Remember the importance of your QT tank.

[akunochi]

I just wanted to remind everyone the importance of having a QT tank. I got a couple frags in a swap a couple days ago. When I got home I put them in QT. The first day all looked fine. The second day Aiptasia sprung up out of the Zoos. Having a QT tank possibly saved me from having to deal with a breakout in a big tank and left me dealing with only a small frag all alone in QT.

 

[oldsaint]

I just wanted to remind everyone the importance of having a QT tank. I got a couple frags in a swap a couple days ago. When I got home I put them in QT. The first day all looked fine. The second day Aiptasia sprung up out of the Zoos. Having a QT tank possibly saved me from having to deal with a breakout in a big tank and left me dealing with only a small frag all alone in QT.

Amen, it took red Planaria, monti eating nudis, and red bugs before I figured that one out.

 

[user 26995]

What all does a QT tank entail. Can I get away with a 5 gal tank with HOB skimmer and small canister filter or HOB filter? What is the simplest QT tank?

 

[TWallace]

If you're QTing corals, I don't see a need for a protein skimmer unless you're feeding them. Even then, it's so easy to just do a quick 80% water change on a small tank to lower nutrient levels that I'd still skip the skimmer. Most corals can probably get by for at least a week with relatively dim lighting in a QT if you don't want to get MH for it.

The simplest QT is just a small tank, heater and light. Though if you're QTing fish, things get more complicated due to ammonia. In the past I left my QT up and running at all times, seeded with a small amount of live rock to create a population of amphipods, copepods and mysis shrimp for new fish to snack on while in QT. Obviously hyposalinity would kill those, but I can easily reseed the rock from the display once the fish has been through QT.

 

[user 26995]

[/QUOTE] hyposalinity would kill those.[/QUOTE]

So, I guess then you really cant do both fish and coral in the same QT tank?

 

[TWallace]

Not at the same time, assuming you're doing hyposalinity. When I QT fish, I only hypo them if they show signs of ich, which they usually don't.

 

[gotfish]

New2thepngd, go to petsmart and buy a 10g with the incandescent hood. I think they cost about $25. Then get yourself a sponge filter ($9), a little air pump ($15) and a 50w heater ($15). Take the sponge filter and throw it in your sump and leave it in there unless you are using it for QTing fish. That will keep the sponge seeded with bacteria. If you do it that way, you don't have to always keep a QT tank going.

 

[user 26995]

Thanks all. I think that will be no problem doing. I have more of a space issue than anything. I think though I will need it more often for coral than I will for fish. I will read up more on QTing. I am sure there are other discussions on RF I can check out.
Thanks again everyone for the info.