Cycling quarantine tank

How can I get my QT cycled without using anything from my DT? My DT may have parasites in it so I do not want to use anything from it. Thanks.

 

Is it for like an ich problem? if so I'd still use DT water because ur gonna be killing the parasites in the QT anyway, even if you use DT water. Besides you dont really have to acclimate fish; thats what I did when I had ick and i used hyposalinity and all the ick parasites in my QT were dead

 

If the QT is for introduction of new fish, you do not want to start them out in a tank with Marine Ich. The new fish could be totally clean, why introduce them to a QT that might already contain ich.

Any new system will cycle just fine with introduction of a small amount of fish food to decay.

 

Thanks--good idea; I added some freeze dried mysis shrimp!

 

A Quarantine tank should be a tank that has no sand or rocks in it, the reason for this is it allows you to add medicines at the right proportions, if you have a 10 gallon tank it has 10 gallons of water in it. Also Rock and sand can and do absorb medicines which will lower the dosage and waste money.

It should have a basic light on it and a heater, A hang on the back filter with Filter floss and the ability to put Carbon in it. Maybe a small plastic plant and a plastic Cup and bowel for fish to hide in.

Other than that it should have Fresh, I repeat fresh salt water in it and enough pre-made salt water to do 10% water changes as needed to keep the ammonia in check.

When you done and the fish have been put into your tank you take your quarantine tank down, scrub and clean everything and dry it completely. This way your not putting what might be Healthy fish into an environment that was made sick by the last fish you had in there.

I have been doing it this way for almost 40 years with out any issues at all, both Fresh water and Salt water.

 

Thanks--I have my tank pretty much set up this exact way. A 14g bare bottom with some PVC pipes and clay pots for cover. A sponge filter, heater, and power filter (no carbon) for some movement.

Now just trying to get the cycle going!

 

There really is no need to cycle a QT tank. You will be doing regular water changes and adding medications that will disrupt the cycle anyway. I set my QT up 10 minutes before I need it and tear it down when I am done, thats the beauty of it, no need to have a cycled system.

 

oh wow he says thanks to the other guys except me XD at least i came up with an idea lol

 

Well, it must be cycling because I have readings of:

ammonia - .5
nitrites - 0
PH - 8.2

I'm assuming when ammonia and nitrites reach 0, I can test nitrates and if they are reasonable (under 30?) I can put a fish in?

 

No need to cycle it, you should not have any porous materials in it that would support bacteria growth and without colonizing bacteria the cycle will not be completed. Everything in the QT should be slick finishes like PVC fittings and hard plastic not porous like rock.
When you add medications they will kill whatever bacteria you have so cycling is not necessary, you do water changes and add carbon as needed or as medications dictate to remove them.