QT questions part 2

[burning2nd]

Is it ok to use the same scraper (glass) between my tank and the qt tank?

There isnt anything qt yet, so i know its clean now... but (for future)



when should i do my first water change for the qt tank?

can i use old water from my tank, (like hand me down)

 

[Herefishyfishy]

The pat answer is no. The realistic one is this is fine for now, but get another one before you introduce a QTed fish. Once the QT is in use, never share anything: tools, food, water, decorations, anything. If possible start that practice today.

 

[chris&barb]

you could just soak it in some bleach then rinse it in water. if you wanted to use water from your main tank for water changes on the QT thats fine but dont do it the other way around

 

[burning2nd]

The pat answer is no. The realistic one is this is fine for now, but get another one before you introduce a QTed fish. Once the QT is in use, never share anything: tools, food, water, decorations, anything. If possible start that practice today.

i knew i just wanted to be told.....

im looking at the algae, growing on the glass now.. in the qt. and i want to go scrap it, but i gave my mini mag scraper to the girl friend for her tank.

theres nothing in there now thats not already from my tank as it is, but i figerd it be best to not make a bad habit now..


what about the water change... I jump started it saterday, The hob was on my tank for 2 weeks. the filter pad and carbon thingy looked nice.....

5 gal water change and bam...

when should i or, do i have to change water in the Qt if theres nothing in there...

 

[chris&barb]

if theres nothing in there you dont need to change it. i would put a few small chunks of live rock in there

 

[burning2nd]

negative on the live rock...

from what im told thats places for the bad stuff to hide

 

[chris&barb]

how are you going to have any biological filtration? if your planing on the HOB filter to do it, bad stuff can hide there also.

 

[chris&barb]

heres a thread i did on QTing http://www.clamsdirect.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1911

 

[steve-s]

Do not share anything between the main and QT for any reason at any time. As Mike stated, it creates bad habits early and will lead to mistakes later on. Buy a MagFloat

Do not add any kind of CaCO3 material and do not use the main tank to do water changes on the QT system. Always use freshly made SW that's been allowed to age at least a day and chemically adjusted to the QT. Filling a QT from the main in an emergency is fine but subsequent water changes would not be. The use of a HOB or sponge filter (my preference is biowheel HOB) is perfectly acceptable. You want something that is easy to keep clean, functions for the QT size/bioload and does not disturb the inhabitant when maintenance is performed. The more aerobic the better though.

Unless the QT is being set up as an emergency need, biomaterial is less important. Since the QT is empty and being prepared for futrure additions, let it cycle naturally. You can either use surfactant/soap free 100% household ammonia (faster method) or allow some raw marine meat to rot (slow but still effective). Just make sure there is sufficient surface material for the bacteria to colonize.

 

[burning2nd]

i put the Bio wheel 10 on my tank for 2 weeks,

I put a peace from my sump that had some coraline in the qt when i did the 5 gallon water change, and move the Hob from my tank 2 the qt...

i havent ran any test's, i also added a small bag from the aquaclear Hob (thats on the other tank) in to the biowheel. (the little ceramic tubes)

i should replace the filter cartridge?, it has some nice build up from my tank.

 

[burning2nd]

i guess i should just do some tests and anwser that my self...

 

[chris&barb]

Do not add any kind of CaCO3 material and do not use the main tank to do water changes on the QT system. Always use freshly made SW that's been allowed to age at least a day and chemically adjusted to the QT.

all due respect Steve

when i think of a "QT" tank, it is set up for incoming livestock. we do this as a cautionary measure to watch our new finds. if we plan to eventually place them into our main displays, why would using water or LR for filtration from our displays be of any concern? i would hope that our displays would be healthy before considering new inhabitants. i can understand if treatment needs to be done that the live rock may need to be tossed but why would water from a health disease free tank be no good?

Since the QT is empty and being prepared for futrure additions, let it cycle naturally. You can either use surfactant/soap free 100% household ammonia (faster method) or allow some raw marine meat to rot (slow but still effective). Just make sure there is sufficient surface material for the bacteria to colonize.

what will the bacteria colonize? the glass? the water? the HOB filter? and how is that different then LR from the stand point of harboring bad things?

 

[steve-s]

i should replace the filter cartridge?, it has some nice build up from my tank.

Not sure I understand why? Unless the QT is cycled or the amount of "crud" is hindering water quality, leave it be.

Or are we talking about the one on the main system?

 

[burning2nd]

Im runing tests right now...

No amonia
some no3
no no2
havent tested ph4
or salt for that point... should be what ever my tank was when i fill the qt.. (24-25)
temps good.

there was a little yellow polyp that detached from the cluster in my tank, i saw it grabed it, and chucked it in the qt like a month ago...

it was in the qt half full with now light no heat and no filtration for like 4 weeks.... then i thur the pvc and filled it (with turn out)

ran it up to temp and added light..... for another week +extra powerhead

it looked like it was dead. looked melted...

it looks like its alive and growing ageain....

yellow pylop's are tanks

 

[burning2nd]

Not sure I understand why? Unless the QT is cycled or the amount of "crud" is hindering water quality, leave it be.

Or are we talking about the one on the main system?

since theres no3, that means its cylced....

now the question is should i do a water change to remove the no3 and most likely ph4 off the chart that im about to check....

OR

can i leave it till im ready to use it,

 

[steve-s]

all due respect Steve

when i think of a "QT" tank, it is set up for incoming livestock. we do this as a cautionary measure to watch our new finds. if we plan to eventually place them into our main displays, why would using water or LR for filtration from our displays be of any concern? i would hope that our displays would be healthy before considering new inhabitants. i can understand if treatment needs to be done that the live rock may need to be tossed but why would water from a health disease free tank be no good?

When you introduce a new animal it should be assumed the immune system is low or vulnerable. The purpose of the QT obviously for isolation and observation. If the animal becomes sick(ly), it's important to norrow down possible causes. Not using the display tanks water eliminates that as a cause as well as not adding DOC/waste to the water compromizing water quality on the whole.

While the animals you/we currently keep do not show illness does not mean the tank their in does not at least have the potential to allow them to become sick. The fact is, the potential is there. Much like your own immune system does, it is constantly fighting bacterial/viral problems. Only when our immune systems are stressed/not functioning properly do we get sick from these kinds of illnesses that could otherwise be avoided. The same is true for the fish/animal. So the less problems we introduce, the less potential for problems to arise.

Isolation is very important when quarantining any animal of any type. If you introduce anything from an outside source, you are no longer maintaining that isolation.

what will the bacteria colonize? the glass? the water? the HOB filter? and how is that different then LR from the stand point of harboring bad things?

Not sure what you mean by harboring bad things?

In terms of biomedia, items used should be inert and nonreactive to potential medications used. With any CaCO3 products specifically, it would interfere with the most common, copper. The biggest concern with that is if the rock is removed, a large mass of biomedia goes with it. Your biofilter will effectively crash and the rock is in limbo. With plastics/PVC, the biomaterials are nonreactive and can stay. The biofilter has a much better opportunity to rebound/remain stronegr from potential treatments used. Bacteria can colonize any hard surface in the water. The bacteria in the water column itself is of no consequence.

 

[steve-s]

since theres no3, that means its cylced....

now the question is should i do a water change to remove the no3 and most likely ph4 off the chart that im about to check....

OR

can i leave it till im ready to use it,

The presence of NO3 does not mean the tank is cycled. The absence of NH3- and NO2 in the presence of NO3 would indicate the tank is cycled.

Once a QT tank is cycled, leave it be unless adding an animal. Just feed it every few days to keep up the bacteria. A few days before adding a new animal, do a nice large 50%+ water change to ensure the water specs are tiptop and check all the chemistry/quality numbers and address each as needed.

 

[burning2nd]

rgr,

shes good to go...

how much feed... a small pinch of pellets (like 3-6 small pellets) ocean nutreint

 

[steve-s]

That amount of pellets every other day (2-3x weekly) should be fine. Just be sure they get broken up and do not sit in little piles once added to the tank. Spread the wealth so to speak.

 

[burning2nd]

every other day, 2 or 3 weeks apart?

Im confused...

that amount ever week? 1 or 2 days