Quarantine tank - filter bacteria

[BkkprGal]

Good afternoon,

In preparation for setting up a quarantine tank for new fish, I put the QTs filter cartridge inside my existing tank's filter. How long should I leave it in there to ensure that it's populated with enough bacteria to support the temp tank (1.5gal)?

Thank you!

 

[Slaphppy7]

Hard to say...how long has the original tank been set up and established?

1.5G is very small for a QT tank

 

[Colin_T]

The filter media needs to be in an established filter for at least one month

 

[BkkprGal]

The tank has been set up since February, but I had a handful of issues in the beginning. It's been healthy and stable for about two months now. I'm not in a rush, but my goal is to get a few more fish. I only have two danios and three mini albino corys right now. I know the danios need some friends

Thanks for mentioning the tank size @Slaphppy7 . I bought it as a "medical tank" for one fish, but I figured I'd also use it to bring in new ones. I was planning to get 4 small long-fin danios. Do you think it's still too small as a temp home for them? And if so, is it because of maintaining water quality, their mental health, or both? I'm new to this so I'm still learning.

Hi @Colin_T, I appreciate the answer. I just rinsed out the current tank's filter yesterday and noticed it has a hole. Could I put that old filter inside the new tank (maybe under some gravel) and have it be effective? It's been in the main tank for about two months.

Again, I'm not in a hurry and don't mind waiting to do it right.

Thank you!

 

[Slaphppy7]

What's the size of the original tank?

Yeah, 1.5G would probably stress new fish....and keeping the params stable would be hard to accomplish..I wouldn't set up ANY QT that wasn't at least 5.5G, bare minimum

The 5.5G aren't expensive, I'd grab one of those, and go that route

Media from the original filter should be fine to use, as long as the tank is disease-free...be sure to replace the media you "borrow" from it with other media

 

[GaryE]

The problem with a tiny tank as a QT is that it's an enormous stress, and that can make healthy fish ill...

 

[BkkprGal]

Thanks for the feedback. I guess I'll take the little tank to my office and put a pretty beta in there. I'll get something bigger for my quarantine.