Starting Twenty Gallon Salt, few quick qeustions

[Henry22]

yeah, but money is tight so. We'll see how this shrimp i got from them does

 

[Henry22]

Im starting up a QT before i go on vacation and putting two clowns and maybe a skunk cleaner in their. I was wondering if oyu recommend hyposalinity or just the same as the tank. I plan on using have tank water and put the sponge filter in tank before for a few days. Also wondering waht is better, hypo or treating with medications or just leaving it and letting htem work it out on their own w/ the shrimp because it wouldnt be as stressful so they could fight off disease.
Thanks
ps, what is better true perc or occeallaris?

 

[OCCFan023]

Do you have the fish yet, or are you talking about QTing them when you buy them? If you buy them you wont need hyposalinity because they arent ill (atleast this is my understanding)


AS for whats better, theirs no real better choice just opinion. True Percs have interesting colors, but the false pecr is interesting in color. Just what you like

 

[Henry22]

Ok, not i dont have the fish and wont have them after august six. I was gonna set up the QT before i go on vacation. So do you think i should just have the QT with the same parameters as my display tank and just left them sit in their for a month or so? I plan on a heater, sponger filter, some type of shelter like pvc maybe and some fake plants, would that work ok?
thanks

 

[1979camaro]

if you QT while on vacation how will you take care of/observe the fish? seems like a bit of a dilema

 

[Henry22]

no, im setting up the QT and gonna let it run and then buy the fish when i come back.So back to my original qeustion in the post above camaros? anyone know
thanks

 

[1979camaro]

your setup plan sounds fine...i don't see the point of leaving it run for a month though...

 

[Henry22]

its not a month, about two weeks at the max and im just gonna have the same SG as my tank and temp and not treat it. Are plastic plants and pvc good for hiding in the QT

 

[1979camaro]

plastic plants and pvc will be excellent...make sure to get a variety of sizes of pvc tubes. i still don't see the point of leaving it run no matter how long simply because you will have to pay for the cost of running the filters and heaters but obviously the decisions is yours

 

[Henry22]

ok, well the ill set it up after vacation, but does it matter how long the QT should be setup and running before fish if i put the sponge filter in the display for a few days and then put it in QT.

 

[1979camaro]

i would float the sponge in the display while you are out of town and use some of your tank water as part of the setup water in the QT tank when you get back...should be fine that way

 

[aresgod]

also i noticed you mentioned using hyposalinity as a preventitive treatment on a skunk cleaner shrimp, thats a bad idea inverts are much more sensitive to swings in salinity and in general don't carry diseases, however, you could still QT it but in a normal salinity range.

 

[Henry22]

ok, well i dont think im gonna do hypo or treat unless i see i need to treat for ich or something and just observe them for over a month(2 clowns and cleaner shrimp) and then put them in the display and then get my pajama cardinal and brittle star and QT them for over a month so the clowns and shrimp would have a month to settle in new home. How does that sound or am i doing it too fast or addig too many fish at one interval.

 

[Henry22]

after measuring my ten gallon which is 20" across dosnt fit on my bed side table and i have already bought everything for the QT except the sponge filter which i will be getting tommorow. Luckily i have a eclispe 6 gallon bowfront that i can use.

 

[Henry22]

i have a whisper air pump and a dirt magnet sponge filter being "seasoned" in my display for a few days before i set up my QT. I was wondering how much air should be pumped in to te sponge filter. The air pump came with a check vavle and i would say i have it at med, is that ok? I went to my LFS to pick up some more salt and the sponge filter and i asked them if their clowns were tank bred and she said most all were except the black and whites from australia. I dont want just a reg true perc or ocellaris andi really like the black and white so i think im gonna get it from them. Its 25 which is a good price since another LFS 30-40 min form me has them at 40 and liveaquria are 28. Im really excited!

 

[Henry22]

Im getting my pajama cardinal when i get home from vacation, im soo excited

 

[Henry22]

Is it a bad idea to put the cardinal in before the two clowns, their both pretty peaceful but do you all see any aggression that could come up, i dont want the little pajama to think the whole tank is his
thanks

 

[1979camaro]

the pajama should leave the clowns alone...they tend to only be rough with other cardinals. i don't think it will cause a problem

 

[Henry22]

I think when i get the money i want a refractometer and the $5 coralife digital thermometer. I also plan on getting the 96w 50/50 pwrquad and have heard good things about it and a protein skimmer. I think i will get the CPR bak pak 2r, the reef ready one w/o bio bale stuff, or should i get the reg bak pak 2 w/bio bale? I plan on keeping softies and a few fish. Thanks

 

[wayne]

A refractometer is good though I use a lab grade hydrometer. I just use a regular alcohol thermometer NOT a stick on.
I wouldn't bother with the biobale though if it doesn't cost much you can always get that one anyway - if nothing else it will stop microbubbles