Gear
Quarantine and hospital tank basics: what reef keepers commonly use
The basics for a quarantine or hospital tank. Below are 3 items we see often, each with our honest note and where to view it in the UK and the US.
We sell nothing and earn nothing from these links. Prices are as each retailer's page showed them on the date checked, and they change. How this guide works
Listings checked . How we check
What should you look for in quarantine kit?
- A plain bare tank with a heater and a sponge filter kept seeded in the display sump.
- A way to measure any treatment exactly. Copper needs a test that reads the copper you use.
- Separate nets and buckets so nothing carries water back to the display.
Commonly used quarantine kit
Specs are as published on the listed pages. Where the US and UK pages give different figures, we show both.
Seachem Cupramine
Brand: Seachem
Our note. A copper treatment for ich and velvet used only in a fish-only hospital tank. It is toxic to invertebrates and must be measured with a copper test.
Key specs
- 1 ml per 40 litres, repeat after 48 hours
- Target 0.5 mg/l marine; do not exceed 0.6 mg/l
- Hold for 14 days
UK listing
Kraken Corals (UK): opens the retailer's page for Seachem Cupramine in the United Kingdom- Price as shown
- £23.00 (250 ml, sold out)
- Checked
Not in stock when we checked.
US listing
Bulk Reef Supply (US): opens the retailer's page for Seachem Cupramine in the United States- Price as shown
- US$9.56 (100 ml; other sizes price not shown)
- Checked
Hanna HI702 Copper HR Checker
Brand: Hanna Instruments
Our note. A pocket photometer for checking copper levels during treatment. It suits chelated copper such as Cupramine; other copper products may not read accurately.
Key specs
- 0.00 to 5.00 ppm
- Resolution 0.01 ppm
UK listing
Kraken Corals (UK): opens the retailer's page for Hanna HI702 Copper HR Checker in the United Kingdom- Price as shown
- £79.99
- Checked
US listing
Bulk Reef Supply (US): opens the retailer's page for Hanna HI702 Copper HR Checker in the United States- Price as shown
- US$74.99
- Checked
Hikari Bacto-Surge foam filter (small)
Brand: Hikari
Our note. An air-driven sponge filter that can sit in the display sump to stay seeded, ready for a quarantine tank. It needs a separate air pump and tubing.
Key specs
- Small size for tanks up to 40 US gal (listing title)
- Air pump not included
UK listing
Amazon UK (UK): opens the retailer's page for Hikari Bacto-Surge foam filter (small) in the United Kingdom- Price as shown
- Price not shown on the page when we checked
- Checked
US listing
Amazon.com (US): opens the retailer's page for Hikari Bacto-Surge foam filter (small) in the United States- Price as shown
- Price not shown on the page when we checked
- Checked