No Gravel In Quarantine Tank. Will It Stress Fish

[Macro]

Hi,

I set up a 10gal Q tank to isolate fish that I buy before introducing them into the display tank. The question is, will the new fish be unduly stressed if I opt not to put gravel in? I'd prefer not to have any gravel so it's easier to keep clean and if a fish ends up with ich that it would be easy to vacuum the glass clean. Also if i medicate it would be nice not wondering if there's junk still in the gravel.

As a follow up question for a Q tank. Do fish really need tank lights on or is ambient light from a window or room light enough? Don't want to stress them with light if it's unnecessary and really only for my enjoyment of looking at them.

Thanks for your time and hopefully your replies.

 

[rdp50734]

No you dont need gravel, and no the light is for your benefit!

 

[MrNiceGuy]

i think you'd be better off without gravel, but a light might be a good idea if you really want to examine your fish for parasites or illness. i'd leave them lightless most of the time though.

 

[hamfist]

Having no gravel definately could be stressing for some fish. I put a small severum in a Q tank with no gravel and it went mad. COuldn't cope at all, just quivered in the corner for about 3 days. In the end I thought it was going to stress itself to a very early death and took a I risk by putting it straight into my main tank (with gravel). It settled instantly.

Now I don't know for sure that it was the lack of gravel in the Q tank that stressed the sev, but I am highly suspcious that it was. The tank certainly had plenty of cover and hiding places.

Most fish are of course fine in a tank with no gravel. However, for some it could be a problem. Suffice to say that my Q tank now has gravel in it !

As for light, I would actually recommend having no extra lighting for a Q tank, as new fish are generally a bit less stressed in lower light.

 

[nurglespuss]

Back in ye olde days ( ) we used to use small marbles as a base, these can be easily removed and washed in boiling water after quarantine. I've also seen quaranteen tanks with 'plastic plant matting', which again can be removed and boiled.

 

[the biffster]

Back in ye olde days ( ) we used to use small marbles as a base, these can be easily removed and washed in boiling water after quarantine. I've also seen quarantine tanks with 'plastic plant matting', which again can be removed and boiled.

i am with nurglespuss on this one i even used to use marbles
in my spawning tanks for egg scatters they are easy to take out and wash or
boil also used to use air powered sponge filter the one with replaceable
sponges so the could be washed in warm water and methylene blue to sterilize them

 

[nurglespuss]

Yeah I think i still got a couple of home made sponge filters knocking around somewhere

This is getting me very old schooly, getting quite quite tempted to go set up a tank with undergravel filter

 

[the biffster]

Yeah I think i still got a couple of home made sponge filters knocking around somewhere

This is getting me very old schooly, getting quite quite tempted to go set up a tank with undergravel filter

dont knock U/G filter my new cold water setup is getting an U/G filter
as i am getting sick of having to clean the sponges out in tank water
ever three weeks cos the flow as dropped off on my fluval 3+ so a U/G
it is and when i get some more money it will be getting two power heads
fitted to the uplifts there easy and efficient

 

[nurglespuss]

Not knocking UG filtration at all! I just realised I haven't employed it for a looong time.

I ran a tank for years with an airpump powered UG filter, never a single problem (except for overly inquisitive Khulis).

I wouldn't mind trying a modernised version (not neccesarily with power heads)... hmmmm....

 

[the biffster]

Not knocking UG filtration at all! I just realised I haven't employed it for a looong time.

I ran a tank for years with an airpump powered UG filter, never a single problem (except for overly inquisitive Khulis).

I wouldn't mind trying a modernised version (not neccesarily with power heads)... hmmmm....

i am just about to start one away lets give it a go and compare notes lol

 

[Larkspur]

We had to add gravel to the Q tank because the cichlids in it would eat the food on the bottom of the tank and not leave any for the 2 synodontis in the same tank. Once we put gravel in it was also less of an eyesore. (The tank is right on his kitchen counter) And now the synodontis can skim the bottom and actually eat some left overs.