Quarantine Set Up Under Tank...questions

[Pazzoman]

Hey well I'm setting up a 10 gallon quarantine under my 72 FOWLR (Some Inverts) gallon tank.

This is what I have:

Light (Marine Glo)
Heater
Filter rated for a 30 gallon tank
PVC Pipes
Digital Thermometer with probe
Air Bubbles
Wave Makers

Should I put any substrate? Like gravel....because I heard san can carries the parasite ick already. Yes an i know ick lives in everyones tank.

Also is their any UV sterilizers that don't connect to a filter?

Do I need a uv sterilizer.....

 

[Kevin8888]

Here's my two cents on QT tanks.

Ok first, you don't want an "established" system type QT tank, as if diseases/parasites get into it then they will infect everything you QT.

So no substrate, there are inline UV filters (they go before or after a pump in the piping) though you dont NEED a UV filter as they only help with water born things (a number parasites have both water/substrate life cycles so this wont help), a good old cheap filter sponge or micron sock (cleaned very often, even daily), heater/chiller (if nessisary), regular largish water changes. Finaly when your fish is done in the QT nuke the tank, as in drain/let dry completely or throw the parms way out of wack (hypo salinity acidic ph etc) to kill off everything before putting in the next QT subject.

Also if you have any perminant setups, like sand/gravel/rock, then if you medicate it can be a problem (copper based ones even more so) for later habitants of the QT that are sensitive to the medications (traces can stick around).

Basicaly you want a simple system that you set up quickly if you suddenly desire a new fish/invert, but at the same time don't want it running all the time for risk of infections/medication sensitivity issues being transmited.

 

[Pazzoman]

Ok so i'm guessing I fill the tank with the main tank water. No substrate....then one the fish is ready, i take out the water and turn everything off? Then repeat if needed?....i know about the water change lol

 

[Kevin8888]

That is what I would do, and using MT water is a good idea as it will be easier to move the fish from QT to MT (as in drop right in no acclimation assuming temps are the same) because the parms will be identical.

 

[Pazzoman]

cool thanks

 

[BigO6687]

i have more q's on this... if u nuke the tank, then how will it be ready for it's next inhabitant?

 

[Kevin8888]

QTs are ment for short term stays, they arent supposed to be as stable, they are completely maintained by minimal filtration and large/regular waterchanges. That said, If you want you can prep a biofiltration media such as floss or sponges in your MT so as to create a slightly more stable environment, but you would have to either get a new one or be sure the used one is 100% clean before using it again. Basicaly QT tanks are unbelieveably high maintenance.