20 gal QT

**gronlaura** · 12-12-2012, 09:40 PM

Am ordering the last of my new tank necessities tomorrow - will be fishless cycling in about 2 weeks.

For a 20 gal QT - would I need the AC20 or the AC30? As there is only a $6.00 difference in price, I was going to get the AC30.

**mizzoutank** · 12-12-2012, 09:56 PM

how are you keeping the media?

QT purposes are to be shut down until needed. so if you run the AC on your main, use it for QT....that works the first time but you don't want to then put the AC back onto the main until you clean everything-including the media. (which means you kill the BB) so something to think about

I use a sponge filter for my QT. and have 2 sponges. One is always running in the main tank. if I need to qt, i move it to the 10gallon I have, then the other sponge that has been in storage goes into the main and starts to seed again.
once i'm done w/ QT, break it down, and clean and that sponge filter goes into storage

then i repeat when needed.

**Cliff** · 12-12-2012, 10:00 PM

I would use the AC30. Gives you the option of lots of bio-media and carbon should you need to remove meds

You can move some seeded filter media from your main filter over, or seed it by running this filter on you main tank

**gronlaura** · 12-12-2012, 10:08 PM

When needed, I was going to move some bio-media from one of the 2 AC110's on the main tank (I decided to go with the 2nd AC110 instead of the Rena XP3 at this time).

If used on the QT and rinsed properly, would I not be able to put the bio-media back in the main tank filter?

**Cliff** · 12-12-2012, 10:10 PM

If you had to treat for any type of disease, I would not move back to you main tank at all, but just replace it

**gronlaura** · 12-12-2012, 10:14 PM

Thanks. I think I will go with a sponge filter to run in the main tank to seed and be ready if needed. The replacement sponges are much less expensive than replacing the bio-media.

**gronlaura** · 12-12-2012, 10:36 PM

Any problem using a large (125 gal) sponge filter in the QT when needed?

I know it's overkill, but in the future, I would like to hook it up to a SunSun YT-8000 AC/DC battery powered air pump so I have filtration and oxygenation in the main tank in the event of a power outage.

**mizzoutank** · 12-12-2012, 11:35 PM

If you go the sponge filter route, you.dont need to toss them after using them. Just clean them hardcore, use whatever to kill any potential diseases and let dry.for a week or so.

If you do the AC filter, those sponges are so cheap you can just toss them.
And those sponges arent as strongly made as the sponge filters

But the main point to grasp is whatever you use in qt should not be used in.your main tank