Hospital Tank & Filter Rings

[LakeyGal]

I have a 25l hospital tank that I'm setting up - In the past I have had a tank in my loft which I would have to get down fill, heat and steal filter media etc for possibly in a hurry and I think it's time to have a just in case option constantly running. The filter sponge will be from in another filter, and I can swipe about 10 ceramic rings from my well cycled external filter (that's all that will fit). Will this be enough to biologically filter the tank or should I do without the foam and fill the tray with rings, it would only ever be for 1 maybe 2 Molly/Barb sized fish at a time.

The other question is that I then want to put a single fish in it to maintain levels in the hospital tank for when I need it but I need a small hardy fish that doesn't mind having no substrate, is fine in 25l, who will be happy on its own but also would not be unhappy if he were temporarily relocated to a community tank (where there is a fin nipper so guppies are out), a big waste producer may also be a good idea. Does anyone know of such a fish ??

 

[jarcher1390]

a good fish very hardy great for starting a new tank off is zebra danios or leopard danios around about 6 of them reasonable small great community fish, i would get a shoal myself only costing 90pence each they don't take up a lot of room and if your not having to treat andy fish may be nice to have 6 danios swimming around.
keep the foam your not over stocking the tank so just keep the foam nice and simple.

 

[**sarahp**]

I might be being dim (or not understood your post properly) but I dont think you need to keep a hospital tank running constantly

Why dont you just buy what you would need for hospital tank - heater, plastic plants an ornament to give the fish somewhere to hide and a filter put the filter foam from the hospital tank filter in the filter of your main tank then when you need the hospital set it all up - take some water from your main tank so that the ill fish doesnt have too much of a shock - take the media for the hospital filter out of your main filter and hey-presto - filter and tank cycled and ready for the patient.

Then when the patient has gone back into the main tank - steralise all the hospital equipment including the filter media (so you dont transfer disease back to your main tank) then put the hospital filter foam back in the main filter to get impregnated with the good bacteria again ready for the next time you need it

Just means you will always be able to set up a hospital very quickly and know that the ill fish is not having to deal with a huge change in temp and stats of water??

Or am I missing soemthing?

 

[LakeyGal]

I might be being dim (or not understood your post properly) but I dont think you need to keep a hospital tank running constantly Why dont you just buy what you would need for hospital tank - heater, plastic plants an ornament to give the fish somewhere to hide and a filter put the filter foam from the hospital tank filter in the filter of your main tank then when you need the hospital set it all up - take some water from your main tank so that the ill fish doesnt have too much of a shock - take the media for the hospital filter out of your main filter and hey-presto - filter and tank cycled and ready for the patient.Then when the patient has gone back into the main tank - steralise all the hospital equipment including the filter media (so you dont transfer disease back to your main tank) then put the hospital filter foam back in the main filter to get impregnated with the good bacteria again ready for the next time you need it Just means you will always be able to set up a hospital very quickly and know that the ill fish is not having to deal with a huge change in temp and stats of water??Or am I missing soemthing?

Yea, thats what I do normally but I don't like empty tanks......it's v silly and a bit obsessive I know - after all I could just shut the door but I know it's there and I want to use it.........(I once agreed to store a mates tank in the garage but that ended up housing some plecs...I'll be doing some fast talking when she returns from New Zealand!!!!)

a good fish very hardy great for starting a new tank off is zebra danios or leopard danios around about 6 of them reasonable small great community fish, i would get a shoal myself only costing 90pence each they don't take up a lot of room and if your not having to treat andy fish may be nice to have 6 danios swimming around.keep the foam your not over stocking the tank so just keep the foam nice and simple.

Hmmn never had Danios, might look into that, does sound good.

 

[stang1]

I'm afraid the tank is too small to house Danios as they require plenty of swimming space.
Most people have a hospital tank and when it is needed they transfer some media into it so that you haven't got to go through the cycling process.

 

[LakeyGal]

I'm afraid the tank is too small to house Danios as they require plenty of swimming space.
Most people have a hospital tank and when it is needed they transfer some media into it so that you haven't got to go through the cycling process.

OK say no more....no Danios......in fact....Perhaps I might just leave it in the loft and buy another big tank.......I think my husband gave up protesting after number 3

 

[stang1]

I'd go for the big tank if he's given up protesting....

 

[LakeyGal]

I'd go for the big tank if he's given up protesting....

Can I quote you on that when he gets home one day and doesn't have a wardrobe......

 

[stang1]

You certainly can! I'm sure he won't miss his wardrobe and the tank would look so much nicer..

 

[LakeyGal]

You certainly can! I'm sure he won't miss his wardrobe and the tank would look so much nicer..

Yes, you are so right, I think a nice black tank with L046's & Black Neons in it would look much better up the corner.... I could redecorate.....Uh oh I am getting carried away........again.

 

[stang1]

You're halfway to getting the tank already if you're thinking about stocking! Be great if you can get some Zebra Plecos, they really are beautiful fish, just so hard to find!

 

[LakeyGal]

.... just so hard to find!

....I have a plan....but shhhh

 

[stang1]

Secrets safe with me...
I aws lucky because my other half desperately wanted some and who was I to argue?

 

[LakeyGal]

Secrets safe with me...
I aws lucky because my other half desperately wanted some and who was I to argue?

I am slowly working mine round, hit a little bit of a stumbling block a few weeks back when he spied the price of some on eBay but we're getting there......I'm still pretending I want his approval at the moment!!!!!

 

[stang1]

You keep pretending then make sure that you lead him to believe that it was his suggestion to get some! Works everytime if they think it was their idea in the first place...