Setting up a quarantine tank doesn’t have to be a huge ordeal. A relatively simple aquarium will suffice for your hospital tank.
Here’s what you will need:
- A tank between ten and twenty gallons — larger if you have larger fish.
- A filter — use a filter without activated carbon, because carbon can remove medication from the water.
- A heater — your fish need appropriate temperatures just as much when they are sick.
- An aquarium test kit — to make sure the pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels are all safe and appropriate.
- An airstone — to increase surface agitation.
- A net — don’t use the same net you use for your main tank.
- Water from the main tank — this water already has the good bacteria established, so you won’t need to wait out the nitrogen cycle. Just be sure to test the water every few days to be safe.
- Some small hiding places (like PVC pipes) can help your sick fish feel more secure and help lower stress levels.
For newly acquired fish, your quarantine tank is a great place for them to get used to the regular tank water. Keep your new freshwater or saltwater fish in the quarantine tank for two weeks or so — watch for signs of illness or parasites. If your new fish doesn’t seem sick, he’s ready for introduction into the main tank. If your new fish does have something, you’ll need to keep him in quarantine for a few more weeks while you treat them. The extra time lets you make sure your treatment has been effective. Keep an eye on your water parameters in the hospital tank on a daily basis.
For fish in the main tank that get sick, simply net them and move them into the quarantine tank for diagnosis and treatment. This is why using water from the main tank is important! After the disease seems to be cleared up, give your fish an extra week in quarantine just to be sure. Keep an eye on your water parameters in the hospital tank on a daily basis.
If you have a saltwater tank, it’s a good idea to have extra saltwater ready in case you need to perform a water change. Don’t mix saltwater and add it immediately — freshly mixed saltwater can be harmful to your fish.