Quarantine Tank

[Averus]

I am setting up a quarantine tank for new  additions and am hoping for some advice.

Right now I have my sponge filter media hanging out in my hang-on filter to get seeded.  I figure this is the best way to get the tank cycled.  I will be first using it to quarantine some anubias for a few days, and then after they are done, will use it for fish if it is okay cycle-wise.

I will be adding some frogbit, since I have a ton in the main tank, and I figure it will help make the quarantine tank be a little more secluded.  I am also putting in some rocks as well some wood.

One I get the new fish in there, I am planing to use the Med-Trio.  However, I am worried this will destroy my biological filter because of the anti bacteria meds.  I am wondering what to do here, as if destroys the filter, how can I safely keep the new fish?  Any people have experience here?

Edited July 4, 2021 by Averus
changed gave to have and added wood ref

[Fish Folk]

On 7/3/2021 at 11:07 PM, Averus said:

I am setting up a quarantine tank for new  additions and am hoping for some advice.

Right now I have my sponge filter media hanging out in my hang-on filter to get seeded.  I figure this is the best way to get the tank cycled.  I will be first using it to quarantine some anubias for a few days, and then after they are done, will use it for fish if it is okay cycle-wise.

I will be adding some frogbit, since I have a ton in the main tank, and I figure it will help make the quarantine tank be a little more secluded.  I am putting in some rocks as well some rocks.

One I get the new fish in there, I am planing to use the Med-Trio.  However, I am worried this will destroy my biological filter because of the anti bacteria meds.  I am wondering what to do here, as if destroys the filter, how can I safely keep the new fish?  Any people gave experience here?

The more established a biological filtration colony you have, the less likely it is that the antibacterial meds from the med trio will knock it out. Having extra, primed sponge filters is a plus. I keep lots of sponge filters in every tank, so it is easy to move one in to the QT in case of emergency. Keep an eye on water parameters.

[Averus]

Well in my main tank, admittedly new, I have managed to keep the water parameters pristine with a small number of fish and some snails, something I fully admit is thanks to the plants.  I am hoping the frogbit will also help as a buffer, that stuff just sucks up the bad things like crazy from what I have seen.  Pretty much why I have excess frogbit now.

I am planing for the first fish to go in quarantine  will be a little group of tetras, so at least they will not overload the bacteria already being stressed by the meds.

There is another thing.  Once I get the fish through quarantine into the main tank, my quarantine tank may need to sit a little bit before I can bring in the next batch to be in observation, as I am going to be on vacation at the end of August.  While my main tank will be taken care of okay while I am away, I don't want to have any fish in the quarantine while I am gone.  I am planning to bring the next batch in around Labor Day.  Is there any good ideas to keep the quarantine tank up and running in between the time I move the first group of fish and then add the second ones? I can watch the quarantine tank for most of August, except when I am gone that one week.  Would breaking it down and reestablishing it when I get back be a better option?

[HH Morant]

I used my quarantine tank to grow out plants for a couple of months when I had no fish in it. It developed algae and I let the algae grow. When I needed the tank for some new fish, the plants and algae served as a filter to process ammonia/nitrites/nitrates. I still had to watch the water parameters closely, but they were OK. If ammonia or nitrite problems had developed I would have had to do water changes, but that did not happen. Of course, a seeded sponge filter is better, but it is difficult to always have one on hand.

[Phantom240]

@HH Morant is on the money here. You can also invest in a cheap sponge filter and air pump, and have some snails living in the quarantine tank (remove them before adding any copper-containing meds) to keep the bacteria fed.