Have questions about quarantine tanks.

Hello, I am Starting up my first salt water tank and I was wondering about using quarantine tank(s). I am planning on starting out with yellow tail damselfish and was wondering if a quarantine tank is necessary. I know it prevents disease and all, but is it something that is a must for saltwater? I have been looking them up on craigslist and found some cheap 10g tanks. Also, while having a quarantine tank i heard that you don't use gravel. So how does the tank cycle? How do you control the nitrates and all of the bacteria problems? Oh yeah, and what kind of filtration do you use? preferably cheap! thanks.

 

If you are not going to quarantine everything it's a moot point IMO. You can however have a nicely cycled hospital tank or set up ready should you need it.

You are correct the tank should bear bottom, you can add some PVC pipes or plastic plants to offer cover for the fish.

For filtration you can use a cheap HOB filtration device, (remove carbon, when using medication). Nitrates are usually controlled through water changes. The beneficial bacteria in the sponge or floss media in the HOB provide your biological filter, but as with all tanks you need to watch for ammonia spikes when adding live stock and take the appropriate steps.

 

YOu can also do it like I do, works so far.

QT = a 5-6 g empty bucket from a salt vendor, like IO or CL., I have several of these, so free.

Filtration = sponge filter/air stone This was about $5, I had an air pump for the air stone/filter.

cover = 6" x 4"ID PVC pipe. scrap for me, so free

The water is never cylced in my QT, unless when I sometimes take 1-2g from the DT.
And use fresh SW.

I last added another Strawberry Basslet, using this with PriziPro in it an empiric treatment. He's now doing fine in my DT.

 

Thanks. Now Todd_Sails, if I were to use a home depot 5 gallon bucket, wouldn't the water evaporate too quickly? But for a quarantine tank I would need to do daily water changes to keep the nitrates and all that bad stuff down right?
Thanks