Quarantine Tank

[Bleeding]

Can anyone offer suggestions on how to properly use a QT tank for getting new fish from the store?

I just purchased a cheap 5 gal "kit". I was just gonna set it up on my desk. I know you should leave them in the QT tank for 2-6 weeks until they show no sign of disease or anything, but what if something slips by? Should i do preventative treatments or meds in the QT tank? Should i use aquarium salt in it?

I know it dosent require anything, but i was also going to put a small amount of gravel and 1 plant in it to make it semi-appealing because it will sit out on my desk.

Any other suggestions?

 

[HiGhTiMeZ]

I know it dosent require anything,

sorry but arent we supposed to put a medication like methylene blue, anti fungal med and salt + heater to quarantine a fish? well thats what most of us mfkers do in our QT tank... but then again our QT tanks just have a bunch of feeders.

 

[Bleeding]

sorry but arent we supposed to put a medication like methylene blue, anti fungal med and salt + heater to quarantine a fish? well thats what most of us mfkers do in our QT tank... but then again our QT tanks just have a bunch of feeders.

Doesnt methylene blue kill off beneficial bacteria???

 

[swingsetredemption]

If you do put gravel in, make sure you either replace it or wash it really well before adding a new fish to quarantine.
-justin

 

[andregurov]

Make sure it has a heater, but skip medicating unless you are positive what you are medicating for. Most fish, if they make it through 4-6 weeks of quarantine, will never get ill if kept properly. Antifungal meds are rarely called for, as true fungal infections of fish are ... umm, rare. Skip the methylene blue - it is mostly useful for keeping fungus off eggs and for increasing oxygen saturation during shipping. Salt IS useful, so feel free to use it in QT at a recommended dosage.

J

 

[HiGhTiMeZ]

Doesnt methylene blue kill off beneficial bacteria???

hmmmmm last time i checked... no

 

[Bleeding]

hmmmmm last time i checked... no

hmmmmm just asking because i read this:

Dosages/Regimens:

Toxic to aquarium plant life, as well as nitrifying bacteria... Methylene Blue should not be used for prolonged exposure, or in permanent (main, display) systems... as it can/will kill off necessary beneficial bacteria.

There is evidence that utilizing Methylene Blue in concentration in the process of acclimating marine livestock reduces toxicity of nitrite and cyanide. The author (RMF) has used Methylene Blue as such a dip/bath adjunct for many years with good success. Please see here re: Dips/Baths. Methylene Blue converts otherwise bound Methemoglobin back to useful Hemoglobin in fishes' blood... it is useful in the in situ detoxification of nitrite and cyanide... Useful in dips/baths of newly imported livestock indeed.


from this site http://www.wetwebmedia.com/methblueart.htm

 

[Bleeding]

If you do put gravel in, make sure you either replace it or wash it really well before adding a new fish to quarantine.
-justin

Can "wash" be a good vac. or does it actually need to be removed and "washed"

 

[HiGhTiMeZ]

hmmmmm just asking because i read this:

Dosages/Regimens:

Toxic to aquarium plant life, as well as nitrifying bacteria... Methylene Blue should not be used for prolonged exposure, or in permanent (main, display) systems... as it can/will kill off necessary beneficial bacteria.

There is evidence that utilizing Methylene Blue in concentration in the process of acclimating marine livestock reduces toxicity of nitrite and cyanide. The author (RMF) has used Methylene Blue as such a dip/bath adjunct for many years with good success. Please see here re: Dips/Baths. Methylene Blue converts otherwise bound Methemoglobin back to useful Hemoglobin in fishes' blood... it is useful in the in situ detoxification of nitrite and cyanide... Useful in dips/baths of newly imported livestock indeed.


from this site http://www.wetwebmedia.com/methblueart.htm

hmmmmm... thanks for sharing this to me bro!

 

[Zoodiver]

You quar should be a bare bottom tank with just the basics to keep stuff alive. If you do have gravel, pull it all, bleach it and then rinse and re-use between batches of fish. In fact, i'd tear down the whole thing and bleach it all to be safe. There is no need to transfer anything from one group to the next.

Leave fish in quar for no less than 30 days. That is long enough for any problematic parasites etc to show up (in case they come in as eggs, that is enough time for them to hatch and develop if you need to treat them). I also suggest NOT treating fish unless you know what you are treating for. However, if you have wild caught animals, I'd suggest panacur or some other dewormer as a safeguard.