!