Hospital Tank Question

[gforce17]

I've been given a smallish tank and I'm going to set it up as a hospital tank. My question is, when a fish has been treated in the tank and returned (hopefully) what do you have to do to the hospital tank - obviously a total water change, but does the filter need to be recycled every time with fresh filter pads?? Thanks.

 

[sadguppy]

Wash the filter pads properly in boiling water or chuck them completely. You don't want any bad bacteria surviving and that means cycling it again. You can always use someore media from your main tank if you need it in the meantime.

Scrub out your tank and leave it to dry.

 

[gforce17]

OK thanks very much! BUT shouldn't you then do the same in your main tank if a fish has been ill in there?

 

[FishFanatic04]

If it was something contagious like ich then you would treat the main tank. Something that is ill in the hospital tank was cured if you are putting it back, but I would boil the pads or use new ones as a precaution. If the fish died then certainly fresh/clean pads are a must.

 

[alex1319]

If your fish is fine obviously your water quality is fine. I would rinse out your filter cartridge though..