So I looked around in the forum and I haven't found anything on this subject so I just had a few questions about quarantine tanks first what is a basic build for one also any helpful hints as far as cycling and personal experiences will be appreciated thank
I'm new to the hobby as well but I can tell you what my quarantine tanks are like. I have a 20 gal and a 29 gal bare bottom. I have a Aqua Clear HOB filter (model 50 on the 20 gal and 70 on the 29). I have ceramic media and a sponge in the filters mainly for biologic filtration. Heater (150 watt), power head for circulation, thermometer (two on each tank...paranoid about heater failure) and a Seachem ammonia alert badge. There are PVC ells in the tanks for hiding places for the fish. If you have to treat with copper (ich) you will have to remove the live rock (absorbs copper and makes dosing difficult as well as leaching it back later). I cycled mine by adding a small amount of live rock rubble and ammonia from BRS. Took about 3 weeks with one tank and about 2 weeks with the other. My first two fish have been in QT for five weeks with 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and nitrate running 5-10. A delay in delivery of my DT means those first two will spend quite a bit more time in QT than usual but it's been a great learning experience (equipment, water changes, feeding, etc.). One was very small gramma that has actually visibly grown while in QT! Nothing fancy, just very basic equipment. There are many experienced guys and gals on here that can answer your questions, as they have mine! OBTW. Get good test kits for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.
I think huntindoc summed it up very well. A lot of folks just use a simple sponge filter. You can seed the sponge by letting it sit in your DT for a couple weeks. Sent from John's Tapatalk
