Confused on idea of temporary QT/hospital tank

[Eric552]

Hello all! New to saltwater and this is my first post here.

My display tank is currently cycling with Dr Tims fishless method and although it's taken longer than expected, it seems to be progressing.

In the meantime, I decided to set up my QT. I would eventually like to use it only for quarantine/hospital tank as needed and break it down when not in use. I plan to go with the method of adding Dr Tims as well as a couple of clowns at the same time and this is where the confusion starts. I would like to let a cycle complete at this point in time as I plan to have several fish going through quarantine as I add them to the new display tank,.

However, I know with the nitrogen cycle, you need ammonia to then get nitrites and ect. However, I also know ammonia and fish are not a good combo obviously. When adding the Dr Tims and new pair of clowns to the QT, should I allow a certain amount of ammonia (but not too much ammonia?) as to start the cycle with the Dr Tims and just measure ammonia and nitrites daily? And what is that perfect balance of ammonia to allow?

Also, if the ammonia spikes too high, will the cycle stall at all if I'm doing water changes already before developing any actual nitrites just yet?

Sorry for all the newbie questions and I appreciate any insight!

 

[Fish Fan]

Hello and welcome to Reef2Reef!

Congrats on your decision to QT your fish, you are doing the right thing, in my opinion.

There's more than one way to QT your fish, and I prefer to use the R2R approved method found here:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/current-quarantine-protocol.825055/

You can definitely setup and break down and fish QT tank as needed.

My suggestions would be that I personally really like the Dr. Tim's One and Only product, I do use it and recommend it. But it's not known here at R2R to be fast, as you're seeing with your display tank. You may want to try Fritz Turbo Start, it seems to be the go to here for a super fast cycling product, if you want to add your fish right away.

Also, consider keeping some extra bio media in your display tank once it's fully established. Nitrifying bacteria will populate that media, then you can pull it and add it to your QT tank as needed for an "instant cycle".

Another option is to monitor the ammonia in the QT and change the water out before it gets too high, but that's too much work for me, and too much stress on the fish, in my opinion. I prefer to have a stable biofilter in my QT tanks.

Don't sweat nitrites too much, despite traditional thinking nitrites are not considered harmful in our reef tanks. Monitor your ammonia and nitrate to see where you are in your cycle.

Super high ammonia (like >4.0ppm) can stall your cycle. Try not to let the ammonia go that high.

I hope that helps, best of luck!

 

[Eric552]

Hello and welcome to Reef2Reef!

Congrats on your decision to QT your fish, you are doing the right thing, in my opinion.

There's more than one way to QT your fish, and I prefer to use the R2R approved method found here:

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/current-quarantine-protocol.825055/

You can definitely setup and break down and fish QT tank as needed.

My suggestions would be that I personally really like the Dr. Tim's One and Only product, I do use it and recommend it. But it's not known here at R2R to be fast, as you're seeing with your display tank. You may want to try Fritz Turbo Start, it seems to be the go to here for a super fast cycling product, if you want to add your fish right away.

Also, consider keeping some extra bio media in your display tank once it's fully established. Nitrifying bacteria will populate that media, then you can pull it and add it to your QT tank as needed for an "instant cycle".

Another option is to monitor the ammonia in the QT and change the water out before it gets too high, but that's too much work for me, and too much stress on the fish, in my opinion. I prefer to have a stable biofilter in my QT tanks.

Don't sweet nitrites too much, despite traditional thinking nitrites are not considered harmful in our reef tanks. Monitor your ammonia and nitrate to see where you are in your cycle.

Super high ammonia (like >4.0ppm) can stall your cycle. Try not to let the ammonia go that high.

I hope that helps, best of luck!

Thank you! This is all great advice!

 

[Fish Fan]

Thank you! This is all great advice!

No problem, I hope it helped!

 

[Tamberav]

Fritz 9 or Turbo work well.

Once your tank is cycled, you can add media (sponge/matrix/bioballs, etc) to your sump and pull that out to use in QT and then toss and just replace and repeat.

 

[Eric552]

Fritz 9 or Turbo work well.

Once your tank is cycled, you can add media (sponge/matrix/bioballs, etc) to your sump and pull that out to use in QT and then toss and just replace and repeat.

I love this idea and most likely what I will go with in the future. My main display is an AIO (Red Sea nano xl), so space is a little more limited - maybe just put a couple bio balls or sponge under the ATO in the sump?

For a 10g QT, would something as small as 1 bio ball be sufficient?

 

[Fish Fan]

I love this idea and most likely what I will go with in the future. My main display is an AIO (Red Sea nano xl), so space is a little more limited - maybe just put a couple bio balls or sponge under the ATO in the sump?

For a 10g QT, would something as small as 1 bio ball be sufficient?

I've never had one of the RedSea systems, but there just has to be room somewhere in the sump for more than one bioball, lol! I might try for more like 6 or 8+ bioballs, they just need to be in your sump area and see some flow. Then, they would be ideal to "instant cycle" your QT Tank as needed.

 

[Tamberav]

haha ya do a small bag of them... there should be room I would think.