QT/Hospital Tank

[fish_face]

Hi, I would like to set up a second tank to use for quarentine and hospitalisation of sick fish.

How large would such a tank have to be? + do I need much decoration or would a simple plantpot, gravel and plastic plant be enough? Is lighting still important and would I have to leave it set up all the ime to keep it cycled?

Sorry for the multiple Qs - any help appreciated

 

[Def]

It depends

My QT is 18" long, as that fits in the spaces under the 36" cabinet nicely. It used to have a sand base, which I binned and reverted to plain glass bottom. It has a piece of bogwood in there, because it's waiting for a plec to go in. Nothing else (apart from heater and filter!)

Some people only set their tanks up when needed, I prefer to leave mine running so it's ready for an emergency. I use pure ammonia to keep it permanently cycled - just add a few drops each day, then dump the water out and replace at the end of the week to get rid of the nitrates - they normally go up over 100 over a week, but as there's nothing in there apart from ramshorn snails (tough buggers) it doesn't matter.

Before I put a new fish in, I add ammonia the day before and test the water after 24hrs to make sure it's gone (ie: ammonia 0 nitrite 0). I then do a 100% water change, let the temp stabilise and then put the fish in. Fish stays in for 3 weeks to make sure it's fine. I normally siphon some of the water from the main tank into the QT just to equalize the conditions, on the unlikely offchance there's a difference.

 

[Dubby]

IMO it should be big enough to house your biggest fish and there should be enough space to take atleast a couple of fish.

I prefer to keep minimum decorations as that means more cleaning up after each medication.