What order to add critters?

[Scott Bennett]

Well, my new 75G tank is set up, heaters @ 77 degrees F, skimmer,
powerheads, 1.025 salinity, 4x96W lighting. Eventually I plan that this
will be a fish and reef setup. 75Lbs of live rock (cured) and live sand
arrives tomorrow. Even though it's cured, I'm expecting it may take a
little time (a week maybe?) for any die-off in transit to finish cycling.

So here's the question: At that point, once my ammonia and nitrates are
back down to 0, in what order should I start to add more life? I recognize
that fish mess up the ammonia/bacteria balance, so the initial addition
will be probably just 2 small clowns, with more later. But should I add
cleaning critters (crabs, shrimp, cucumber) before I add the fish? Or only
after the fish are there? Will cleaning critters add to the ammonia load?
Similarly, will any of the easy/soft corals add to the load there?
Everything I read says not to rush to do corals, but I'm wondering if they
will "mess up" existing balances, and if the tank has to be well-
established to add them, or if the warnings are because they are just more
sensitive to fluctuations that might come from other causes (like adding
other fish).

Thanks for your advice!

[Harald]

"Scott Bennett" > wrote in message
.. .
> So here's the question: At that point, once my ammonia and nitrates are
> back down to 0, in what order should I start to add more life? I
recognize
> that fish mess up the ammonia/bacteria balance, so the initial addition
> will be probably just 2 small clowns, with more later. But should I add
> cleaning critters (crabs, shrimp, cucumber) before I add the fish? Or
only
> after the fish are there?

You can add your clean up crew, together with your clowns at the same time.
The bioload from a clean up crew is minimal.

> Will cleaning critters add to the ammonia load?
> Similarly, will any of the easy/soft corals add to the load there?
> Everything I read says not to rush to do corals, but I'm wondering if they
> will "mess up" existing balances, and if the tank has to be well-
> established to add them, or if the warnings are because they are just more
> sensitive to fluctuations that might come from other causes (like adding
> other fish).

Corals too, do not add much of a biolad to a tank(not when compared to
fish). Corals are however, more sensitive to water conditions. It is
generally suggested to wait a bit for corals for two reasons. First, it
allows you, the aquarist, to gain experience with operating a tank, and
caring for its inhabitants. Second, it allows the tank to mature, and thus,
stabilize more quickly as bioload is added.

hth

--
Harald
130 g Skimmerless SW Tank
290 pound 6" DSB
70 lbs LR
3 B/G Chromis, 1 Tomato Clown, 1 Lawnmower Blenny, 1 Flame Angel, 1 Foxface,
4 Soft Corals.

20 gal Skimmerless SW Nano
80 lbs/6" DSB
31 lbs LR, 1 - 3-Striped damsel, 1 Blue Devil, 1 sm. Tang

[Dragon Slayer]

after the cycle has balanced out you can add your cleaner crew as needed,
they will not increase your bio load enough to recognize any difference when
added in moderate numbers (don't add more then your tank has food supply
for)

I'd recommend you give it a good month of stable water quality before you
introduce fish and then do so slowly. its not good to add clowns of
different species to a tank and not a good idea to add different ones at
different times IME.

corals wont add to your load either, but they are more sensitive to changes
and higher levels of NO2 and NO3. that is the reason to wait 6 months
before you add them, allow your system to settle in first.

kc

"Scott Bennett" > wrote in message
.. .
> Well, my new 75G tank is set up, heaters @ 77 degrees F, skimmer,
> powerheads, 1.025 salinity, 4x96W lighting. Eventually I plan that this
> will be a fish and reef setup. 75Lbs of live rock (cured) and live sand
> arrives tomorrow. Even though it's cured, I'm expecting it may take a
> little time (a week maybe?) for any die-off in transit to finish cycling.
>
> So here's the question: At that point, once my ammonia and nitrates are
> back down to 0, in what order should I start to add more life? I
recognize
> that fish mess up the ammonia/bacteria balance, so the initial addition
> will be probably just 2 small clowns, with more later. But should I add
> cleaning critters (crabs, shrimp, cucumber) before I add the fish? Or
only
> after the fish are there? Will cleaning critters add to the ammonia load?
> Similarly, will any of the easy/soft corals add to the load there?
> Everything I read says not to rush to do corals, but I'm wondering if they
> will "mess up" existing balances, and if the tank has to be well-
> established to add them, or if the warnings are because they are just more
> sensitive to fluctuations that might come from other causes (like adding
> other fish).
>
> Thanks for your advice!

[Fishnut]

On Wed, 12 Nov 2003 00:02:20 -0600, "Dragon Slayer"
> wrote:

>after the cycle has balanced out you can add your cleaner crew as needed,
>they will not increase your bio load enough to recognize any difference when
>added in moderate numbers (don't add more then your tank has food supply
>for)
>
>I'd recommend you give it a good month of stable water quality before you
>introduce fish and then do so slowly. its not good to add clowns of
>different species to a tank and not a good idea to add different ones at
>different times IME.
>
>corals wont add to your load either, but they are more sensitive to changes
>and higher levels of NO2 and NO3. that is the reason to wait 6 months
>before you add them, allow your system to settle in first.
>
>kc
>
Scott,

In addition to what has been said, you do not want to introduce fish
directly to your display tank, in case they have any disease.

Why not set-up a Q-tank now, to quarantine the fish as you buy them,
and leave the inverts to keep the display tank clean, until the fish
are disease-free.

Just a thought. LOL.

Regards, Fishnut.

[Harald]

"Fishnut" > wrote in message
...
>
> In addition to what has been said, you do not want to introduce fish
> directly to your display tank, in case they have any disease.
>
> Why not set-up a Q-tank now, to quarantine the fish as you buy them,
> and leave the inverts to keep the display tank clean, until the fish
> are disease-free.
>
> Just a thought. LOL.
>
> Regards, Fishnut.
>

That being said, the first fish you get you needn't worry about, as there is
nothing which they can infect, or be infected by. After that though, use
quarantine for a minimum of 2 weeks before introduction to your main tank.

--
Harald
130 g Skimmerless SW Tank
290 lbs/6" DSB
70 lbs LR
3 B/G Chromis, 1 Tomato Clown, 1 Lawnmower Blenny, 1 Flame Angel, 1 Foxface,
4 soft corals.


20 gal Skimmerless SW Nano
80 lbs/6" DSB
31 lbs LR,
1 - 3-Striped damsel, 1 Blue Devil, 1 sm. Tang

[Dan Norgard]

Do you also quarantine corals?
Dan

"Harald" > wrote in message
news:3azsb.41625$jy.23263@clgrps13...

"Fishnut" > wrote in message
...
>
> In addition to what has been said, you do not want to introduce fish
> directly to your display tank, in case they have any disease.
>
> Why not set-up a Q-tank now, to quarantine the fish as you buy them,
> and leave the inverts to keep the display tank clean, until the fish
> are disease-free.
>
> Just a thought. LOL.
>
> Regards, Fishnut.
>

That being said, the first fish you get you needn't worry about, as there is
nothing which they can infect, or be infected by. After that though, use
quarantine for a minimum of 2 weeks before introduction to your main tank.

--
Harald
130 g Skimmerless SW Tank
290 lbs/6" DSB
70 lbs LR
3 B/G Chromis, 1 Tomato Clown, 1 Lawnmower Blenny, 1 Flame Angel, 1 Foxface,
4 soft corals.


20 gal Skimmerless SW Nano
80 lbs/6" DSB
31 lbs LR,
1 - 3-Striped damsel, 1 Blue Devil, 1 sm. Tang

[Harald]

"Dan Norgard" > wrote in message
...
> Do you also quarantine corals?
> Dan
>

I've not heard of quarantining corals. That's a really good question...but I
guess the thing with corals is that there isn't much you can do with them if
they are sick, other then make sure they have enough light and pristine
water conditions.

How do you tell if a coral is sick, or just not fully acclimatized?

--
Harald
130 g Skimmerless SW Tank
290 pound 6" DSB
70 lbs LR
3 B/G Chromis, 1 Tomato Clown, 1 Lawnmower Blenny, 1 Flame Angel, 1 Foxface.

20 gal Skimmerless SW Nano
80 lbs/6" DSB
31 lbs LR, 1 - 3-Striped damsel, 1 Blue Devil, 1 sm. Tang

[Scott Bennett]

Thanks, I do have a small quarantine tank set up, and will definitely
start the fish in there. I'll follow the other advice too and add the
cleaner folks (as soon as there is something growing in there for them to
eat!) and plan on the fish somewhat later. And I'll try hard to be
patient on the soft corals. ;)

Thanks to all for your thoughts!


Fishnut > wrote in
:

....
> Scott,
>
> In addition to what has been said, you do not want to introduce fish
> directly to your display tank, in case they have any disease.
>
> Why not set-up a Q-tank now, to quarantine the fish as you buy them,
> and leave the inverts to keep the display tank clean, until the fish
> are disease-free.
>
> Just a thought. LOL.
>
> Regards, Fishnut.
>
>