I've got two goldies in a 20 high, and I'm wondering what size tank you would recommend for a quarentine tank? Right now I have a 10 gallon if I need it, which luckily I haven't (knock on wood). It's not really set up though, and I was thinking that it would probably be a good idea to have it (at least) partially set up in case of an emergency. Also, with only two goldies, and no space (currently) for more, how necessary is it to have a quarantine tank ready and waiting?

I think 10g would be sufficient - that's all I can do! - but many people here have recommended a 20g - b/c more water means more dilution means better WQ. But, it also means higher doses of meds - so, I guess it works out about even!

I cannot keep one running, either - no space, so I have been through this scenario inmy head! I think I saw an answer to this somewhere (it may have been my question!) - I will look for it and post back with a link...
basically, daily water changes - putting the fish through the cycle would be too stressful if it is already not well...

EDIT: here's a partial answer (more about QT new fish but same principal) - I think the rest came to mind from a PM conversation... hopefully, one the "grown-ups" can advise you better on the specifices!

http://www.kokosgoldfish.invisionzone.com/...showtopic=32884

For future reference, this is pinned at the head of Disease and Diagnosis forum.

I keep a 16g as a quarantine tank. Believe it or not it is set up in a closet! I had no floor space so I shoved it in my bedroom closet.
So long as there is a light it can be almost anywhere. Just run the electrical cords behind the baseboards and no one is the wiser.
I keep the tank cycled with a betta. That way if a fish gets sick, the tank is already cycled. I just put Mr. Betta into a 3 gallon bowl for the duration of the treatment. I just change the bowl water daily, and everybody is happy. I don't even have to worry about Mr. betta getting cold, as my bedroom is a toasty 77degrees.
Hope that helps.

I like having a 10 and a 20 and a 30 available. But I am in the unusual position that I have the room. The empty tanks just store on the cellar shelves until needed. Most people do not this option.

The only thing I can add to the discussion here that has not been said is that it is very important that your quarantine tank is a tank in 10 gallon increments. For example - a 10,20,30,40, 50, etc., since nearly all medications that are water bourne are measured in increments of 10 gallons. It is nearly impossible to divide half a capsule of meds. Half a pill is tough, too. Stick to the 10 gallon and its multiples and all will be so much easier and accurate.

I also keep a number of large rubbermaid type tubs - I store my fish equipment in them, but they empty out in a matter of minutes and can be filled and used as an instant quarantine tank - especially if I need to sit one on the floor or in an odd spot. I make sure I fill them in 10 gallon increments, also. This way you do not have to store an empty tank. I keep baggies of extra media dropped in the bottom of all my tanks - behind a rock or decoration. They are ready to be used to seed a filter if one is needed. If I have at least one healthy tank in the house, I have at least one baggie of media available.

How do you prepare your "baggies o'media?"

Actually you can get around the problem of pills being in 10 gallon increments pretty easily. All you have to do is either:

a) Use liquid meds. They usually go on a drops per gallon basis. i.e. 10 drops per gallon of water.

Dissolve the 10g pill into 10ml of water. It then becomes simple math. i.e. 10g pill dissolved into 10ml of water = 1ml per gallon. I use this when I have to medicate bettas in 3g tanks. This way though, there is sometimes a waste of medication, but in a pinch works well. I usually use liquid meds. I haven't had to medicate for years though...

That being said, Daryl is absolutely right it is much easier if your tanks are in 10g increments.
However be cautioned: meds are meant to be used in an ACTUAL gallon capacity. This means that in a 10g you need to figure out how many ACTUAL gallons are in the tank if it is decorated.
For example my 37g actually only has 33g as the amount of decor I have displaces 4gallons of water. I know because I've measured. I know the actual amount of all my tanks. This way I don't overstock.
This is why it is usually recommended that hospital tanks be left empty. If there are no decorations in the aquarium, you can assume you have a pretty acurate count on the gallons.


Daryl, I like the idea of using the tubs. I thought of that for temporary tanks but not as a hospital tank. Good idea! Ya learn something new everyday.

My qt tank is a 10 gallon foam cooler :-)

If you have spare media covered with bacteria you can instantly startup a new tank. You can have mesh bags (bought at LFS or made of nylon stockings) of bio media, or extra foam sponges kept in your running filter, or a wad of filter floss, etc. I have a foam pre-filter on my cannister filters intake, which I would use if I needed it. Also, If you know you're going to purchase new fish and you want to quarantine them just run the QT tanks' filter on your cycled tank for about a week (2 weeks would be better) then move it to your QT - instantly cycled!

WElcome, Cshepard! That is exactly correct! I use panty hose legs cut off and fill them with ceramic cylindars. I drop the bag behind some stones or decorations, or on top of a filter. Having them in the filter is a little bit better - they get better oxygen exchange that way, but having them in the tank is almost as good. They will fill the baskets or cartridges of just about any filter.

In a filter that takes sponges, I have often just dropped the baggie of media on top of the sponges or sandwiched between sponges.

It is good backup.

I also completely agree with the bare qt tank advisement. Not only does it make your water measurements more accurate, but it eliminates the possibility that parasites may hide in the gravel from medication, the fish may get hurt on the deco when swimming erratically or flashing, and it allows you to have the best view of the fish as possible to check for problems.

Toothy, very wisely, keeps a tank running all the time with no fish in it. He hangs filters over the side and runs them with ammonia to feed the bacteria. This way he can pull off a cycled filter at anytime he needs to do so, without fear of any contamination. When you are using media from a tank like I do, you have to be aware that that media may be contaminated if there is any incidence of disease or parasites in that tank. I am seriously thinking of changing to Paul's method. I have to figure out a way to have a fish/housesitter feed the empty tank, though.

Daryl, where does Toothy get the "pure" ammonia? Around here ammonia only comes in "lemon scented". Thus I can't use it. Does he/she order it on-line?

I find it so unbelieveable, but it does seem that there are places where you cannot seem to find the plain, ordinary, un-anythinged ammonia! I find it in the grocery store, Walmart,Walgreens, Osco, K-Mart. In fact, any place that sells cleaning supplies will sell ammonia around here. It is extraordinarily cheap and available- about .79 to .99 cents a gallon.

I feel so badly that there are those, like you, who cannot seem to locate it. Could it be that the stores have really decided that "no one wants anything simple" these days?

I think I would try asking at a grocery or a Walmart type store. My grocery will get me small quantities of "unusual" products if I specifically ask. Something like ammonia would be a good addition to their shelves!

I would love to ship it to you, but it is considered a hazardass substance and the mails will not accept it.....

It would be great if you guys could pin some of these replies - lotsa good info - on to the pinned QT thread in the Disease and Diagnosis forum...

I don't even have anywhere to keep a tub, literally! But, that's why I keep only one GF - b/c I have no room for a hospital tank. I can treat his whole tank.

I think some areas, like where I live, do not sell pure ammonia readily b/c it can be used to make nefarious and destructive things... that are mainly used by very deranged people... (I don't want to use the word). So, large anounts of it in pure form are not so avaialble. Maybe if one goes far out to MD or VA it would be more avaialable. I don't know but maybe it could be ordered through the hardware store (but then they would put your name on some government list)!

My name is on so many government lists for nefarious chemicals and substances.....

You are most likely right about that, but I can think up literally hundeds of equally available substances that are far easier to use and require far fewer companion chemicals to do nasties with.

A hardware store would be a good possibility. Good idea! It is certainly worth asking!

Yes, it can be very frustrating. I know how to fishless cycle but I can't. I've had to cycle all 12 of my tanks in the old fashioned way. I have a 30 gallon dedicated to the poor zebra danios who did all my cycling for me.
I didn't think about a hardware store...I'll check that out.