Advice Setting up a Quarentine Tank

Irenicus · 11-21-2005, 01:20 PM

I would like to have a 10 gallon quarentine tank to qt all incoming corals before I put them in my new/main setup.

I want to do this inexpensively (if possible) and to use as little space as I can get away with.

Can this be done with a backpack filter and a powercompact light? What would you recommend?

Any advice would be greatly welcomed.

Thanks in advace!

reefmyster · 11-21-2005, 01:35 PM

I set up a 10 gal QT tank this weekend (for my petco purchases). The bakpak sits just a hair lower than the tank. So the bakpak isn't supporting itself on the tank frame. Still works just fine tho. As far as the lighting, I would suppose it would depend on what you were QT'ing. I just have fish in there so I wasn't too concerned that the tank just receives light from the main tank. Would you be using the bakpak with the bio media in it? I threw mine out long ago so I threw some LR and rubble in the tank. I am planning on doing a 20% water change (siphon water from the main tank) every other day to compensate for any deficiencies.

Irenicus · 11-21-2005, 01:44 PM

This would be mostly for corals.

David Grigor · 11-21-2005, 02:57 PM

Depending on the types of corals your quarantining and for how long. Personally, if your talking acroporas, the big expensive will be suitable light. The PC IMO is just not going to cut it especially if a redbug treatment can take 3 full weeks, flatworms possibily even more. At minimum, I would think 150W DE setup or T5s. Ideally would want the same fixture as your show tank.

Since my acropora did pretty well under T5s, I am planning to reuse them for my quarantine setup once I get the MH SPS tank up and running. In my case where the T5s are 36" long my quarantine tank will be a long skinny shallow arcylic tank (36L X 8W X 8H ) and heat from the T5s shouldn't be an issue.....Downside to not using the same fixture as my show tank will be multiple light acclimation required so I will have to see how that goes.....

Irenicus · 11-21-2005, 04:01 PM

I have (2) 250 watt bulbs for my main display. My worry is that such a small tank might overheat with a 250 or even a 175 watt bulb. Your thoughts?

David Grigor · 11-21-2005, 04:08 PM

Yep, heat will be the problem.

That's why I was hoping the T5s on the quarantine would suffice......

Sea monkey · 11-21-2005, 04:43 PM

anyone ever used the $20 t5 lights from here ? seems rather cheap

http://www.customaquatic.com/customa...2Dsy&offset=15

David Grigor · 11-21-2005, 04:51 PM

I wish a picture was available to look at....

Sea monkey · 11-21-2005, 05:26 PM

ya me too , seems too good to be true.

reefmyster · 11-21-2005, 05:34 PM

Someone order up one so we can see how bad they are.

They are cheaper here
http://www.allaquaticsonline.net/sto...wCat&catId=327

Irenicus · 11-21-2005, 05:43 PM

I'll have to plan for T5's. What type of filtration would you recommend?

Skipponator · 11-21-2005, 06:00 PM

Wow cheap, would be worth trying over a sump. Heck for $20 it's worth a try, I can think of $20 wasted easily other ways...

David Grigor · 11-21-2005, 06:01 PM

I am thinking for coral only quarantine to just do regular water changes in the show tank and use the old show tank water in the quarantine.