Quarantine Tank

[Jordan_Deus]

Hello,

I want to add six Angelfish, to a planted 65 gallon aquarium (Height: 57cm, Width: 43cm, Length: 100cm). The tank is stocked with 9 Black Phantom Tetras, 6 Bronze Corydoras, 3 Ancistrus (as well as about 3-5 one inch fry that survived being eaten by the phantoms).
The tank also has about 60 Noecardinia wild type shrimp. The shrimp will be relocated to my crayfish aquarium (25 gallon). Tested two shrimp out with the crayfish, he doesn't seem to bother with them, probably too slow. In any case, the aquarium has lots of Christmas moss for cover, and will have a population of about 50 shrimp will be hard to decimate, even if he catches one or two.

My goal is to eventually keep a single breeding pair of Angelfish in my 65 gallon. Going to buy 6, hopefully small, angelfish, and grow them out until they pair off.

Now my issue is that I have a 7 gallon plastic tub that I was hoping to turn into a quarantine tank. My worry is that it is not large enough for 6 4-5 cm long angels.

My planned setup is as followed:
7 gallon tub
Air Pump + air stone
1 bag (250 grams) of cycled filter media
Aqua One 300 watt heater (So that I can crank up the heat in case of ich)
Covering the surface with water lettuce (ammonia sink)
Weekly 100% water changes

I think I could possibly find a larger tub (about ten gallons).
I don't want to push more than ten gallons, as these are plastic tubs and I don't want them bursting.

The plan is to quarantine them for a month before adding them in. Is this setup adequate?
Should I maybe quarantine 3 angels at a time, or can I manage six at once?
What are your opinions on medicating for bacterial infections and parasites automatically, even if they are not necessarily sick?

 

[Byron]

You are going about the angelfish in the correct manner, so that is a positive. Now to your questions.

Angelfish are shoaling fish that will establish an hierarchy within the group you acquire, and this can occur fairly quickly. So you should acquire all six at the same time and house them together. Otherwise, you risk real issues, depending upon the individual fish.

Never add medications unless there is an obvious disease/issue, and then only if severe enough to warrant, and then make sure it is the most effective but safe additive. In other words, wait until you see something before considering medications. All of these do stress fish no matter what, and that is more likely to cause problems than solve them, especially if nothing is there to begin with. Clean water, dim lighting, and quiet are what the fish need.

The QT is small, but may work OK. I would strongly suggest you acquire a 15g or 20g standard tank to keep as a QT; empty tanks are not expensive and it can sit in a cupboard when not in use.

QT should be sufficient to ensure nothing is present, and that can take several weeks for internal protozoan, etc. Five or preferably six weeks minimum. Surface plants are an excellent idea, both to shade and take up ammonia. The more "natural" the QT the faster the fish will settle and less risk of disease like ich which is due to stress.

 

[Jordan_Deus]

You are going about the angelfish in the correct manner, so that is a positive. Now to your questions.

Angelfish are shoaling fish that will establish an hierarchy within the group you acquire, and this can occur fairly quickly. So you should acquire all six at the same time and house them together. Otherwise, you risk real issues, depending upon the individual fish.

Never add medications unless there is an obvious disease/issue, and then only if severe enough to warrant, and then make sure it is the most effective but safe additive. In other words, wait until you see something before considering medications. All of these do stress fish no matter what, and that is more likely to cause problems than solve them, especially if nothing is there to begin with. Clean water, dim lighting, and quiet are what the fish need.

The QT is small, but may work OK. I would strongly suggest you acquire a 15g or 20g standard tank to keep as a QT; empty tanks are not expensive and it can sit in a cupboard when not in use.

QT should be sufficient to ensure nothing is present, and that can take several weeks for internal protozoan, etc. Five or preferably six weeks minimum. Surface plants are an excellent idea, both to shade and take up ammonia. The more "natural" the QT the faster the fish will settle and less risk of disease like ich which is due to stress.

Hopefully I will be able to find a 15-20 gallon tank or container. The issue is that fish tanks, even empty ones, are rather expensive where I live. Will ask around in local stores see if they have any used tanks for sale.
Thanks for the help!