Quarantine Tank Cleaning

[Plechoeco]

I had a fish that looked like it had some fungus, so I put it in a quarantine tank and added salt.  The fish improved and I have moved it to another tank.  I am wondering how you all clean your quarantine tank to avoid cross-contamination when you put the next fish in the tank?  The tank had some decorations (fake plant, rocks, and real wood) that I would like to move to another tank, so I am wondering how you would clean those too.

[Lennie]

Hello there!

You may want to check this part of the video!

Cheers,

 

[xXInkedPhoenixX]

 Personally, I use small, plastic 3 gallon "critter keepers" I get from a big box pet place. They are easy to store/stack. When I've had a fish clear QT I will dump the water (usually outside depending on what was in it, on the plants). Most times without severe illness I'll rinse it out really good and let it air dry, most things won't make it through that. If I'm really feeling careful I may wash it with Dawn dish soap in super hot water, then follow that with a white vinegar rinse, making absolutely sure there is no soap or vinegar residue in it, then let it air dry- if the sun is out- I do it in the sun because it also has some disinfecting power. Any plants or decor- I boil water for hardscape, rocks, wood, decorations (being careful they are not things that will melt, if so I'll still boil water but take it off the heat and let the water cool just a little before dropping those things in- I also do that with airline/stones, sponge parts of sponge filters). Let them dry, then you should be good. 

You can sanitize plants with Reverse Respiration- just search this forum for that title and you will get to the thread that will tell you how to sanitize plants!

Edited January 16 by xXInkedPhoenixX

[Pepere]

By and large, if I treat a fish in quarantine tank, it stays in that tank for observation for at least 6 weeks after last sign of illness.

 

If I feel comfortable enough introducing a fish into my display tanks, I really dont have a concern over introducing new fish to the quarantine tank…

If I had all the fish inthe tank die and not make it to the display tank, I would empty the tank. Dry it out as well as all substrate etc.   wash the tank filters etc with peroxide.  Maybe bake the substrate before reusing….

[Andy's Fish Den]

I don't really sanitize my qt tank after using, I figure that if I had a fish that was sick with something and I treat it and it is well enough to put into a display tank with other fish, then whatever disease is gone from the tank. Play, the next fish that goes in there will be getting treated anyways if I notice any disease. 

[ccurtis]

If you are worried about it, use a diluted bleach solution to clean it out. Once clean, let the entire tank completely dry. That should kill whatever the meds missed.

Honestly though, if you are running meds, they likely got whatever was in the water column if the fish is cured.

My practice is I typically do a 100 percent water change when I move fish out of quarantine to be sure anything left in the water column the meds missed is reduced down to as little risk as possible. I don't typically worry to much about stuff left over because my belief is the meds should have got it. If they didn't more meds will be introduced when another sick fish goes in.