Quarantine/Hospital

I've got 2, 10 gallon tanks sitting empty and want to put at least one of them to good use. I'm thinking about setting up a quarantine/hospital, and am wanting some advice suggestions on the best way to go about it.

Do I need to leave it running all the time? Or can I just siphon out 10 gallons from my 90 gallon when I'm about to buy something new?

 

I would not want an empty tank running all the time dowfish (Id be to tempted to stock it)

so yes if it where me, I would set it up using water from the main tank prior to purchasing any new additions

Steve

 

Should I worry with any filtration?

 

i know its ill advised but i have never used a quarantine tank, good for you for actually following directions lol

 

IMO - its good to have water circulation, so an empty HOB filter
is something I have used for this
if your going to treat the fish (may have to) then biological filtration is not compatible with some meds

the fish should not be there long, using mature water is helpful
water changes will also help control nutrients
use plastic pipes to provide cover and hiding places
leave the tank bare bottom

and that way you can use medication should you need to and not contaminate anything (No rocks or sand)

Steve

 

Here is what I plan on doing....

I was panning on setting up a stand alone 10 gal quarantine tank/hospital tank...with minimal equipment, however I have now decided to purchase and set up a 15 gal acclamation/quarantine/hospital tank.

I plan on quarantining/acclimating corals and fish....

The acclamation will be for my DIY LED lighting system...once I have some corals in my main DT, adding new corals would require that I either lower/adjust DT lighting so it's not too bright for them, or adjust placement to a lower position in the DT.

Instead I will have a similar DIY LED lighting system (scaled down) on my acclamation tank, which new corals will be placed in first (to adjusted light and increased over a period of time)....once adjusted to lights they can go directly where I want in the DT, without having to adjust my DT lighting, this of course would also allow for proper quarentine and inspection of corals and fish to ensure they are fit/ready for the DT.

The plan is to have the 10 gal used as a sump running with a small skimmer, and/or possibly a canister filter...I will need to research further as basicly I am seting up a nano tank...but does not have to be "visualy pleasing"

Although the quarantine/acclimation tank could be used as a frag tank as well, it will not be used as both at the same time for obvious reasons.

Since I am doing a new 92 gal build, from scratch (no previous SW tank),,,I plan on using the spare 15gal tank as described above, for some time until the DT is stocked to what I want...then it could be shut down and used only when needed (again for quarantine/acclimation/hospital), or kept running as a frag tank....or left running always switch back and forth to both....possibly with any /livestock transfers back to DT/cleaning/disinfection's in between, if required due to medications or outbreaks.

This gives me most bang for buck, in terms of versatility and safety with the spare tank and equipment needed for this plan- but again; driven mainly by my LED lighting system as well...

At least that is my opinion...

 

So I went to a guy's house the other day to purchase some equipment from him, and anyways, he had a 10 gallon qt/hosp tank running for his 120 gallon reef tank. He says he keeps it up and running all the time.

Simple mechanical filter on back and a small airstone for oxygen depletion when using meds. He had some plastic plants and some pvc for hiding. He told me it is easier to keep running than to not. His experience has been, be ready when you need it. At first signs of disease he can have them being treated quickly. And also he qt's all his livestock for 3 weeks before going into DT. So then I asked him, "what if you have a sick fish and you have one in the qt at the same time?" He said luckily thats never happend.

So I guess, I might need both 10 gallons after all!

 

I set mine up as I need it and store it when its not in use. I find if I have an empty tank it eventually becomes another frag system or display so is of no use to me for QT or hospital.

As Steve said, bare bottom tank, PVC pipe or fittings for fish to hide in and I use a AC side filter which I keep a foam filter insert for in my sump at all times so it is charged with bacteria and ready to go. I use new saltwater myself rather than used tank water but always have 50 gallons of RO/DI on hand so can make it up quickly.

 

I have 3 cycled QT running right now. I usually have one going at all times and then have rock in a bin to throw a cycled tank up at a moments notice. I also have empty 10g that I use as a hospital tank... one is in use right now. Be really careful when dealing with uncycled tanks though

When I clean and put it away I just use it as a storage bin for all the things I'll need to set it up quickly... filter, thermometer, Ammonia blocker, Buffer, heater, water change hose (I use a dedicated hospital tank one). Then when I need it, I just yank it off the shelf and it's all there. It's always at the worse times that fish get sick, not having to scramble around and find things creates one less stressor for us.