Hospital/quarantine tank

How does everyone have their hospital/quarantine tank/s set-up? Is it up and running continuously, ready for use 24/7? What equipment is necessary? Where do you have it set-up? And finally, what size tank do you have?

I maintain a 90 gal. reef as my D/T.

Thanks Everyone.

 

I only set mine up when needed. I keep a filter sponge in my sump at all times so it is charged with bacteria and ready to go at a moments notice.
The QT/hospital tank is either a 10 or a 20 depending on what I am housing and contains a AquaClear hang on filter with the charged sponge, a heater, a light as necessary(either PC for fish and softies or a 150w MH for SPS corals), some PVC fittings for fish to hide in and an eggcrate rack for corals, a small powerhead and medications. Everything is kept in one spot so its easy to set up in a few minutes if I run across that deal too good to pass up.
I can use siphoned tank water but usually make up fresh saltwater as needed.

 

It would be better to have at least a 10-gallon tank for your hospital/quarantine tank. Make sure that the substrate is clean so you can be sure that you are not going to get more bad bacteria as you separate your sick fish pet.

 

Most QT/hospital tanks do not contain and substrate since it would have to be tossed ou tafter each use due to possible contamination and infections. Bare bottom with lots of PVC pipe or fittings to hide in, the PVC can be cleaned with bleach and reused since it is not porous like sand or rock.

 

29 gallon that runs 24/7. I don't like anything trapping junk in my sump so I leave the filter in the qt and throw a chunk of shrimp in a small media bag and put it in there to feed the bacteria once or twice a month.
Bare bottom with a piece of 4" pvc for hiding.

 

It depends on what type of fish. If you are quarantining sand burrowing fish like some wrasses and gobies, sand is recommended. For most fish, you can go with bare bottom and PVC. You should also have separate tools for your QT tank like net, powerhead, test tubes, OR at least bleach them before using on your DT again.

 

Good advise everyone. I think I know how I would like to set up my Q/T, thanks to all of you.

Thanks Again everyone.

 

A word of caution...I left my 5g QT up and running with a dark blue painted back, it's in a quiet place, bare bottom, HOB filter with floss seeded in DT at all times, had it up just in case I found a good fish...now it's a nano tank, it's so easy to convert it! But I do have a 10g with sponge filter, bare bottom, PVC pipe hiding places and fake plants for all QT fish, except for burrowing ones. I don't use chemical products in filter because of the possibility that I'll need meds for a QT'd fish at some point. I think it's important to have QT in a low traffic area, with covered sides, bare bottom to turkey baste out waste and extra food, 10g is easy to do WC to keep ammonia and nitrite levels in check. I also use QT time to acclimate fish to hand feeding so there's always less waste in my DT.