Quarantine Tank

[Huugs]

Hey guys. Just wondering how you lot keep your quarentine tank. Do you keep it set up and cycled the whole time or do youset it up just when you need? If you put a fish in there to medicate it then how can you prevent new tank syndrome especially as the fish will be weakened anyway.

I was wondering so that I know incase I need to do it. Thanks.

[mrmoby]

I have a ten gallon set up that I bought at Walmart for $50, that had everything in it, and I keep it going all the time like my other tanks, with a 4 zebras to keep it established, and it has worked well for me.

[fishfreaks]

we keep it setup at all times, filter, heater, everything...Just in case . you never know when you are going to need it.

[Damon]

I run a small filter on my bigger tanks(s). When I need my QT, I switch the smaller filter and put in on my QT (10 gallon tank). I've used bot a sponge filter and a small HOB filter for this purpose.

[euRasian32]

Set up all the time.

I use it mainly to quarantine feeder fish for 48 hours before they're fed to my fish, and I obviously keep the same parameters as my main tank.

It's also a safe haven for injured/battered/bullied fishes.

[TheOldSalt]

I guess I'm in the minority on this one. I don't keep QTs set up and running, but instead set them up as needed.

I should explain.

A lot of people think that QT is a matter of keeping the fish separate and observing. For them, keeping a QT up and running all the time is fine.

Not me. I assume that each fish is sick, since that's usually the actual case, and I treat accordingly for everything. Since the water gets changed so much during and between the various phases of treatment, ammonia isn't a problem.

Simpte's solution of keeping a spare filter running on the main tank for use on the QT is a pretty good one, and I used to do it too, but be sure to break it down and sterilize it before putting it back on the main tank after use in quarantine.

[Huugs]

Ok cheers I dont think I really have a need to keep it running al lthe time. Not really getting more fish for a while plus I would have to keep feeding it I spose. Thanks though its made me feel a bit better bout just shoving sick or injured fish out and putting them in a fresh tank.

[garfieldnfish]

I use a tubberware container (actually 2 of them, 4 gal containers) for sick tank. They have an air pumb and airation but no filter and only get set up as needed. If I have a sick fish I want to make sure I do not transfer any of the disease over into the sick tank by transfering a filter etc. The fish stay in this tank only for a short time and like Oldsalt said, ammonia will not be a problem. I usually change the water out 100% every day and add new meds every day. (Hence the 2 containers, I fix up one the first day, the second day I use the other container and transfer the fish and on and on until the fish is well.) But I want to insure no diease moves from tank to tank so I want a new set up each time.
If it's a goldfish, I add some gravel (fresh washed or tried old gravel) otherwise maybe a small decoration for hiding for shy fish or a fake plant, all items that have been left out in the air for a long time and are not likely to carry any bacteria or disease. No live plants.