Setting Up Quarantine/ Borrowing from DT

I plan on setting up a 20-25 gallon quarantine tank. Currently my plan is to use water from my display tank water changes to fill the QT. (good params and nitrate variable 2-10ppm). I will add a minimal amount of arragonite sand (for biological filter) and a few small pieces of live rock from my sump/fuge. I will use a new plastic storage tote as the tank, one powerhead with ventury bubbling thing, a heater, and a t5 light.

What should I expect for a cycle?

Will this be an adequate setup for a mandarin, clarki clown, and fairy
wrasse (at separate times)?

Should I use dry sand or live sand from my DT?

Any tips or advice? This will be my first experience with a quarantine tank and cycling for that matter. I inherited my tank and consequently never dealt with a cycle.

 

If you use enuff LR, your tank won't likely cycle much at all, if it does cycle. One thing to consider is used tankwater doesn't contain the bacteria you're trying to culture as your biofiltration system...they are benthic/demersal species. All used water really does is add whatever built-up pollutants (generally NO3) to your QT.

The small amount of substrate you use will really be of little value in terms of biofiltration, so you can go either way. The advantage of using new sand is that you aren't disturbing the sandbed in your DT.

Be sure to cover the tank when you QT the wrasse because it WILL jump.

 

Should I expect a cycle?


After 4 days with the tank set up my params are as follows:

Temp 78
PH 8.3
SG 1.024
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
nitrate about 10 (due to water being used water from water changes of DT)

feather duster worms on live rock are active and extended

 

Probably not much of one, if any. Depending on how much mature LR you add.

 

Also unless the mandarin is eating frozen you'll have to supply pods while its in the QT. Either from your main tank or buying them.

 

Add fresh saltwater. Your other tank has already used some components and processed the water in your display. Properly mixed saltwater is by far superior to tank water after a period of time.

 

I find that QT tanks usually end up being Hospital tanks so I never add any live rock or anything that cannot either be disinfected like PVC fittings, or be throw away when I am done with the QT.
I throw the sponge filter insert away and start fresh next time.
I also use only new saltwater so I get a fresh start. I don't worry about a cycle in the QT or hospital since the inhabitants will be there a maximum of 6 weeks normally and water changes will maintain water quality. If you have to medicate chances are you will kill whatever bacteria you have anyway so water changes are required.

 

I just purchased a Royal Gramma who seems to have happily adapted to his new home in the quarantine tank. Assuming I don't see any signs of disease what would be the minimum time I should keep this fish in quarantine. Considering this guy is supposed to be disease resistant and hardy I'd like to get him out of there so I can get another new fish into the quarantine tank.

 

I'd go at least 4 weeks. We typically go longer, but we roll weaning our fish off of live foods into the QT regimine, so they get treated as needed, conditioned and eating, weaned, and then moved to their target DT unless they have some growing to do.

 

just my opinion, a quarantine or hospital tank should have nothing that cannot be removed everytime you quarantine a fish. for example, if i quarantine a tang one week, there should be nothing residual when i quarantine a pair of clowns next month.