Quarantine Tank Set-up...

[LongNY]

When setting up a quarantine tank for new fish, can I shorten my cycling time by adding some seasoned gravel, a seasoned artificial plant, main tank water, and a seasoned filter I set up to mature in my main tank to start my quarantine tank? Can I add fish right away, or do I need to wait..... I imagine that I would get all of the proper water qualities from my main tank in my Q-tank with all these ingredients from a cycled tank. Am I trying to beat the system?..... Need to know, since I'm hypothesizing at the moment..... I figure I could set up the smaller tank, and then go get fish on the same day...hmmm... any advice would be great....
John NYC

 

[jflowers]

Forget the rest, a matured filter is all you need. Water means nothing and substrate only holds a fraction of the bacteria needed.

Jon

 

[LongNY]

Excellent..... you've made it even easier.... but can I add fish on the same day as I set up the Q-Tank with the matured filter/media?
John NYC

 

[yvez9]

Yes

of course, just add a few fish, one or two

wait a couple weeks, then add another couple of fish.

You'll soon get the feeling for the tank and know how much you can add at a time...

 

[LongNY]

Thanks...

This is only a small tank for quarantining any new fish for 2-4 weeks before introducing them to my main tank.....

I have the Q-Tank filter in my main tank for weeks now, keeping it primed for when I set up my Q-Tank.... then after quarantining, (if I don't get hooked on thinking of it as Tank #2... <g>), I plan on putting the Q-Tank filter back in my main tank because I'll be breaking down my Q-Tank... It's only a 2.5 gallon tank....chosen small, so that I can set it up and break it down easily.

John NYC