| One very important object part of keeping | | | | * Test kits to check the pH, ammonia, |
| tropical fish is the quarantine tank. | | | | nitrite, and nitrate properties of water. |
| | | | |
| It is not required if you are keeping | | | | Just turn on everything in the quarantine |
| freshwater fish because those fish are better | | | | tank after filling it with water and then add |
| suited to captivity. Freshwater fish sold as | | | | the fish from the main tank. |
| pets are normally raised in a tank and are | | | | |
| not prone to infections. Even so, if a fish | | | | Newly acquired fish need acclimatization to |
| falls sick you will need a quarantine tank. | | | | the water in the quarantine tank. Monitor |
| | | | them closely for about two or three weeks for |
| For those people who keep saltwater fish a | | | | parasites and bacterial infections. Should |
| quarantine tank is a must. Saltwater fish are | | | | there be any evidence of such a problem then |
| caught in the wild and are not used to tanks. | | | | use appropriate medicine and continue |
| This puts them under a lot of stress (yes, | | | | quarantine for a couple of more weeks. Once |
| fish can feel stress too). A fish under | | | | you are sure all problems have been solved |
| stress is more likely to catch a disease than | | | | the fish can be transferred to the main tank |
| a happy fish. | | | | for acclimatization. |
| | | | |
| A quarantine tank isn't really a jazzy | | | | If a fish falls sick in the main tank then |
| affair. It can be a simply ten or twenty | | | | take it out using the net and place them in |
| gallon aquarium. Of course, it depends on the | | | | the quarantine tank. At this point |
| size of the fish. The quarantine tank doesn't | | | | acclimatization is not required as the fish |
| need all the bells and whistles that you have | | | | are already used to tank water. No matter how |
| in the main fish tank. | | | | fast the fish heals, it is important to keep |
| | | | them for an additional week in the quarantine |
| A typical quarantine tank would have the | | | | tank under observation. |
| following items: | | | | |
| | | | In case of saltwater quarantine it is |
| * A filtration unit. Use the quarantine tank | | | | important to always keep some saltwater handy |
| filter without the carbon because carbon | | | | for emergencies. All water parameters must be |
| usually removes whatever medication you might | | | | monitored on a daily basis (or at least once |
| add to the water. | | | | in two days unless you want the fish to spend |
| | | | a lot of time in quarantine). Do not add |
| * Heater. This is to control the water | | | | freshly mixed saltwater into the tank as it |
| temperature. | | | | is very toxic. |
| | | | |
| * Powerhead. You may also use an airstone to | | | | While freshwater fish keepers can do without |
| keep the surface agitation high. | | | | a quarantine tank it is a definite necessity |
| | | | for people who wish to keep saltwater fish. |