Question: What’s in common here?:
- You bought a new fish.
- Your tank is cracked.
- One of your wet pets is sick.
- One of your fish is a bit of a bully.
Answer: You need a quarantine tank! And you need to know how to set up the quarantine tank in order to use it properly and safely.
When a Quarantine Tank is Necessary
It’s wise to always have a quarantine tank ready for use, especially because you never know when you might need it for emergencies.
You will need a quarantine tank in the following situations:
1. You are planning to introduce a new animal into an existing aquarium habitat. Before doing so, you should keep it in a quarantine tank for a couple weeks to ensure it doesn’t have any parasites or diseases that could be passed on to the main aquarium.
2. If you notice a crack in your main fish tank, you should move your inhabitants to a quarantine tank as soon as possible. A crack could spread quickly and cause the tank to break completely, endangering the livestock. Even if it’s a small crack, the water could seep out.
Some hobbyists may attempt to repair a cracked tank, but we don’t advise that for a number of reasons:
- It’s cumbersome and messy.
- The products you use could compromise the cleanliness of the tank.
- It’s only a temporary fix.
- It could ruin the appearance of the aquarium.
- Most importantly, an inadequate repair could endanger the livestock.
You’re much better off replacing the tank completely.
3. Most importantly, the main purpose of a quarantine tank is to “quarantine” any sick or injured fish. If one of your aquarium residents is ill, it should be moved to the quarantine tank immediately, both to keep your other fish healthy and to provide the sick pet with the TLC it needs. Depending on the type of illness or injury it has, you may need to give it antibiotics or use other remedies.
If any of your pets do become ill, contact Jimmie immediately, and he will either make an emergency visit or answer any questions you may have about how to care for the pet.
4. If your fish are fighting, you may wish to place the aggressor fish in a quarantine tank or their own permanent tank.
How to Set Up a Quarantine Tank
The tank should be large enough to fit your livestock comfortably in the event that you must place them all in it. If you don’t have enough space in your home, you should at least consider having a smaller tank available.
Depending on the species of fish you own as well as whether it’s a saltwater aquarium or freshwater aquarium, the quarantine tank should have most if not all of the necessary elements.
At the bare minimum, any type of quarantine tank will need filters, even if it’s a simple sponge filter. A quarantine tank for saltwater fish will need a heater as well. If you plan to leave the fish in the temporary tank for more than a day or so, you should add gravel as well to help trap debris. For long-term use, feel free to deck it out with decor, plants, rocks, and so on to make the livestock more comfortable.
Be sure to regularly examine the pH level and temperature of the quarantine tank to ensure the environment is suitable for the fish.
If you need assistance setting up a quarantine tank, caring for a sick fish, or replacing a cracked tank, Seatech Aquariums is here to help. Jimmie is also available to help existing costumers in the event of an emergency, so call him at (602) 628-7270 as soon as possible to help protect the health and safety of your livestock.