What Is A Good Size For A Qt Tank

[rebrn]

Hello, I was wondering what a good size is for a QT tank? I inherited a 3 gallon tank a few months ago (I have not done anything with it yet cycling wise) and I had thoughts of using it for a QT tank, but I have been told that it is too small for that purpose. Currently I am fishless cycling my tanks so no fish yet, but planned stock is as follows (note not all in the same tank, I have 3 tanks I will be stocking)

1 Betta fish
6-8 Endlers or other type of guppy
18 Zebra Danio
12 Rasboras
2 Angel fish
5 or so cory catfish (or some other type of bottom dweller simmilar to the smaller catfish)
possibly some MTS or shrimp (not sure which yet)
possibly some type of loach but again not definate

So knowing that that is the type of fish I will be keeping, will a 3 gallon QT tank be sufficent or will I need something larger?

FYI current tanks that will hold fish 5, 12 and 55 gallon.

Thanks

 

[waterdrop]

Yeah, I started off with a tiny 2.5G ('cause I had it already, left over from something else) but replaced it with a 5.5G and that's probably fine for the size additions that should be happening at a given time. Even the 5.5 looks a bit small now but around here anything between 5.5 and 10 is hard to find.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[SBL]

I say a 3 will suffice for the betta, Endlers, and cories. I would reccomend a 10 USG for everything else.

 

[Truck]

I've never quarantined for freshwater, but I buy my stock from a reliable source, I may be taking a risk, but I've never had to treat for disease. I would go for a 60 litre, that way it is future proof.

 

[rebrn]

Thanks guys. I was thinking of maybe using the 3 gallon as a fry tank (I will most likely need it for the endlers/guppies) and trying to find a cheap 5-10 gallon as a QT but I didn't want to spend the money if I didn't have to. Maybe I will just use the 3 gallon for now then replace when I find a larger one for cheap. Thanks guys

 

[rebrn]

OK so the 3 gallon tank is out, I didn't see it until I filled it with water, it has a very small crack in the middle of the back of the acrylic so it is leaking and I can't use it, no problem as I didn't pay for it. However, I have come across a basic 10 gallon glass tank,and a basic incandescent hood. It is also free, so here is my question, I was planning to use the 3 gallon as a fry tank for my guppies, but that is now now good. So my thought was could I divide the 10 gallon, say 3 Gallons and 7 gallons, place a sponge filter in and use the 3 gallon side for fry and the 7 gallon as a Q-Tank? My concern is medicating the QT side when the fry side is in use. I have never seen the dividers and am not sure how well they keep the water separated. Does that make sense? I could get a 5.5 gallon and a 3 gallon tank and just have 2 separate tanks, but the divided 10 gallon would be better for space issues (I am running out of room to put aquariums ) plus the 10 gallon is free.

 

[erk628]

OK so the 3 gallon tank is out, I didn't see it until I filled it with water, it has a very small crack in the middle of the back of the acrylic so it is leaking and I can't use it, no problem as I didn't pay for it. However, I have come across a basic 10 gallon glass tank,and a basic incandescent hood. It is also free, so here is my question, I was planning to use the 3 gallon as a fry tank for my guppies, but that is now now good. So my thought was could I divide the 10 gallon, say 3 Gallons and 7 gallons, place a sponge filter in and use the 3 gallon side for fry and the 7 gallon as a Q-Tank? My concern is medicating the QT side when the fry side is in use. I have never seen the dividers and am not sure how well they keep the water separated. Does that make sense? I could get a 5.5 gallon and a 3 gallon tank and just have 2 separate tanks, but the divided 10 gallon would be better for space issues (I am running out of room to put aquariums ) plus the 10 gallon is free.

I've never used the dividers but from I have seen of them all they do is keep the fish from crossing. If I was you id go to walmart and get a five gallon for less then 10 bucks and use that as you fry tank. The Q tank will only need to be set up when needed and when not needed you can tear it down and stash it some were. As far as the filter goes that will be on the Q tank when not needed for that tank you can have it on one of your other tanks so that ways its always cycled and ready for use

 

[rebrn]

Thanks, I was planning to have the filter for the qt tank in my 55 when not in use, same for the fry tank filter. I was thinking that it probably wouldn't work the way I was hoping, so what I might do is get the free 10 gallon divide it into 3 and 7 gallons, but the betta in the 7 gallon section, fry in the 3 gallon (when needed) and use my 5 gallon (currently for the betta) as the qt tank. I just hate to see a free tank go to waste.

 

[erk628]

Thanks, I was planning to have the filter for the qt tank in my 55 when not in use, same for the fry tank filter. I was thinking that it probably wouldn't work the way I was hoping, so what I might do is get the free 10 gallon divide it into 3 and 7 gallons, but the betta in the 7 gallon section, fry in the 3 gallon (when needed) and use my 5 gallon (currently for the betta) as the qt tank. I just hate to see a free tank go to waste.

Like I said before Ive never used a divider just seen them at the store so one thing you will want to make sure of is that its solid and not something like a net with a bunch of holes because the fry will be able to swim through that and the betta will have a all you can eat buffet.

 

[rebrn]

Yeah, the one I saw was sliders that you silicone onto the sides of your tank, then it is a sheet of plexiglass (type - maybe acrylic not sure) that slides in, but the kit is quite expensive, plus the plexiglass sheet has small holes in it. So I thought I would save some money and make my own. I can get a solid peice of plexi (no holes) for around $3, and the sliders I saw at a hobby store for around $2 for 10 of them, so all total $5 instead of the $40 at the LFS. Plus mine would be solid, no holes, good thing for fry. I may go ahead and take the 10 gallon, divided it then add some sort of colouring to the water just to see if it seeps over to the other side of the tank, maybe useing the solid plexi with no holes will prevent it, bought I doubt it.

 

[fayemorgan]

My Q tank is 40 litres.. It was my first tank, and, my lifeline..Many a fish have been cured in there..What I would say is to really scrub the tank after use for obvious reasons

 

[AdAndrews]

I have never quarenteened fish, ive lost some, yeah, but i havnt the time, the money or the space for even another 5gal let alone a 10-15gal tank. Its a risk im willing to take.

 

[mp0033price]

If you put your Q tank filter in another while the Q is not in use, wouldn't you spread disease to all the fish in the other tank?

 

[rebrn]

That is why I was planning to separate the 2 sides using a solid piece of plexi, rather than a divider with holes. The idea is the solid plexi will completely separate the 2 sides and not allow for water to flow between the 2 sides, thus essentially having 2 complete independent tanks in one. I have all the supplies to do it, I just have to get it set up and then fill one side to make sure there is no water leakage into the other side. If no water leaks into the other side then I think it should work.

 

[waterdrop]

You'd probably need sealer on the divider to keep it from leaking. Tanks are about the cheapest aspect of fishkeeping equipment so it is often easier to just buy little tanks of the size you need if you have the other equipment.

~~waterdrop~~