I have not had the best luck quarantining fish.
And I had a pretty good setup. Foam + carbon filter, and foam filter was pre-run in the
main system to build up bacteria.
But still, a fair number died. Very frustrating.
I know a fair amount will not survive no matter what, given how they were caught and so on.
And yes, I have made mistakes, especially with vacations.
I have had even less luck treating sick fish.
My success rate with medicines is close to 0%.
And I have tried pretty carefully. Copper test kit, etc.
So my new plan is to connect my QT tank in with my main display tank system!!!
But connected VERY carefully.
The return from Quarantine to DT-sump will go through three filters.
First, a simple filter pad, replaced every few days, to get rid of most of the detritus.
Then a 20 micron filter. Basically a converted tap water filter.
Then through a good UV filter.
The QT/DT water flow will be very low, like around 0.1 GPM.
That is key to getting enough dwell time in the UV filter for it to be really effective.
It is also impossible to get a lot of flow through a gravity fed 20 micron filter anyway.
So the theory:
1) Protect my DT against incoming pathogens using fine filter + UV
2) Provide very high quality water to new fish in QT.
Obviously, there is no way to medicate sick fish in QT using this plan.
But since I have had nearly zero success with that anyway, it is not a big issue.
I think simply relaxing in high quality water is probably as good.
After QT, everything gets shut down and chlorine sterilized.
QT tank itself will probably be around 40G, with an air stone, heater, and power heads.
Crazy?
And I had a pretty good setup. Foam + carbon filter, and foam filter was pre-run in the
main system to build up bacteria.
But still, a fair number died. Very frustrating.
I know a fair amount will not survive no matter what, given how they were caught and so on.
And yes, I have made mistakes, especially with vacations.
I have had even less luck treating sick fish.
My success rate with medicines is close to 0%.
And I have tried pretty carefully. Copper test kit, etc.
So my new plan is to connect my QT tank in with my main display tank system!!!
But connected VERY carefully.
The return from Quarantine to DT-sump will go through three filters.
First, a simple filter pad, replaced every few days, to get rid of most of the detritus.
Then a 20 micron filter. Basically a converted tap water filter.
Then through a good UV filter.
The QT/DT water flow will be very low, like around 0.1 GPM.
That is key to getting enough dwell time in the UV filter for it to be really effective.
It is also impossible to get a lot of flow through a gravity fed 20 micron filter anyway.
So the theory:
1) Protect my DT against incoming pathogens using fine filter + UV
2) Provide very high quality water to new fish in QT.
Obviously, there is no way to medicate sick fish in QT using this plan.
But since I have had nearly zero success with that anyway, it is not a big issue.
I think simply relaxing in high quality water is probably as good.
After QT, everything gets shut down and chlorine sterilized.
QT tank itself will probably be around 40G, with an air stone, heater, and power heads.
Crazy?