Hospital/quarantine tank

I just set up a hospital/quarantine tank (10 gal.). My D/T is a 90 gal. reef. I'm using an AquaClear filter on the h/q tank, a thin bed of sand and the fluorescent light that came with the tank. I decided to utilize this tank on a 24/7 basis, based on advise/suggestions I received from the Forum. I partially filled the tank with water I removed from my D/T while doing a water change (5 gal.) My question is this; Will the h/q tank have to cycle, considering that I used water from my D/T? My D/T has been up and running since January of this year and I have not had any problems as of yet.

 

You should be fine with that.

 

you shouldnt have any substrate in a hosptial tank, or QT...IMO...i dont have a QT tank myself anymore because i found it to be useless...and i turned it into a predator tank...lol The only thing u should really have in a Hospital or QT tank is like PVC tubing to give the fish somewhere to hide..that way when your done with the Hospitalization you can clean the tank easily...plus if you dont have any substrate, all you have to do is fill the tank with your DT water, and you wont have to worry about the tank cycling

 

Thanks The fisherman and Kevin3884. So, If I understand correctly, by using the water from my D/T, the h/q tank won't be cycling? And Kevin, I think you might be right about the sand. Thanks again.

 

I never leave my QT set up when not in use. its so simple to set it up in a hurry its not worth running another system which would end up having fish or corals in it eventually so would blow the QT idea.
Stick a fresh sponge filter insert for the AC side filter in your display tanks sump or filter so it stays charged with bacteria. Then you can set the QT up at a moments notice and have bacteria already for the cycle. It takes me maybe 15 minutes to set a QT or hospital tank up from scratch and i use fresh saltwater myself rather than used water.

 

Thanks AZDesertRat, I know you responded to a similar question I posted earlier (Hospital/Quarantine Tank) dated 04/01/2010. about setting up a H/Q tank in general. I have learned to respect your advise in the short time I have been a member of this forum. And after reading it again, I know you are right about this subject. I think I just wanted another tank lol. I will do as you suggest. My only concern was placing the AC sponge in my sump and if I have an outbreak of something in my DT and then placing this same sponge in the H/Q tank (cross contamination). Over all, I know your advise is sound and I intend to take it. Thanks again AZDersertRat.

 

If I set a tank up stuff seems to magically appear and fill it up;D
Believe me, it has happened more than once. between my son and i we have had as many a 8 or 10 operating systems in the house at once over the years, everything from 20G reefs to 180G swim tanks and everything in between. Down to two permanent reef systems and two QT's, a 10 and a 20 that can be set up quickly now, and it very managable.

The idea is to always QT so you don't have any outbreaks in the display. Filter sponges are cheap so I keep several new ones around and use a new one every time so I don't pass anything on from the QT/hospital tank.

 

+1 on not using sand for a QT tank. I would think it defeats the purpose of contaminant free environment once detritus and other things get mixed with the sand.

The sponge is a great idea also. That way you don't have to use the obviously more expensive rock as biological filtration.

+K for the great advice and tips AZDesertRat!

 

I agree, with the no substrate. QT tanks should be bare bones. Also, I read that you should use newly made saltwater, not water from the DT.