quarantine tank

[loveforfish]

is a quarantine tank really anythign special.. or is it going to end up a waste of money for me?

[rjs5134]

I can't believe this hasn't been responded to yet. Just read leebca's sticky threads on Marine Fish: Care, Health and Disease Treatment. It's pretty obvious. I can't understand why anyone would not use one.

[rayjay]

Something special? Probably the plainest simplest set up that may save you a lot of dollars in the long run, and lots of fish lives.
In my case I prefer to call it a hospital tank because when I buy a fish, it gets treated with hypo or copper every time.
I personally see no sense in putting a fish in quarantine and if nothing shows, then placing it in the show tank, to possibly later end up with an ich bout.
Just because a fish doesn't break out in a bout while in quarantine, doesn't mean there are no parasites on the fish. It may be the fish is able to deal with the parasite at that time, but in later circumstances may be unable to, so the breakout occurs. THEN you have to remove ALL the fish from the show tank, to treat them all.
While there are a lot of hobbyists who never quarantine or hospitalize, but just put the fish in the tank, and never have a problem, there are many more hobbyists who just put the fish in their tanks and DO have problems.
My experiences are what influence what I do now.

[vtec si]

Simple 10-20 gallon chepo hang on filter (mine skillter 400) heater and a piece on 4" pvc for the fish to hide in.

[loveforfish]

no live rock?

[Ninong]

no live rock?

Live rock is not usually included in a quarantine tank. Most people prefer to keep quarantine tanks as bare as possible with just a few pieces of PVC pipe or fittings for shelter. That way they can treat fish in the quarantine tank if necessary.

You can't use hyposalinity or copper, etc. in a quarantine tank with live rock because you would destroy the live rock. You can't use sediment either for the same reason.

It is possible to set up a quarantine tank with live rock and a sand bed but then it's not a quarantine/hospital tank, it's just a quarantine tank -- a place to keep fish for observation for a few weeks before placing them in your main display tank.

[alizar185]

:eek3: nice replies. I'm definitly going with a 10 gallon quarintine/hospital tank. I've never considered treating any and all fish with copper "just in case" is this healthy for the fish if they're not infected/sick? I'm new here and am digging the site!
Steve