Fish To Keep A Quarantine Tank Cycled.

[dthoffsett]

I'm getting ready to set up a 10gal hospital/quarantine tank. I'm looking for a species I can keep two or three of in the tank to keep it cycled, and so I don't have to look at an empty tank.

When I'm using it as a quarantine tank for a non aggressive species I'll keep the 2/3 fish in there, when I'm quarantining cichlids or using it as a hospital tank, I'll add the fish to my existing community. (See sig below for occupants of 29gal).

So, I need suggestions for something that stays small, can be kept in twos or threes, and is community safe. I'd prefer to keep only males or only females if possible to avoid a population explosion.

The tank will have gravel, a couple of live plants, and a few rock caves, but will be pretty sparse, so it's easy to catch the fish when needed.

Thanks for any and all help in advance.

edited for spelling.

 

[mewhorse]

The strongest fish that never seem to die (at least for me) are blackskirt tetras...my first lived for 7+ years...don't get too too big, never have population exposions, never get very aggressive and are quite active (entertaining)....I still use them to cycle tanks - I bought 6 to start my 37 gallon off and 5 months later still have 6 happy fish...no idea which are male or female but doesn't seem to matter - have never had babies....and they are OK with only a few (my sister has 2 in her 10 gallon and they seem happy enough) Hope this helps!

 

[scubadoo]

As an alternative to keeping the tank running all the time, you could just run the filter in one of your other tanks, then move over the mature filter to the hospital tank when you needed it ?

That way it would probably house more bacteria.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

another really hardy fish would be whiteclouds . there skooling fish and get to be the size of Neon Tetras. they dont need a heater as well so you could save some money on electricity when ur fish gets sick plug in the heater n warm dah tank up.

 

[Bullrock74]

As an alternative to keeping the tank running all the time, you could just run the filter in one of your other tanks, then move over the mature filter to the hospital tank when you needed it ?

That way it would probably house more bacteria.

I agree, this is what I do.

another really hardy fish would be whiteclouds . there skooling fish and get to be the size of Neon Tetras. they dont need a heater as well so you could save some money on electricity when ur fish gets sick plug in the heater n warm dah tank up.

Wow...82 posts in two days? Way to go!

 

[dthoffsett]

Id really like to keep it up and running as I live in a small apatment and the best place to store the tank is on the rack below my divided 10gal betta tank.

Does anyone else have any suggestions?