stillnzcookie Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 Hi, I posted here a while back about some injured harlequin rasboras we had. Sadly we lost both fish, but we set up a hospital container for them, which I'm now wondering whether we can use as a quarantine tank for new fish. It is a plastic container which holds 2L of water, and floats in the main tank (to keep it at the right temperature). To keep it stable in the main tank, it has a bit of gravel in the bottom, and a small plastic plant for shelter. It has a filter for a nano tank (can't remember brand, but it is basically an air pump which bubbles through the filter media - sponge and a bit of coral rock from the main filter). The filter has been running in the main tank for the last month or so. SO, my questions are: a) could I use this as a quarantine tank for some new harlequins (and maybe a couple of panda corys later on)? b) if so, how long do I need to quarantine fish for? Two weeks? Three weeks? c) how many fish could I have in there at a time? I would like to get 6 more harlequins, but I presume I couldn't get all 6 at once? When we used it as a hospital tank I did small water changes every couple of days, and I would plan to do small daily water changes this time, but I'm guessing 6 harlequins would still be far too crowded in only 2L of water? We have always had a very understocked 60L tank, so we're looking forward to getting more fish! It currently only has 3 harlequins and 3 panda corys. I would like to get 6 more harlequins, then see how things go and maybe get another 2 corys later on if the tank is running smoothly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted September 19, 2009 Report Share Posted September 19, 2009 Good on you for quarantining! Most people don't, and it is such a risk. I always quarantine everything for at least two weeks, but that should be considered a minimum. Three or four weeks is better. Last time I got new fish I quarantined for three weeks then dropped them in the main tank. I had looked so closely before I put them in, but the moment I did I realised they had the first visible sign of whitespot! I caught them as soon as possible but it was too late - the tank got a dreadful case of whitespot that took weeks to clear. The moral of the story is it is worthwhile to quarantine, and the longer the better... I can't comment on the species, but having a bubbler in there will help with oxygen levels, and the small waterchanges are good. Remember the surface area is as if not more important than volume. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carlos & Siran Posted September 20, 2009 Report Share Posted September 20, 2009 Aye, same happened to us, quarantined for 2 weeks, checked closely before adding to main tank and within 2 days we had whites spot, went pretty quickly though. So I second longer the better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikBok Posted September 20, 2009 Report Share Posted September 20, 2009 the very first guppy I ever got developed a bad case of callamanus 3 weeks after I got it .. it was going into a tank without any fish so was unquarantined and must have come already infected from the LFS. But after that I have avoided LFS for my fish .. they are a last resort.. but i did get two platy from a LFS and quarantined them for 4 weeks. From now on, 4 weeks is my quarantine period for livebearers .. just to be sure. I would tend to setting up a separate small tank if you can and if space is available. I would worry about cross contamination otherwise.. even a drop of water can spread worms around! Could so easily happen during a water change in the little floating 2L. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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