Hospital Tank

[Shark Boy]

I noticed recently that one of my green tiger barbs is missing quite a large section of tailfin. My girlfriend kindly donated her old 3 gallon (UK) tank so that I could 'hospitalize' it for a bit. The tank is all up and running, and the filter media had been originally in this same tank, then moved to the newer one when the tank was emptied and all the fish moved to my girlfriend's newer one, and now it's back again, so I figure it's still got plenty of bacteria,

I was just wondering roughly how long I need to wait before the tank is usable? None of the water has come from an existing tank, but as I say, the filter is pre-used.

Once the barb is healthy again and back in my main tank, I'll probably get myself a Betta, since I really want one but can't house it in the main tank due to all the fin-nippers.

 

[The-Wolf]

if the filter is pre-used the tank is ready now, it will at the most goe through a mini cycle but not a full one.
good luck with the TB.

 

[Shark Boy]

Well, I put the barb in the tank last evening. I'm a little concerned, though. Although tiger barbs are a shoaling fish, and factor in the stress of the move, I would have thought she'd at least swim around a little bit. All she's done so far is hover underneath the filter.

Is it possible this is doing more harm than good, or is it simply a case of waiting a few days for to acclimatize to her temporary surroundings?

 

[The-Wolf]

Well, I put the barb in the tank last evening. I'm a little concerned, though. Although tiger barbs are a shoaling fish, and factor in the stress of the move, I would have thought she'd at least swim around a little bit. All she's done so far is hover underneath the filter.

Is it possible this is doing more harm than good, or is it simply a case of waiting a few days for to acclimatize to her temporary surroundings?

If she is ill then mormal behaviour will not be observed, once she is better then you can expect her to swim as normal.

 

[Shark Boy]

Just when you thought things couldn't get any more frustrating...

After moving the barb to the hospital tank and adding the medication for finrot to the water, I've had an outbreak of Ich in the main tank. So, I've treated for that too (and have to add a second dose of the treatment later today). However, as of yesterday, the barb in the hospital tank is showing signs of Ich too, and I'm not sure what to do about it.

According to the instructions, no more medicine should be added to the tank until at least 7 days after, which would be Wednesday, which I'm worried is too long. Should I move her back to the main tank before I adminster the second dose of Ich medicine, or is that a bad idea to subject her to two different things in suh a short space of time? I'm guessing it is, but I'm lost as to what the best course of action would be.