Fish question for the fish experts

[Rabrrrrrr]

I have a new hospital tank that I set up, that's never had fish in it. I have one catfish with popeye that I want to put into the hospital tank and get him cured.

Can I put the little tyke into the hospital tank without ever having had fish in there? Or do I need to run some fish through the tank first?

And I assume that, when I do move the popeye fish into the hospital tank, I need to put him in a baggie first and put the bag in the tank and let the temp. equalize and all that?

[LeftCoast]

1. You want to equalize the water temps

But I'd advise against putting other fish in first. You only want to do that to help get a bio filter established and that's probably not necesary in this case.

It's a little concerning that you have fish with diseases so soon. I would avoid the place you got these fish in the future. Good luck!

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. Thanks! Wasn't sure if I needed the bio filter established first or not,

or if the little dude will be enough.

My other fish are fine - and this little guy has had his popeye for a bit more than a week, and is still active and eating and loving life.

I had an albino catfish that had popeye, that I bought the same day as this one, that died in about three days.

But from now on, no more new fish except that they sit in the quarantine tank for a while. (the catfish were just the second batch of fish into the main tank, and the store people said I didn't need to worry about a quarantine tank yet, since I only had 3 other fish in the tank when I bought the catfish).

[Maddy McCall]

2. If the hospital tank is in the same room as your big tank...

No, you don't need to float him in a bag. The temp would be the same in both tanks.

[Blue Diadem]

3. I would check

the PH, ammonia, etc. levels and make sure it's the same as the original tank. Or use some water from the original tank.

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. Ph and temp are about the same

but the hospital tank already has water in it - it's a 10 gallon, versus my main 125 gallon.

And they're in different rooms, and the rooms have different temperatures (the living room is a ginormous vaulted roof room that is very hard to maintain a constant temp. in, the hospital tank is in a small bedroom with a pretty much constant temperature).

I don't have any ammonia testers, but since the hospital tank has never been used by fish as a living quarters (nor as a morgue, burial ground, or place of dying, thank God), there shouldn't be any ammonia problems there, right?

[LeftCoast]

6. You may not want to run charcoal in the hospital tank filter either

I seem to remember that the charcoal would simply inactivate the medicine. Might want to check on that though...

[Rabrrrrrr]

7. Shit! Good reminder!

I forgot all about that - I think I just read something in my aquarium book about that.

Thanks! Totally forgot about it. Will go look it up and be sure, but I'm pretty sure you're right.

[LeftCoast]

8. No prob. Just glad you get to enjoy a HUGE fishtank

I'm so jealous. I've got to wait a few more years before I can get a tank. :(

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. Why wait? Get one now!

[LeftCoast]

10. I want to wait till I've graduated and paid off some bills

The next tank I get is going to be HUUUUUGE with a filtration system I've been designing in my head for a few years now. There will be no sound (other than a slight hum from the pump) and no visible tubes, filters or heaters.

I also need to secure it well since I live in an earthquake zone. :)

[Rabrrrrrr]

11. Ah, yes - wait 'til you've graduated

I was thinking you were still in school, but wasn't sure.

You're designing an all new filtration system, eh, with no tubes? Very cool!

Though speaking as an engineer, I would say that since you live in an earthquake zone, the issue isn't in securing it well, but in securing loosley enough to handle an earthquake.

[LeftCoast]

12. Well, no visible tubes

Everything will be underneath the tank, hidden from view.

I went through the Landers (7.6)/Bigbear (6.7) double earthquake back in '92 and lost about 1/4 of the water in my tank, but no damage. Scared me though, so I want to make sure that if at all possible, the new tank stays in place in a good shaker.