richard@gryphon.CTS.COM (Richard Sexton) (01/10/88)
(Christopher F. Chiesa's girlfriend) writes: > > In almost every book I see concerning aquariums, the importance of >having a hospital tank is stressed. I would very much like to own a >separate tank for this purpose, but I am nearly broke from buying my >current tank (etc) and I cannot afford a hospital tank, as much as I >would like to have one. Does anyone have any clever ideas--like, how >to improvise a hospital tank? Do all of you think it is as important >as all the books say? I guess if I had super-valuable (as opposed to >just super) fish, I would sooner die than not have the extra tank. >However, my "crew" consists of very reasonably priced fish--regardless, >I don't want to endanger them every time I add new fish. Please send >all thoughts and comments this way. > Use a big mayo jar, or any other large, inert container. I've even used tupperware cake keepers. Mom was pissed at the methylene blue stain though... -- It's too dark in Santa Fe, or something like that. richard@gryphon.CTS.COM {ihnp4!scgvaxd!cadovax, philabs!cadovax, codas!ddsw1} gryphon!richard
mmst@ihlpl.ATT.COM (m.s. turek) (01/12/88)
> having a hospital tank is stressed. I would very much like to own a > separate tank for this purpose, but I am nearly broke from buying my > current tank (etc) and I cannot afford a hospital tank, as much as I > would like to have one. Does anyone have any clever ideas--like, how > to improvise a hospital tank? Do all of you think it is as important > as all the books say? I guess if I had super-valuable (as opposed to > just super) fish, I would sooner die than not have the extra tank. > However, my "crew" consists of very reasonably priced fish--regardless, > I don't want to endanger them every time I add new fish. We haven't used a "quarantine" tank for new fish. We just try to buy healthy fish from a reputable store. I can't really remember a time that we got into trouble because of not isolating a new fish. So, I don't think it is absolutely necessary to quarantine....But, we do have a "hospital" tank that we use to remove a sick fish and medicate it in. A 10-gal. tank is sufficient, unless you have a monstrous fish. It is relatively inexpensive and you don't, in fact shouldn't, have gravel in a medicine tank. A corner filter that uses floss and some hose connected to a small pump won't cost a lot either. We keep the hospital tank in storage and when a fish is sick, we use some the water from the established tank to fill the hospital tank, and add the sick fish and medication. By removing & medicating in a smaller tank, you save money on the medication and do not risk spreading the illness to the other fish since you remove the "sickie." Adding fresh water to the established tank to replace that used to fill the hospital tank, or better yet, doing a partial water change in the established tank will be beneficial to the non-sickies. Marla Turek
farrens@american.WISC.EDU (Matthew Farrens) (01/12/88)
Actually, any glass container will do. We had a betta get all (All!) his fins eaten off and got a large bowl out for him to die in, but he refused to and grew all his fins back. I have read that since the emphasis in a hospital tank is on peace and quiet that any non-metal bowl-like container will serve the purpose. MF, HSF (Harry Sullivan Fan)
clif@chinet.UUCP (Clif Flynt) (01/14/88)
I used to use clear plastic shoe boxes for temporary tanks a lot. You can pick these up in a discount store for a couple bucks. The advantage over something like a mayonaise jar is that they have a lot of surface area. The disadvantage is that they can be difficult to filter or heat, since they are so shallow. I usually made a small hole in the plastic cover to run an airhose in, and put a bubbler in the box. I ignored filtering for the short length of time the fish was supposed to be living there. -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ My Opinions are my own. I can't imagine why anyone else would want them. Clif Flynt ihnp4!chinet!clif ------------------------------------------------------------------------