Quarantine tank maintenance

[jeanetchka]

I have a 10g quarantine tank with a powerhead, sponge filter and some base rock. How often should I be doing a water change (and how much). Also, should I be feeding the fish in the QT everyday? The ammonia level in my tank is out of control.

[gamma]

how long has your qt tank been setup? Is there anything in it right now?

[Redbeard]

Considering it's a quarantine tank it stands to reason the fish were already stressed to begin with. The more you feed them the worse your ammonia problem will be but IMHO changing enough water to eliminate the ammonia will also add to the stress, unless you want to change about a pint every 15 minutes or so. It's an acclimation issue. Get the ammonia under control first then feed often but sparingly, don't leave any uneaten food in the tank. When you change water get it out of your display tank if the chemistry is right, and change 5% every week.

I guess if it were me I'd stop feeding the fish and stop changing water as well. Then run down to the LFS and pick up some AmQuel+ (you're talking about salt water right?). Follow the directions on the package, drop in an air stone if you have one and keep an eye on the pH. If the LFS only has AmQuel (without the +) then you'd need a buffer as well.

I've never used the stuff but here's what their website has to say about it:

AmQuel functions as well in salt water as it does in fresh water; whereas zeolites do not remove ammonia in salt water

To prevent a pH drop, use either AmQuel Plus Buffers or Pure Dry AmQuel instead of liquid AmQuel.

AmQuel should not be added to water containing active, therapeutic dosages of dyes such as methylene blue, acriflavine, or malachite green

incompatible with the Nessler-type test reagents, resulting in false, high ammonia
test kits using salicylate-type reagents such as Kordon's AquaTru Test Kit #35970 for salt water
are required for accurate test results

AmQuel is non-toxic when used as directed. Numerous species of freshwater and marine fishes, invertebrates and plants have been exposed to AmQuel with no toxic effects.

Hope this helps, keep us posted.

Ted

[jeanetchka]

Thanks for your advice Ted, it was really helpful.

[JohnO]

[quote author=jeanetchka link=board=Newbie;num=1093404123;start=0#0 date=08/24/04 at 20:22:00]I have a 10g quarantine tank with a powerhead, sponge filter and some base rock. *How often should I be doing a water change (and how much). *Also, should I be feeding the fish in the QT everyday? *The ammonia level in my tank is out of control.[/quote]

Apart from Teds great advice :-)

If you are not going to have the Q tank set up all the time, then you can take the sponge out of the sponge filter and store it in the sump ( if you haven't got a sump then somewhere in your tank if poss ) It ( the sponge ) will populate with the bacteria you need to break down the Ammonia you get. Just a hint :-)

John