Back stock or bad water?

[Alien Anna]

Should I invest in a quarinetine tank.

I say a definite "Yes" to that. At first I didn't have a quarantine tank either, but the more my main tank got to be the way I liked it, the more I worried about introducing something nasty. Also, with a quarantine tank, you can set up a routine of preventative medications and not worry about killing your plants or harming your other fish.

What I did is buy some old 2nd hand, tatty tanks out of the paper (one of those 12" tanks is fine). Or you could buy a cheap plastic one - it doesn't have to look good. I bought a cheap 2nd hand heater and an air-pump from Ebay and I hooked the pump up to a sponge filter (about 2.50ukp). I set the sponge filter up in the main tank, so it was already "seeded" with good bacteria when the time came to use it. I also "acquired" some old plastic plants in hideous colours and a couple of nasty rocks.

When I get my new fish, I treat them with Melafix (a fish tea-tree oil preparation that boosts the immune system and kills bacteria, viruses and fungi - get some off the Net and you won't regret it ). I then observe them for any signs of illness and treat if required. Once I'm sure that both the new fish, and the old tank are suitable, I introduce them. I currently have a bristle-nosed pleco waiting in the quarantine tank. All being well, he will join his new family in a weeks time.

 

[Dragonslair]

Thanks Anna for that. I do have a small plastic tank which housed my loaches before I introduced them into my main tank. It has air and a small corner filter(air driven). I just need to get a small heater. ( not a problem) Other than that the tank is bare. So I might add some gravel etc to at least make it respectable. The tank is only 12X8X10, so I can't put too much in.