setting up qt

[tmkx3]

I have a new 125g that is still cycling but if I need to qt all of my fish, even the first ones for a month, then I need to set it up now right? I have a freshwater 10g that currently has a guppy in it. It was used as a hospital tank for my goldfish. Will the meds I used in it effect the saltwater fish? I know inverts can't tolerate copper. Can I use this for my qt(of course I will move the guppy). How exactly do I do this? It has a hob filter on it but I guess the bio-bugs on it are different than the ones I want for saltwater. How do I cycle the tank being that my main tank is cycling. I can't use the water from there or seed the filter. I have lr in my main tank. Do I have to wait 4-6 weeks for the qt to cycle also? That means it could be up to 3mons before I add fish, if I have to let the qt cycle and then a month to qt the fish?

[dougc]

Check out Steven Pro's article on quarantine tanks. It will answer most of your questions.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-1...ture/index.php

Even though your main tank is still cycling, you can use it to seed a sponge filter. Cycling is a mostly a matter of how much bacteria you have available. The desirable types should be present, just not not the quantity necessary to consume all the ammonia produced in a newly set up tank. I use a Fluval III filter for my quarantine tank. I just stick in my sump for a couple of weeks before moving it to the quarantine tank and introducing the new fish.

Unless you are planning on quarantining invertebrates, I wouldn't worry too much about the prior use of the tank. In fact, since all you will be using is the tank itself, inverts would probably be ok, too. I don't think glass and silicone would absorb enough of anything bad to present a problem. Just clean the tank well before using it.