How do I make a small hospital tank. Edit: I have another plan

[Bettaguy08]

So I got a little 1 1/2 gallon tank here that isn’t being used for anything. I think it could be a good hospital tank. I’m not a pro so I want to start off with a small hospital tank just so it won’t be a huge struggle since this is my first one. I want to know how to make a hospital tank. I don’t want to try and make it a insane one. Just a simple little one that if my fish gets a bacterial infection or fin rot it will be able to heal the fish. What will some of the things I need for it?

 

[Fishmanic]

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I usually have a 2nd filter in my main tanks besides the hob filter. They are air pump powered sponge filters. I take one of those and put it in the hospital tank when I treat a sick fish. That adds Beneficial bacteria to the tank. I also add an airstone. You would also need a small heater.

 

[Fishmanic]

A half gallon tank as a hospital tank is too small in my opinion. You dont want to stress the fish. A 5 or 10 gallon would be better. You could even use a tupperware type container as a hospital tank.

 

[Bettaguy08]

A half gallon tank as a hospital tank is too small in my opinion. You dont want to stress the fish. A 5 or 10 gallon would be better. You could even use a tupperware type container as a hospital tank.

It’s a one and a half gallon, I put a half gallon by accident , is there any specific type of sponge filter that would be good?

 

[Fishmanic]

I still recommend a bigger tank. You would need a small airpump to power the sponge filter. For that size tank a small one would work fine like this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y5Z6V8Z/?tag=ff0d01-20

 

[itiwhetu]

Putting any fish in a tiny tank like that will just stress it. That tank has no real purpose at all.

 

[Bettaguy08]

Ok ok actually. Let’s say I had a random emergency and I had to make a hospital tank, what would all the stuff I need? And how would I set it up? I know I can easily get a tank, they sell Cheap sterilite storage containers for like 5 bucks at Walmart.

 

[Naughts]

I use:

• Tank with black backing paper
• Filter with established sponge media from main tank
• Heater
• Thermometer
• Excess plants from main tank (discard after use)
• Thin layer of sand (discard after use)
• Dechlorinated water

Also have aquarium salt on standby

Any plastic container should be good safe to ensure it won’t leak chemicals.

 

[Bettaguy08]

I use:

• Tank with black backing paper
• Filter with established sponge media from main tank
• Heater
• Thermometer
• Excess plants from main tank (discard after use)
• Thin layer of sand (discard after use)
• Dechlorinated water

Also have aquarium salt on standby

Any plastic container should be good safe to ensure it won’t leak chemicals.

Do I also use the same water from my tank?

 

[Naughts]

Do I also use the same water from my tank?

If you do regular water changes your parameters in the tank will be close to/ the same as that from your water source. Then it won't be necessary to use water from the main tank, in fact this is poor hygiene as disease pathogens could be added.

Normally hospital tanks will have very frequent water changes to keep the environment clean. Some people don't bother using cycled filter media because of this but I use it to eliminate (as far as we ever can) the risk of ammonia/ nitrite as this added stress on a sick fish can be fatal. Some medications however, like antibiotics, can kill the beneficial bacteria so in that case daily testing and water changes would be needed anyway.

 

[Bettaguy08]

If you do regular water changes your parameters in the tank will be close to/ the same as that from your water source. Then it won't be necessary to use water from the main tank, in fact this is poor hygiene as disease pathogens could be added.

Normally hospital tanks will have very frequent water changes to keep the environment clean. Some people don't bother using cycled filter media because of this but I use it to eliminate (as far as we ever can) the risk of ammonia/ nitrite as this added stress on a sick fish can be fatal. Some medications however, like antibiotics, can kill the beneficial bacteria so in that case daily testing and water changes would be needed anyway.

Ok So I won’t need to use the water from my tank then, but will it matter if the hospital tank is cycled or not? Cause I hear people say that once there fish is fully healed they clean out the whole hospital tank.

 

[Bettaguy08]

Actually I don’t know what I should do right now… I want to set up a hospital tank but at the same time I also want to make my main tank better and live plants and maybe floaters or things like that.. I don’t know.. if I make my tank better my fish will have a less chance of disease or things like that.. which is why I’m leaning towards doing that instead

 

[Naughts]

Ok So I won’t need to use the water from my tank then, but will it matter if the hospital tank is cycled or not? Cause I hear people say that once there fish is fully healed they clean out the whole hospital tank.

As above, I use a cycled sponge. I don't want to risk adding ammonia/ nitrite to the fish's problems. But not everyone does this, if they are able to guarantee that they can do daily monitoring and water changes to keep the fish safe. So it depends on your lifestyle and other commitments.
I don't have a hospital tank set up all the time. If you have everything you can get it running in 20 minutes.

Actually I don’t know what I should do right now… I want to set up a hospital tank but at the same time I also want to make my main tank better and live plants and maybe floaters or things like that.. I don’t know.. if I make my tank better my fish will have a less chance of disease or things like that.. which is why I’m leaning towards doing that instead

Agreed, a stress free fish is highly unlikely to get sick.