The quarantine aquarium is a vital tank that any aquarium enthusiast has. In fact, newly arrived fish, sick ones or those that have infections, should always be isolated from the other inhabitants of the aquarium to avoid infecting them causing unpleasant consequences.
The functions of quarantine aquariums
Quarantine aquariums are useful in several situations:
1. They are used to isolate sick fish and monitor it constantly. When there is a sick fish in the aquarium, it must be immediately moved to the quarantine aquarium. In this tank it is possible to safely treat the infected fish without damaging fragile species or compromising the plants or the quality of the water in the main tank.
2. They are a “recovery place” for newly purchased fish. Here the newcomer can recover the forces lost due to the stress of transportation, adapt to new water conditions and settle in without immediately having the pressure of the other fins. Stress can in fact significantly reduce the immune response of the fish and allows the organisms that cause diseases to exploit their weakened state.
3. They can be used temporarily to house the inhabitants of the aquarium in case of unexpected emergencies. Have you ever wondered what would happen if the main aquarium stopped working? Where would the poor fish end up? Having a second tank is also very important for this reason.
4. They can be used as a breeding area for fish and a safe area where children can grow up undisturbed and far from danger.
The quarantine aquarium: features
A good quarantine aquarium has a capacity of 20-30 liters and can reach a maximum of 100 liters, in order to be suitable for both freshwater and marine fish. The size of the aquarium depends on the number and size of the fish you intend to place inside it. The tank can be a little smaller than the one where the fish will live permanently, the important thing is not to create overcrowding. Most quarantine tanks have no substrate, making them easier to clean and disinfect.
Inside it is sufficient to install the basic equipment, i.e. a simple sponge filter, heater, thermometer, lighting and possibly an air pump. Remember that the temperature and PH of the water must be the same as in the main tank, in order not to risk making mistakes, you can transfer the main water to this quarantine.
The Capri 50 Led aquarium by Ferplast could be an excellent quarantine tank because it has a capacity of 40 liters, it is versatile in that it works well with both fresh and sea water, and is complete with filter, heater and lamp.
How long should a fish remain in quarantine?
It always depends on the specific case, in principle the period is between 2 and 4 weeks. This time lag is used to make sure that the fish is healthy or completely healed and to monitor that it does not have strange behaviors that can cause problems for other fish.
If in doubt, always contact a professional who will be able to provide you with all the information necessary to protect the health of your fish.