[Lee04]

I have a 3-5 gallon tank (not sure how big, but in that range) that I may use to medicate fish.
It's been set up for a week, with 1/2 old aquarium water and 1/2 new.
No filter, but it does have a heater. It would get a 25% water change weekly.

Do you think it's wise to put my 9 tetra in this tank for the medicine treatment?
And if so, is the tank ready?

They would stay in there until they are fully treated.
I don't want to medicate the big tank since it has invertabrates and would be a lot of work.
Suggestions welcome! Thank you all.

 

[unissuh]

Gong to need to change the water closer to daily if it's not cycled/filtered...or toss in enough plant mass to take up all the ammonia.

If this is for the parasite meds I mentioned in the other thread, they are invert safe. Most macro parasite meds are helminth specific.

 

[Diana]

Old aquarium water does not have any significant amount of nitrifying bacteria, so this tank is not cycled. No, I would not put fish in it.

Add a filter. It only needs some sponge or bio media, anything for the bacteria to grow on. If you took some old (well cycled) media from an established tank, that would be best. A filter will also make sure the medicine stays well distributed in the water (some meds tend to precipitate out) and will make sure there is good oxygen levels in the water. Some meds tend to lower the oxygen levels, and you can read on some labels about making sure there is sufficient water movement in the tank. Even an air powered sponge filter will do the job here.

If you do not want to take anything from the other tank (possible contamination) then buy a bottled cycle starter, but make sure it has Nitrospira species of bacteria. All other products are a waste of money.

Bare bottom tank, a few rocks or something for the fish to hide in (if they do not feel well fish like to hide).

If you have some cuttings of live plants that is OK to let them drift in the tank.

What size are the tetras? 1" or smaller? 8 of them are OK even in a 3 gallon as a hospital tank.
Slightly over 1"? That is a bit of a problem even in a 5, but OK if you stay RIGHT on top of water changes. Maybe every other day.
Closer to 2"? No way can you put 9 fish in a 5 gallon tank.

Test the water daily, and do water changes as needed to keep the ammonia under .25 ppm and the nitrite under 1 ppm. Lower is MUCH better (0 ppm). With any water change add the right amount of medicine to keep the levels up.

Make sure you know the actual volume of the tank so you know how much meds to add.

 

[Lee04]

Unissuh: Yep, for the parasites. The big tank will be undergoing some changes as I'll be cleaning, so I'm thinking a seperate tank for now will cause less stress on the fish.

Diana: I'll look for a filter. The problem now is that I've run out of plugs on the power outlet!
I placed some plants from the main tank into the small one for some hiding spots as well as for bacteria formation. The only thing other than the plants is some slate on the bottom. The tetras are young (about 1", most of them under). After doing some research, I found that I have a 3 gallon Eclipse.

Thank you for your help!