Questions About Quarantine Tank

[Jinxxie]

Hi guys,

I was wondering if you could give me your input into a few things.

We have a 10G quarantine tank we have been using for our 50G tank. We've been stocking up slowly for 3 months now. I really appreciate this forum, it's been so helpful.

So here are my questions.

How long do you keep your fish quarantined before introducing them to the main tank? Do you adjust this length of time for type of fish, impatience, where you got the fish from? (All of our fish have come from the same LFS), or if you had any loss?

Once you are completely stocked. What do you do with the quarantine tank? Do you keep it cycled for a hospital tank? How do you do that? Do you keep a few fish in there?

And finally, now you have one tank, all nicely set up and full of fish, how do you stop at just one!!!

Thanks for your input! 3 months in and we severly underestimated the joy a fish tank can bring.

Michelle

 

[WILDER]

Usually four weeks, if they have had desease, better of striping the tank down, if you have a mature tank you just take a sponge out of the main tank, and add it to the hospital filter, or run the hospital filter in the main tank if there was no desease in the quarantine tank.

 

[modernhamlet]

How long do you keep your fish quarantined before introducing them to the main tank? Do you adjust this length of time for type of fish, impatience, where you got the fish from? (All of our fish have come from the same LFS), or if you had any loss?

While stock that is prone to certain illnesses, doesn't look particularly healthy or is from a non-trusted source should be quarantined longer, I would say 2 weeks is a good starting point.

Once you are completely stocked. What do you do with the quarantine tank? Do you keep it cycled for a hospital tank? How do you do that? Do you keep a few fish in there?

Depending on the tank size and the number of other tanks you have, you have to decide how often you'll need the quarentine/hospital. If you won't be using it that much, just move the filter to an active tank, empty the tank, and wait until you need it.

And finally, now you have one tank, all nicely set up and full of fish, how do you stop at just one!!!

You don't... Welcome to MTS.

Good luck!

 

[Bryan1957]

HI Jinxxie,
I always quarantine at least 3 weeks using the following criteria: If there have been no problems; I know where the fish came from is reputable; and the fish all look and act healthy. I won't make an exception since it would be diasterous to have a disease in one of my larger tanks. I had ich in my 55 gallon once and had to treat the whole tank. I now have a 55 gallon tank with a light blue tint on the silicone seals that hold the corners together.
What kind of fish do you have in your tanks and what are your final stocking ideas?
If you have livebearers you will probably want the small tank for a maternity tank. I also use a 10 gallon tank to grow plants before putting them in a larger tank. It is easier to get rid of snails in a small tank, and the lighting is easier to get high enough in a small tank; among other things.
MTS will get a grip on you. Even my children have the "bug". The two youngest (9 & 11) each have a betta that they care for by themselves (I need to remind them about water changes sometimes).
Bryan

 

[Jinxxie]

We currently have 10 white clouds, 8 green tiger barbs, 5 harlequin rasboras, and 2 bronze corys and a male gourami in the quarantine tank, for two weeks now.

We plan on finishing out with either a few more rasboras, or a few more corys. That's a good idea about the plants, we need a few more, so maybe I will use the tank for that after our next stock lot.

I was afraid of being subject to MTS, I guess resistance in futile.

Michelle

HI Jinxxie,
I always quarantine at least 3 weeks using the following criteria: If there have been no problems; I know where the fish came from is reputable; and the fish all look and act healthy. I won't make an exception since it would be diasterous to have a disease in one of my larger tanks. I had ich in my 55 gallon once and had to treat the whole tank. I now have a 55 gallon tank with a light blue tint on the silicone seals that hold the corners together.
What kind of fish do you have in your tanks and what are your final stocking ideas?
If you have livebearers you will probably want the small tank for a maternity tank. I also use a 10 gallon tank to grow plants before putting them in a larger tank. It is easier to get rid of snails in a small tank, and the lighting is easier to get high enough in a small tank; among other things.
MTS will get a grip on you. Even my children have the "bug". The two youngest (9 & 11) each have a betta that they care for by themselves (I need to remind them about water changes sometimes).
Bryan

 

[Dwarfs]

I can't tell you anything that hasn't already been said


IMO, a having a quarantine tank is one of the key items that an experienced fish keeper needs I can't even think of how many potential disasters I've avoided because of my quarantine tanks