Quarantine Tank

[SandMan8388]

So I have decided that after the Holidays I am going to set up a new US 10G Quarantine tank. I am really sick of buying fish and having them contaminate the rest of my 75G community tank, especially since I have a couple full grown Angels.

However my question is I am not really sure what is good and not good as far as substrate and plants for a quarantine tank. I was thinking of trying sand and some driftwood. But I am worried that if I have to medicate the tank for a sick fish that the driftwood wood would absorb the medications and therefore pollute the tank even after the fish was cured. I was also considering doing some live plants in the Quarantine tank. But again, if I had to medicate the tank would it affect the plants in any way?

Or should I keep it real basic with a substrate and some fake plants? I am open to any suggestions so any input would be great!

 

[Tolak]

Any time I set up a quar tank it has no substrate, a silk plant or two or a pvc cave if the fish require it, a filter & heater. You want something that is easy to clean, and keep clean.

I always have spare filters running, so they are cycled. I fill a tank, add filter & heater, then the fish. Once quar is over the tank & filter get cleaned & put away until next time.

 

[SandMan8388]

Any time I set up a quar tank it has no substrate, a silk plant or two or a pvc cave if the fish require it, a filter & heater. You want something that is easy to clean, and keep clean.

Yeah that was my initial thought. But I am definitely going to keep it running year round or until my tank is completely stocked. So I was debating whether or not I should try and make the tank look semi-descent or not. Would it hurt to add at least a substrate? Or would that just allow, say like ich to stick around longer because it lives in the gravel?

 

[tophat665]

For a Quarantine tank, cleanliness is the first order of business. Make it as easy to clean as you can manage. One thing I do like to add to a quarantine tank, though, is duckweed. It helps absorb any ammonia or nitrate spikes and keeps algae blooms down.

 

[SandMan8388]

Honestly the big question for me is, to add substrate or not to add substrate, and if so sand or gravel? Any suggestions?

 

[pica_nuttalli]

go no substrate with floating plants

 

[SandMan8388]

But do you honestly think it would do more harm than good to have some type of subtrate . Or is it that people don't have substrate because they want something easy to clean. I don't mind going the extra mile to gravel vacuum if that is the case.

 

[OohFeeshy]

No point having substrate. Gravel doesn't benefit fish in any way, sand, a little for burrowing fish but the bad points are worse. Like it trapping food. If you like, you can put a bit of black paper under the tank so it doesn't look as bare.

 

[SandMan8388]

Alright I think I am definately going to have a bare bottom tank.

I could really use this tank. I found out one of my platies has a body fungus and I am worried that it could spread to my other fish. I did a couple water changes and even added a small dose of meds to try and control it. Hopefully it doesn't get out of control. I cannot wait to set up a quaratine tank, I am so sick of having an unstable main tank.