Rookie question

[gwand]

I have a 5 gallon hospital tank. It’s empty thankfully. It has plants, substrate and a HOB filter. If the tank remains empty of fish how often should I perform water exchange.

 

[GaryE]

When I have fishless tanks (usually temporarily) I do water changes rather than top ups because I don't want the mineral content to build up.

 

[MaloK]

Depending on the quantity of plants. You can top off only, imo.

If you're maintaining the tank cycled by adding ammonia on regular basis. You will still need to remove nitrates with water changes. Or the tank will become an environment for development of all sorts of algae. Most of the time I go red light before acting.

I keep these dirty and well fed in ammonia, with short photo periods. I clean them and do 100% water change before use.

I prefer large rocks as substrate and potted plant because you can see poop and other droppings. You can also remove them to clean or medicate. I Use only 100% inert decor.

Everything has to be easily movable and removable so you can make it bare bottom in minutes...

Think of it as an Emergency Room. Plants and filter integrity could be sacrificed at moment notice.

While maintaining a nice cycled QT environment for new comers.

If you need a hospital tank on very low basis... Not frequently, it's easier to maintain a filter that you can move, ready in an another tank. And crash setup the tank as needed. You can have everything ready.

Just need to add water, move the filter and start the heater.

 

[GaryE]

@gwand - Only a doctor can be disciplined enough to have a hospital tank. I bet if you asked, very few people have them. I always have empty 10s, and they become hospitals when needed. But to set one up and stick with it?
Temptation gets the best of me, and I use it for something else. A fry tank, etc.

 

[gwand]

GaryE@ it doubles as a QT tank. But you’re right. Having this empty tank in front of me is like an abstinent alcoholic sitting in front of a fifth of bourbon.

 

[emeraldking]

I don't do frequent water changes in my quarantine tanks... Which I also use as hospital tanks. The water parameters remain quite steady in there.

 

[Ram419]

So I have some snails in my Q/H tank, which I do believe keeps it cycled. I rigged up a small pump to make water changes easy. It's a 3 gallon and sits on a low shelf on my desk. I don't look at it that much. Doing weekly water changes. Bare bottom. Light not really used, it gets natural sunlight from the window that it is near. No real plants.

 

[ClownLurch]

My QT tank will be emptied during the week. Should’ve been done a couple of weeks back.I’ll not be buying any fish until I see how many WCMMs come in from the garden in early October.
If I need to use it quickly from empty I just swap out one of my two shotgun style sponge and bead bubble driven filters from the main tank a few hours before fish go in.