Medicine Tank Dilema

[Terriann]

Hi guys

I was wondering if you could help me. I have a Juwel vision 180 currently with quite a lot of different fish in, and I think it would be wise to have a medicine tank on standby in case any get sick. However, my boyfriend doesn't want a second tank in the house (he didn't want the first!) which means that if I get one it will have to live in the loft and come down when one gets sick.

My issue is, if I do have to keep it like this then the tank will never be cycled and ready to put the ill fish/new fish for quarintine in which wouldn't do them any good. I have had a look at my jewel filter and I can't easily put another filter in to mature in that tank, also if I did put it in to mature, when I take it out would it have an impact on my jewel?

Main reason being is that if I had a case of whitespot then I would need to take my bgk out of my tank before treating the entire tank (providing he is not infected as I heard that you can't treat them easy) or if it is something like bloat or one has turned agressive or become damaged or I put new fish in which are already stressed I woudl want to quarintine them first (have had a lot of trouble from one of the lfs)

So if I can't cycle the tank is there much point in getting one as it would be hard to any fish to survive in let alone a sick/stressed fish.

Would it help if I added my old tank water to the medicine tank and did 30% daily changes to stop the ammonia/nitrite getting high while the ill fish is being treated (replacing the water with the water from my jewel), would this work at all?

I am sorry if this is a bit of a mixed up query - sorry about the length too, I'm a secretary so these things don't take long to type and then I realise someone has to read it afterwards! Will stop typing now!

Thanks

Tan

 

[jennybugs]

Could you not run a spare small filter in your current tank to get it seeded, then get a small tank and heater to use as a hospital tank when needed, by using the second filter and some media (and maybe some of the water) from your current tank? That way you don't really need to cycle anything at all as your media and filter will already have beneficial bacteria in it.

If you get what I mean?

 

[Terriann]

Could you not run a spare small filter in your current tank to get it seeded, then get a small tank and heater to use as a hospital tank when needed, by using the second filter and some media (and maybe some of the water) from your current tank? That way you don't really need to cycle anything at all as your media and filter will already have beneficial bacteria in it.

If you get what I mean?

That is a very good idea, thank you I will try that!

Tan

 

[shang hi]

Could you not run a spare small filter in your current tank to get it seeded, then get a small tank and heater to use as a hospital tank when needed, by using the second filter and some media (and maybe some of the water) from your current tank? That way you don't really need to cycle anything at all as your media and filter will already have beneficial bacteria in it.

If you get what I mean?

okay.... well that is one option, or you could simply take some media out the current filter that has been cycled and put it in the extra filter. that way, no more cycling and a few bits of media wont harm your main tank is its only a small amount, and one reason for this is if usinng anti-bacterial meds the filter that was running to get bacteria in the media, will have most of the colinese wiped out...

a good thing to do is to buy some extra media and when taking some out to use in the hospital tank add some new media (it will be sterile) yo your main tank. but the already exsisting bacteria on the old media will quickly cultivate the new media. meaning if using anti-bacteria meds the old media will get "harmed" and your main filter will have no effects (as long as you only take a small amount of media out)


both ways are good ways though so its up to you

 

[Bungy]

Could you not run a spare small filter in your current tank to get it seeded, then get a small tank and heater to use as a hospital tank when needed, by using the second filter and some media (and maybe some of the water) from your current tank? That way you don't really need to cycle anything at all as your media and filter will already have beneficial bacteria in it.

If you get what I mean?

That is a very good idea, thank you I will try that!

Tan

OR....partition the end portion of your tank. I have a similar issue with a second 4ft tank which I have separated into 3 sections - all independent of each other. Measure carefully then go to your local glass guy - give the measurements and he will cut the piece for you - around 6mil glass is plenty. Mine cost £4.25 - if your tank is empty at startup then you can glue in place with Aquarium silicone sealant but in your case you already have a working tank - SO, allow approx 1-3mm less when cutting the glass and using an old bike innertube you can glue the rubber to your piece of glass with the sealant, bottom and sides only. When dry you can simply slide the piece of glass in place and because the silicon sealant is flexible it will squish a bit and form a water tight barrier between the two sections. Because the two sides are equal pressure there will be no leakage from either side. Before you start this process you would be best to aquire a small internal filter/pump and hang this in the main tank for a while to cycle so that when the end sections is ready you can simply install it in there. You now have a totally independent section to use as either hospital / quarantine / breeding / fry etc etc etc tank.

It worked for me.

 

[shang hi]

and this is easyer how?.......
a hospital tank is ment to stop deiseas spreding throughout your main tank, partitioning your tank will not stop it spreding. a hospital tank is better

 

[Bungy]

and this is easyer how?.......
a hospital tank is ment to stop deiseas spreding throughout your main tank, partitioning your tank will not stop it spreding. a hospital tank is better

The poster did say she only had ONE tank - therefor I gave her a solution to consider. Deff not easier, I did not say it was...!
But just on one point - if the divider is watertight then there is no chance of infection spreading to the main tank provided that general hygiene rules are applied - separate nets etc. The smaller section can then be treated more easily.

As I said, it works for me.

 

[shang hi]

and a hospital tank can cost $15 for everything so both are good ideas

 

[Terriann]

These all sound like fab ideas, I think the easiest is to add some extra media to my filter (I will see if I can squeeze some in) and then add it to my hospital tank when need be. I think that sectioning off my tank is a great idea but a little too permanent and I have some fish which are going to grow pretty long so I need the full size as its only 3 feet long. I will definately consider the other ideas too as they do sound great, and see which one is the easiest.

Ps. looking at around £50 for a very small medicine tank, like tiny, probably no more than 2 gallon, without stand, does this sound about right?

I think I just need a new b/friend that will let me have lots of tanks lol. I saw a lovely five foot in a store the other day and he wouldn't let me upgrade

Thanks guys.

Tan