How to cycle/maintain a QT?

I just setup a 10g QT with a simple hang on back bio wheel filter. My plan is to keep this QT running all times in case I need to use it as a hospital tank as well.

So how do I keep the bio-load active while the QT is empty? What is the best way to cycle the QT in the first place? Right now it's completely empty but I dropped a cube of frozen squid in there and the sponges in the filter have been soaking in my DT. Should I take either of those out?

Thank you!!!

 

You will find like many of us did its not such a good idea to keep it in operation all the time. You end up placing things in it since it looks lonely empty and you soon have another display.
It only takes me 15 minutes to set up my QT from scratch so I leave it dry and packed away until I need it. I store a side filter (with a new filter sponge in my sump at all times), a light, heater, powerheads and some PVC fittings to hide in or eggcrate rack for corals in the dry tank so it can be set up at a moments notice.

 

Thank you for your advice.

However, I simply care to know how one would maintain the bio-load without any live stock.

 

You can't.
You need a source of ammonia or food and a place for colonizing bacteria to live to convert that food source to nitrites then nitrates.
The idea behind QT or hospital tanks is a sterile enviroment so you won't have much of a permanent place for bacteria to thrive nor a food source. I keep a fresh sponge in my sump to place in the hang on back AC filter but it has a limited amount of bacteria and surface area so will not live forever without a food source.
Take my experienced advice and set it up as needed, you will not be able to complete a cycle and keep a QT tank mature without making it into a working system with live rock or substrate and fish which defeats the purpose.

 

+1

The live bacteria cultures are maintained on the extra filter media in the DT's sump.

 

+2

If you cycle the QT/HT and try to rely on the bio-filter, you will run into serious problems if you have a sick fish that requires meds. A lot of meds will kill the bio-filter, which can lead to a critical ammonia spike. That's why it's important for the QT/HT to be sterile.

 

Okay, well thanks to all for that perspective. The reason I setup this QT in the first place was because I have a suspect coral and I want to try an isolate it from my main display system. I'm battling nitrates and I simply cannot figure out what my problem is, so I figure the QT will help me isolate the perpetrator.

When should I feel confident, upon this setup, that the QT is ready for coral? And how long can I expect to be able to keep coral in a QT? Perhaps there is a write-up on all of this that I haven't found?

Thanks again.

 

I place corals in my QT one minute after its full of new saltwater, waiting has no benefit. I always use new saltwater, never old used tank water. If its a fish I am QTing I add the bacteria charged foam or sponge filter from the sump to jump start the nitrification/denitrification process but I rarely keep corals in QT long enough to worry about bacteria, plus the medications like Interceptor, Tropic Marin Pro Coral Cure and others would just kill the bacteria anyway.
I monitor the water quality and do water changes as necessary until the QT or medeication is complete, disinfect the tank and accessories and put it away until next time.

 

I have a question as well, if I may... So with new sw and a filter sponge that's been in DT, there is no cycle as there is in a tank tank? For fish purposes, QT lasts 4ish weeks doesn't it? How do you prevent death from ammonia, nitrates, what have you (Like you jumped the gun on adding fish in new tank) if you set it up brand-new every time? Not an issue b/c no cycle? I guess I don' understand how there's not a cycle.

 

Water changes take care of ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. There is no rock or substrate in the QT or hospital tank to support nitrosonomas and nitrobacter bacterias so there is little nitrogen cycle going on. Changes keep the levels in check and you don't have inhabitants in there long enough to do any harm if you monitor the water quality daily.
The filter sponge will provide a little room but it will only support aerobic bacteria not anoxic or anaerobic so has little nitrogen removal value.