Water Changes in Small QT tank

gtoon159 · 08-28-2006, 12:59 PM

Hey guys. I have a medium Yellow tang in my 20 tall QT tank currently and I am looking to add a Powder blue tang tomorrow.

I am changing about 10% daily right now and I Was wondering should I go to 20 or 25% changes when the PBT comes in? I run an air filter for biological and a Hot magnum full of carbon for filtration.

I do keep an eye on all the tests. AM Nitrates Nitrites etc. Haven't seen any problems thus far but don;t want to get behind with the two tangs in QT.

Thanks

Little Luey · 08-28-2006, 01:26 PM

How long has the YT been in QT?
IMO the 20 is too small for QT 2 tangs, some will say is too small for one. That may prove to be to stressfull for both fish. If the YT has been in there for a few weeks I would transfer it to the main tank and start with new water for the Powder blue. I think is more of a problem with swiming room with two tangs.

deathmatch782 · 08-28-2006, 01:56 PM

That would definetly be too small for those two tangs. Ther powder blues are very easy to stress out.

gtoon159 · 08-28-2006, 03:30 PM

The yellow tang has only been in QT for less than a week. He appears healthy but I want more time for them to get acclimated. I can move them both into the 55 but I didn;t want to use copper in the 55.

Is there a water change regiment that would allow the 20 to be used?

Thanks

Little Luey · 08-28-2006, 06:01 PM

Is the 55 your main tank where both tangs will be going later? That tank will also be too small for 2 tangs, they will fight for territory and you will end up loosing one if not both of them. I can see one when it is a juvenil, but not an adult tang. Hold off on getting the second tang, you really need a bigger tank for two. These fish like to swim a lot, confining two in to a 55gal is not healty for them. They will not be happy and end up getting stressed out and sick if they do not kill each other first.

ChrisPrusha · 08-28-2006, 07:18 PM

I have to agree with the above. I believe you will most likely run into trouble later on even with pristine water conditions, because the tangs will get stressed out and be susceptible to illness.

We aren't trying to beat you up here...just giving you our collective experiences.

gtoon159 · 08-29-2006, 06:01 AM

The 55 is not my main tank. Both of these guys are destined for the 90 reef. The 55 is just a spare tank (One we started with several years ago) that I Could QT them in while I treat them.

These two fish are replacements for the two I lost after out move into the new house. After some research I believe we had a small cycle bue to using the same sand. The last powder blue we had was succussfully Quarentined in a 10 gal for a little over a month. I know this is WAY to small a tank for any full grown tang but I Cannot believe that folks are using anything larger than a 40 breader for a QT tank.

What do you guys do for QT?

jenajet · 08-29-2006, 06:16 AM

Well the size of qt would depend on the fish. The problem is tangs will fight. In a larger tank they have room to establish a territory(may still fight) But qt two tangs in a 20 is just going to stress them and as others said you could loose one or both. I say put the larger of them in the 55 and the smaller in the 20. Just a suggestion tho.

gtoon159 · 08-29-2006, 10:46 AM

I don't have enough equipment to run two QT tanks. I am going to go with the 20 and watch them closely for a few days. Of course the PBT is not yet in and may not be for a couple weeks. If that is the case it will be a moot point as I Will simply move the yellow to the display and QT the Powder by herself in the 20.

Thanks guys.

George

Little Luey · 08-29-2006, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtoon159

I don't have enough equipment to run two QT tanks. I am going to go with the 20 and watch them closely for a few days. Of course the PBT is not yet in and may not be for a couple weeks. If that is the case it will be a moot point as I Will simply move the yellow to the display and QT the Powder by herself in the 20.

Thanks guys.

George

This is probably your best bet. The two tangs in the 90gal will be fine. I was just concerned with them being together on the 20gal. You are right, not many over 40gal QTs, probably more like 15-20gal.