Sick Tank

I need advice on how to set up a hospital tank ASAP. I have a 180 peninsula with several fish that have shown signs of disease that I want to quarantine and treat ASAP. I don't have an extra tank or sponge filter or HOB filter. I don't mind taking some live rock from DT to use only for quarantine tank. Any suggestions? These guys are going downhill fast.

 

You don't necessarily have to cycle the HT, just keep up on water changes and check your ammonia levels daily. Get the largest tank you can get/fit for your HT that will fit the fish you have. You can put some LR in there, but once you treat that tank, don't put it back in your tank. Generally LR isn't used because it can absorb some chemicals. I used Biospira and a piece of LR to seed the bio-wheel on my QT and it worked very well.

How many fish do you have and what sizes?

At a minimum, you need a heater and something for water movement/surface agitation. Some PVC pieces for hiding and an air stone will help too.

 

Since most meds are dosed at 10 gal increments, you'll do well to get a tank that's an "even" multiple of 10 if you can. If not, oversize it and fill it in 10 gal increments.

If you're treating the tank, you'll be using water changes to keep it from cycling, so be sure you replace the proper amount of meds along with the water.

 

Thanks for the advice everyone. Some of my fish have so far survived the "great plague of 2013" and are looking good, eating, and breathing better in the hospital tank. I had an outbreak of velvet... I pretty much had to take down my 180 ... Sad times . I have been in this hobby a few years now and prided myself on never having a major catastrophe. I also didn't believe in quarantining fish. A newly added fish that turned out to be sick and a sudden drop in tank temp due to faulty equipment = great plague of 2013. I have many more questions regarding what to do now .... And will make a new thread about it for advice.

 

I'd highly suggest, reviewing all of these videos I've put together on QT. I personally do not feel that any hobbyist should be permitted to buy livestock, without a QT system, period. It's an injustice not only to the current tank inhabitants, but the incoming specimen.

Some current QT'd Moorish Idols, just in. Some good details here as well.