Setting up 30 Gal Holding Tank

[Sherri]

I have a 30 Gal "Long" tank I'm in the process of converting from freshwater to a salt holding tank. I need to get this going so I can quarantine new fish before adding them to my reef. Just started stocking my 100 gal.

What kind of lighting for that size tank and what kind of filtration system would be good to do? Any suggestions as to what I need for this kind of setup? I have the pure aragonite sand already. LR is no prob.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Sherri

[captexas]

Sherri -

Quarantine tanks usually tend to be very basic in setup. If it is just for fish and inverts, you really only need a regular flourescent bulb as fish don't require much lighting. Also, it is better to have a bare bottom tank as it makes it easier to clean and you don't want the live sand and rock to absorb any medicines you may have to dose. All you need is a heater and a filter of some kind. Filters can be a simple sponge filter or power filter. For a 30gallon, probably add a power head as well for circulation. Most of the time, people don't keep their quarantine tanks set up full time. When they know they are going to purchase something, they get it running in advance. When the tank is not in use, you can put the sponge filter in your main tank sump to keep beneficial bacteria in it for when you need it again. You take water straight from you main tank to fill it up so that the water is of the same composition. Set your heater to keep the water at the same temp as your main tank as well. You still need to acclimate the livestock to that water as it will be different from what it was in. You can put some kind of fake coral or plant in the tank so they have somewhere to hide/feel comfortable at.

Hope that helps!
Chris

[Tim Marvin]

Another easy way is put it near a window, one powerhead and a piece of LR from the main tank. Do a water change on the main tank, and use the old water to set up your 20 gallon. Then you will have the same water conditions for both tanks. I have found it works best to just add all the fish to the main tank at one time and don't add more later. Then you don't need to quarantine at all.

[TexasState]

Don't use any substrate for your quarantine tank. Your Q tank doesn't have to be up all the time. Just fill it up with water from your main tank when the time come to quarantine fishes or corals.