Aquarium hospital tank setup

Purpose

Observation, isolation or treatment

Preferred design

Simple, cleanable and fully documented

Filtration

Mature sponge filter or managed alternative

Essential equipment

Heater where required, aeration, lid, hiding place and dedicated tools

Difficulty

Intermediate

Decide the hospital tank job

Observation, quarantine and active medication are different jobs. A planted quarantine tank may support long observation, while a bare treatment tank makes dosing and waste removal easier. Do not combine incompatible goals without a reason.

Keep the setup simple

• Use inert, easy-to-clean surfaces.
• Provide a hide that cannot absorb medication where that matters.
• Use dedicated nets, siphons and buckets.
• Guard intakes and maintain strong aeration.
• Label the tank with fish, dates, treatment and dose.

Manage the biofilter deliberately

Some treatments damage filter organisms, and some hospital tanks are set up only when needed. Keep a mature spare sponge in a healthy system where practical, but never return contaminated media to clean tanks. Test ammonia and nitrite daily during treatment.

Dose from actual water volume

Calculate the real water volume after displacement, follow the product label and record every dose. Remove chemical media only when the treatment instructions require it. Never stack medications casually.

Close the case safely

After treatment, complete the full observation period, dispose of water responsibly and disinfect or retire equipment according to the disease risk and product instructions. Record the outcome, not just the treatment used.