Creating a Quarantine Tank.

[Temlaa]

Hello everyone, i am currently trying to set up a quarantine tank as my friend recently passed on his Fluval EVO Saltwater Kit 19L.

 

Therefore, i am hoping that i could get some valuable advice on what are the steps to start a quarantine tank.

 

These are some questions that comes to my mind, please forgive me if the questions are dumb :

 

1. Is the pump, sponge filter, bio-filter and carbon (might replace carbon with seachem purigen) all i need in this quarantine tank?

 

2. Do i need the lights on? If yes, how long per day?

 

3. I am using ReefMax Salt mix for my saltwater, do i need to add any other additives? Or should i use a different salt mix?

 

4. Is it appropriate to add a rock in the tank?

 

5. Do i need to leave the tank running even if i have no fish to quarantine yet, or only add saltwater and run the tank if there is new fish to quarantine?

 

6. Do i have to do drip acclimatisation method for new fish before adding them into the quarantine tank? And another drip acclimatisation for quarantine tank to display tank?

 

7. Is quarantine tank different for fish and corals?

 

8. Does 20% water change weekly apply to quarantine tank?

 

9. What to look out for when the fish is in the quarantine tank?

 

Thank you very much for taking the time to read and answer my questions!

 

*uploaded photos of the fluval tank box and sump view

 

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[Evolutionz]

Here are my answers below, im no expert but these are my views and my QT process.

 

1. Is the pump, sponge filter, bio-filter and carbon (might replace carbon with seachem purigen) all i need in this quarantine tank?

Yes, that will be all you need, i would not use purigen too as it might absorb medications.

2. Do i need the lights on? If yes, how long per day?

Yes, i would leave it on for 8-10 hours a day so you can observe the fish in QT.

3. I am using ReefMax Salt mix for my saltwater, do i need to add any other additives? Or should i use a different salt mix?

Fishes are not particular about salt mix nor salinity. So long it is stable, it should be fine.

4. Is it appropriate to add a rock in the tank?

You can add some rocks but i would advise not too, rocks might absorb copper and it will be harder to achieve therapeutic levels.

5. Do i need to leave the tank running even if i have no fish to quarantine yet, or only add saltwater and run the tank if there is new fish to quarantine?

You do not need to leave the tank running if you have no fish to QT, but do note that you'll need to re-cycle the tank again when you have fishes to QT again. I personally leave my QT running 24/7.

6. Do i have to do drip acclimatisation method for new fish before adding them into the quarantine tank? And another drip acclimatisation for quarantine tank to display tank?

Personally, all i do is ensure salinity and temperature matches between transfer. just mixes water bit by bit till salinity matches. Of course, be careful not to pour water from the bag into your QT, and QT into your display.

7. Is quarantine tank different for fish and corals?

Generally QT for corals should be a fishless tank that matches the parameters of your display as close to as possible. QT for corals are more difficult to maintain, i personally do not have a QT for corals.

8. Does 20% water change weekly apply to quarantine tank?

That will depend on the medication you are using. If purely just copper (or QT without medication), then yes a 20% weekly WC would benefit the system overall, remember to dose enough copper in the fresh water going into the QT.

9. What to look out for when the fish is in the quarantine tank?

Look out for white spots (ich, velvet & brook), sunken stomach, white stringy poop, etc, etc.. Just a few to name. Generally, just ensure fishes are eating well and pooping well, especially when copper is used as some fishes such as angelfish and wrasse can be sensitive to certain type of copper. 

[Temlaa]

Thank you Evolutionz for the quick response!

Regarding the Purigen, if i do not use that, is carbon okay? Or will carbon absorb the medication as well?

For Copper, what brand/product is a good choice?

Also, i am using "Seachem Prime" to condition my fresh saltwater, will this react with copper?

An additional question that came up,

10. How long do i leave the fish in the quarantine tank before transfering to display tank?

Once again thank you for the help!

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[Evolutionz]

12 minutes ago, Temlaa said:

Thank you Evolutionz for the quick response!

Regarding the Purigen, if i do not use that, is carbon okay? Or will carbon absorb the medication as well?

Carbon will remove medication, infact carbon will be used to remove all sorts of medication once the QT process finishes. 

For Copper, what brand/product is a good choice?

I uses Copper Power but it is not available locally, i bought it from BulkReefSupply.

Also, i am using "Seachem Prime" to condition my fresh saltwater, will this react with copper?

No! Prime or any other anti-chlorine will reduce copper medication to its very toxic form. only use RODI or DI water to mix saltwater for your QT.

An additional question that came up,

10. How long do i leave the fish in the quarantine tank before transfering to display tank?

There are many different approach to this, some will call this 'kiasu' but this is what i follow..

Day 1 - 3 : No medication, observe and make sure fish is feeding.

Day 3 - 7: Start bringing copper to therapeutic level slowly over the course of several days.

Day 8 - 38: Ensure fish stays in copper maintained at therapeutic levels for the whole of 30 days. Meanwhile, i dose Praziquantel (Eiho Prazigold) and Metronidazole (Seachem Metroplex) and that will take care of flukes and internal parasites respectively. 

Once again thank you for the help!

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You're welcome! I am glad that more and more people are adopting the idea of QT-ing their fishes! Recently there are more cases of velvet lurking even in the more 'atas' shops. They have no way to prevent this but we do. 

I also try to get my fishes from sources which are least likely to carry diseases (it is just not possible to get a 100% disease free fish), they can either be from LFS that provide proper QT service, or LFS that has UV system in place to minimize spread of disease. 

Coral Farm is one where i usually shop for fishes. Instead of the usual QT process, i usually observe the fishes in the QT for 3-4 weeks (without any medication) before releasing into the display tank, provided they are healthy and show no signs of any disease/parasites. 

 

[Temlaa]

Thank you very much for the advice! I will start up the quarantine tank soon!

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[Temlaa]

More question for Quarantine tank,

Is having sand bed bad or good for a quarantine tank?

Is water change the only way to reduce Ammonia/Nitrite?

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[Evolutionz]

12 minutes ago, Temlaa said:

More question for Quarantine tank,

Is having sand bed bad or good for a quarantine tank?

Is water change the only way to reduce Ammonia/Nitrite?

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Sandbed is not required, it might absorb your medication too. If you are QT-ing wrasses that need a sand bed to sleep in, can  use a container filled with some sand.

 

Water change is not the only way, having established media and proper cycling of the QT should not have ammonia issue. 

[Temlaa]

Sandbed is not required, it might absorb your medication too. If you are QT-ing wrasses that need a sand bed to sleep in, can  use a container filled with some sand.
 
Water change is not the only way, having established media and proper cycling of the QT should not have ammonia issue. 

Thank you for the help again!

Also, should I add bacteria into the QT to cycle the tank? Or should i add RedSea Nopox.

Been cycling the tank but ammonia and nitrite is still there.

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[Evolutionz]

20 minutes ago, Temlaa said:

Thank you for the help again!

Also, should I add bacteria into the QT to cycle the tank? Or should i add RedSea Nopox.

Been cycling the tank but ammonia and nitrite is still there.

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Yes, you should add bacteria, the one i use is Microbe-lift Nite out II. Nopox is a a form of carbon dosing meant to reduce nitrate/phosphate by feeding bacteria, there's no need to use this in a QT.

[Temlaa]

Yes, you should add bacteria, the one i use is Microbe-lift Nite out II. Nopox is a a form of carbon dosing meant to reduce nitrate/phosphate by feeding bacteria, there's no need to use this in a QT.

Alright, thank you for the help again!

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