Oh sweet mama, $25 QT

[ClownieTang]

I was shopping today at petsmart and I ran into a $25 Tetra 10 gallon tank. It comes with a Whisper 10i Internal Power filter, hood, and incandescent bulbs. It has a Tetra Whisper Medium Bio-Bag,(the filter cartridge) and a foam grid. While I cycle my soon to be Marine Quarantine tank for introducing new fish, should I use everything that was included? e.g. Power filter -Bio-bag and foam grid. After cycling my Quarantine tank, should I replace the Bio-bag or take out the bio-bag while QT'ing new arrivals? The guide says to take out the bio-bag when medicating (I am going to immediately medicate all new marine fish arrivals with Cupramine Copper and ParaGuard not matter what the circumstance is.) but I thought you need a source of bio-filtration. If what the guide says is true, do I basically just QT with a power filter and the foam grid + PVC pipes?

Am I doing everything the right way so far? like my medications?

[leebca]

If not clear from my other posts, then what I think of treating fishes that don't need treatment is to. . .not do it. (There are exceptions). Copper is a poison and rather than letting a fish die from a parasite, it is best to use the medication/treatment when called for. However, the cost is that the life of the fish is shortened.

The 'bio bag' may contain materials that interfere with medications. I would not use the provide filter and just get a simple inside corner/square sponge filter. Get it going for biological filtration and that's all you need. This provides ample biological filtration and a slight water surface movement for gas exchange.

Experienced hobbyists often try to tell people that setting up a small QT should cost less than $40. Not too much considering the 'insurance' it provides.

[ClownieTang]

Can I use a HOB aqua cLear 10 filter instead? I can't find a corner filter

[ClownieTang]

Can I use a HOB aqua cLear 10 filter instead? I can't find a corner filter

[leebca]

If this is a power filter, you really don't want it. Any kind of filter with an intake has the chance to injur an ill fish. Reasons are given, I think/thought, in the Quarantine post. The sponge filters, of which there are a couple dozen designs, are found online and in most LFSs. It is essentially a sponge with a lift tube in it. Doesn't have to be the corner (triangle) type, if others are available.

[ClownieTang]

you replied to late sadly
so I bought and installed the AquaClear 20 Power Filter for my QT. Well, in other words, I took the Foam Filter Insert and placed it in my main tanks sump. Since it's too late, it should stille be okay right? Not too serious? it is recommended for aquariums 5-20 gallons, and my QT is 10 gallons. There is a High-Low power switch in the Power filter. So when I am introducing a new fish to the QT, I can leave it 3/4 to max, and when I am medicating ill fish, I will leave it 1/4 - 1/2 power.
So there is a 3 stage filtration system. Foam filter insert (Mechanical), Activated Carbon Insert (Chemical), and BioMax Insert (Biological).
Let me get this straight, I just place the Foam filter insert into the Sump for 2-4 weeks in my cycled aquarium correct? Then after 2-4 weeks, I fill my QT with water from the main tank and take the Foam filter insert from the sump, place it in the Power Filter and begin using the QT.Yes/No, if not, correct it please
Will I be using the BioMax insert(Biological) and Activated Carbon Insert(Chemical) in the Power Filter for the QT while I introduce new fish and medicate? A. BioMax Insert(biological)/B. Activated Carbon Insert(carbon)/C. Both/D. Neither

[leebca]

Keep the pump running on slow and if the sponge is large enough it should be okay. However, is the surface of the QT water getting 'mixed' around?

The time it takes to properly 'seed' the QT filter varies with each system. There is no 'guarantee.' However, on the short side, it could be ready in 2 weeks. On the long side it could take 8 weeks. Sometime in between the filter should be properly seeded. Nature takes its own time. The filter you put into the sump should be running, right? I mean, you need to draw water through the sponge part of the filter to get it seeded.

[ClownieTang]

will i be using the BioMax Insert and the Carbon insert while it is in the QT? Do I need to cycle with those in the sump as well?

[leebca]

You can use a chemical filter (carbon or ?) and a skimmer in the QT. But when it comes time to perform a medication treatment, both have to stop (unless the medication instructions say you can keep them going). In the case of a chemical filter you want avoid the 'chemical' becoming part of the biological filtration. You can pretty much avoid this if you change out the chemical filter with frequency. Some hobbyists just leave the carbon in the system even after it is spent and, with time, the carbon particles become sites where the biological filtration bacteria take up residence. You want this to happen. You want to keep these bacteria in the sponge.

[ClownieTang]

the AquaClear 20 HOB filter has 3 compartments for each of the filter medias before the water returns to the tank. they stack on top of eachother, but since I will be medication especially when fish are in the QT, I don't want the carbon/chemical filtration, should I stack 3 filter sponges in the HOB filter and replace the bottom sponge every 2 months?
btw, i am probably just going to discard the carbon/chemical filters.

[leebca]

The stacking sounds right, but why remove/replace the bottom one every 2 months? It would be loaded with 'good' bacteria.

[NikeLV]

so I should never replace it? just rinse the sponge after medicating?