[jsgates]

Ok, I bought a JBJ 12 G nanocube for a QT tank for my 80 gallon reef. I've been lucky so far adding fish directly to the tank.......1 clown, 1 royal gramma, 1 firefish goby, 1 lawnmower blenny, and just yesterday a Foxface Rabbitfish. I about a month I will be adding 2 tangs and definitely wanted a QT tank for them. Anyway, on to my question. When the Nanocube comes in and I set it up as a QT tank, it will have no sand and no LR, just water. Will I be ok using the water I remove from my display tank during a water change to fill up the QT tank? Then just doing weekly water changes on the nano as well. I shouldn't get a cycle with nothing but water in nano right? Then later on when I'm done adding my fish to the 80 ga., I can get sand & rock for the Nano and then let it cycle as I get it ready to be a display tank as well. Idea behind all of this is to get the QT tank to have the same water parameters as my display tank. Any suggestions appreciated.

[Lowej82]

I dont know if I would use a 12 gallon nano for QT that I PLANNED to use as a DT in the end, QT is a place not just to hold fish & hope they dont have a nasty ich case or something, you need to be able to treat for sickness if you do this in your nano, I dont think that you would be able to use again as a DT. Also do not add any LS or LR to the QT. use a piece of pvc pipe for them to hide in. Water from your tank will be fine for the QT.

Last but not least, Is a 12 gal big enough to be a QT for tangs? For the proper length of time they should be in QT I would try to find and use a old 29 or something of that size. just IMO, youll get some input shortly. Good Luck!!

[checker Jim]

I think that sounds like a great idea. your water will be the exact same parameters of you dt so there will be minimal stress to the fish when you take them out of qt. to save on power I would fill the qt tank when you do your water change then dump it when you are done with the qt tank. I am putting a 10g tank under my dt just for that and will be doing it the same way as you.

[checker Jim]

as for what lowe was saying,
I think it should be fine as a small display tank after qt, thats is why I was saying use it for qt drain it, gt and drain. as long as it stays dry between uses I wouldnt think anything would live in it. and then as long as it is properly cleaned before using it as a small display I dont think it would cause a problem.

[gimmito]

I'm using a 10 gallon for my qt. I used the water from my 75 dt after a water change. I also have a aquaclear 50 that I keep in my sump. It allows me to set up the qt immediately when needed.

[stephaniesquires]

I'm in the same postition, but had another question, should I put the sponge from the qt into the dt sump for a few days to get some of the tanks beneficial bacteria into the qt???

[graveyardworm]

If your intention for the QT is to eventually use it a DT then like Lowe said no meds especially copper based. Hyposalinity can be used to treat ich and I treat all my fish this way in QT whether they have outward signs of it or not. For water movement I use a hang on filter and I do keep a filter cartridge in my sump to hold some bacteria. I fill my QT with water from the display and use display water for water changes except during hyposalinity. As long as the Tangs are small around 3 inches and under I feel they'll be okay in the 12. I've QT'd Tangs that size in 10g with no issue.

[rlcline76]

Originally Posted by stephaniesquires

I'm in the same postition, but had another question, should I put the sponge from the qt into the dt sump for a few days to get some of the tanks beneficial bacteria into the qt???

That is what I did. I had many pods swimming around until I put new fish in there.

If I ever need to medicate with anything that will kill off the bacteria, I'll just use a new sponge.