Q-Tank help needed

[Wineo]

Hello everyone, I have a question concerning Q-Tanks. I am using a 10gal with an aquaclear 200 powerfilter and powerhead. Last time I did a quaranteen, I noticed that about a week into the session, both my NO2 and NO3 readings went through the roof. I was worried that I was stressing the fish more in that type of environment and was hesitatnt about doing another water change on the 10gal due to the changes that would take place once the new water was introduced. Should I continue to use the Q-Tank or do you guys do FW dips and bypass the Q-Tank? The sponge in my powerfilter was seeded by keeping in the maintank sump. Maybe if I put another sponge on top of that one in the powerfilter, I would have more surface area for the bacteria to reside therefore lowering my NO2 and NO3. I would ultimately like to keep new inhabitants in the Q-Tank for at least two weeks but I feel I am doing them more harm than good.

Also, do any of you use any preventative chemicals in your Q-Tanks such as Paraguard? Do you use a q-Tank in conjunction with a FW dip?

I am new to the marine side but have had FW tanks for a long time and DO NOT want to experience Ich in the Marine side due to the difficulty of catching the fish to treat.

Thanks everyone for your help in this matter, I look forward to hearing everyone's respnse on what their procedures are for their new additions!

Wineo

[Bughead]

I use a ten gal for qt (soon to upgrade to a 20), with a similar set-up. When it's not in use for qt, I keep clean change water in it--minus filter. When I'm ready to use it for a fish, I take 10 gals from the main tank and replace it with the already aged change water. That way the qt tank starts out fully cycled. Then I put the filter back on.

You need to do water changes in the qt, often more frequently than in the main, especially if you're housing a large fish. If you're medicating the tank, do a small water change each day you need to add more medication, right before you do so. So that would mean a couple gallon water change every other or every third day.

If you're having an ammonia problem, you can change up to 40-50% of the water. (You may also need to use Amquel if you get a serious ammonia spike.) Nitrites and nitrates aren't as serious, but do changes to keep them low as possible.

Keep on top of the maintenance of your qt when it's in use. Don't return the fish to the main tank too soon. Unless it's a delicate fish like a butterfly or some tangs, it will come through a couple of weeks medication and less than perfect water quality just fine.

[Wineo]

Thanks Bughead for your input.

Do you use any treatment in your Q-Tank? If so, what do you use?

Do you do a FW dip as well?

Thanks!!

(fyi, I think these forums are great. I would probably have a couple of tangs housed in a 7gal tank with glass marbles for substrate if it wasn't for all of you! Maybe I'm exaggerating a little bit)

[icemark]

For starters, I have found a 10 gal to be a little small and only suitable for one or two small fish for the quarantine time.

2. you should leave the Q- tank running 24/7 with the filter and everything running. Maintain it exactly like you maintain your main tanks. The only time that you should need to clean it is after there has been medication in the tank. Even then I would re-fill the tank using water from the main display tank(s). I do not use any sort of substrate, although there are some pieces of homemade rock in the tank for the fish to hide around.

3. I generally don't use any chemicals unless necessary for my Q-tank (and main display tanks as well). It really depends on what is sick on what I use. If there are no signs of illness, I will not automatically dump in antibiotics, antifungl, or parasite medicines as a prevenitive.

4. Fresh water dips are also a question... The fish will go through a considerable amount of stress from the dip, and in some cases will make any sort of situation worse. Fresh water dips IMO should only be used as a last chance for survival action. Sort of like if you had fleas... one or two were always hoping on you in the living room. Would you get a bug bomb, set it off and stand in that room, figuring that your skin would pick up the poisons and kill the bugs.

I generally am very picky on the fish/ animals I get for my tanks, and even more so about where I get them from. Check out the dealers tanks... are they clean, well maintained? Are there any signs in any of the stock of illness or parasites? Even if you see one fish with some spots you don't know what are and that fish is scratching three tanks down from where the fish you want is, avoid getting the fish for now.

For mail order, ask around... people are more than happy to talk about a dealer sending sick or bad stock.