Stocking help

[Animallover😍]

Acquire the intended number of gourami together and add them to the tank at the same time. Hierarchial fish and territorial fish should always be added together so there is no opportunity of individual fish becoming dominant (at least no more than is normal for the species) and bullies forming.

Straight into the main tank or QT tank? All the fish I have got from this store were healthy.

 

[Byron]

Straight into the main tank or QT tank? All the fish I have got from this store were healthy.

Whichevcer, the issue is the same. The entire group should be added to the QT and then after quarantining the entire group go into the display tank.

 

[Animallover😍]

Whichevcer, the issue is the same. The entire group should be added to the QT and then after quarantining the entire group go into the display tank.

Thanks again for the info @Byron !

 

[I Like Rare Fish]

Good luck

 

[itiwhetu]

Only QT fish if they are in a tank that is identical to your main tank. Otherwise, it is a pointless exercise.

 

[Animallover😍]

Only QT fish if they are in a tank that is identical to your main tank. Otherwise, it is a pointless exercise.

I don't understand. Identical in what? Size? Parameters?

if they are in a tank

You mean the pet shops tank?

 

[Essjay]

He means that the QT tank should have the same decor and same water parameters as the tank they will be going into. This is to avoid stressing the fish again when they are moved from the QT to their final home.

 

[Animallover😍]

Ok understand. Yep same parameters, just different decor.

He means that the QT tank should have the same decor and same water parameters as the tank they will be going into. This is to avoid stressing the fish again when they are moved from the QT to their final home.

 

[Bruce Leyland-Jones]

He means that the QT tank should have the same decor and same water parameters as the tank they will be going into. This is to avoid stressing the fish again when they are moved from the QT to their final home.

I'll put good money on him not meaning the 'decor'.

 

[itiwhetu]

He means that the QT tank should have the same decor and same water parameters as the tank they will be going into. This is to avoid stressing the fish again when they are moved from the QT to their final home.

Thank you I was about to reply. The parameters need to be identical.

 

[Essjay]

Didn't I read somewhere that you also recommend using the same substrate and plants in the QT as in the main tank? Or am I thinking of a different member

 

[itiwhetu]

Didn't I read somewhere that you also recommend using the same substrate and plants in the QT as in the main tank? Or am I thinking of a different member

Not me. Just the parameters must be the same, but the closer you can make the Qt tank to the main system the better.

 

[Essjay]

I'll be careful not to mis-quote you in future.

I wonder where I read that about the decor

 

[Byron]

I have made this point in a number of threads, though it is not a question of "identical" decor but of the QT being an established tank.

There is in my view a huge difference between a QT tank used for new fish acquisitions, and a "hospital" tank used to treat one (or more) fish for a specific issue when the fish need to be removed from the main tank for treatment.

Staying only with the new fish QT, it should not be a "bare" tank as the hospital tank might have to be, as this will further significantly stress out the new fish. If new fish are introduced to an established tank, with a substrate (sand or whatever), some "decor" like chunks of wood, rock, or artificial, that provides the fish with shelter, and floating plants (with or without lower plants), the fish will settle in much faster and with much less chance of developing ich or similar issues. It is assumed the water parameters (GH and pH and temperature) will be the same as the display tank.

Not only does the "established" QT calm the fish faster, but it means when they are moved to the display tank they will not be faced with another huge environmental change. Netting them over, and having to adjust to new tankmates, will be all the stress you want to inflict on the fish.

 

[Animallover😍]

Staying only with the new fish QT, it should not be a "bare" tank as the hospital tank might have to be

The storage box I'm using not completely bare, floating plants, few pieces driftwood, etc. Just no substrate.