New Fish Tank

Hi guys!! How's it going?

Say, I just bought a new fish tank for my kids as a present for Christmas.
It was used, but I couldn't resist it. 400 gallons!!! I paid $1,000 for it
and the oak stand. It is square in shape and about 6 feet long on all sides
and 2.5' tall on a 3 feet tall stand. Viewing is about eye level for an
adult.

Wondering how soon I can put fish in the tank. I have over 600 lbs of live
sand that was sold with the tank and we kept 30% of the old water and added
70% new RODI. The tank has a huge skimmer about the size of an old gas pump
that sits externally to the tank. The tank is turned over at least 40 times
per hour according to the guy I bought it from due to the humongous dual
pumps also running externally to the system. The sump for this thing has a
capacity of 250 gallons and is under the tank in the base of the stand. You
guys have to see pictures of this!!!! It's freaking awesome!!!

So!! How soon can I add fish and more liverock? The chemistry is awesome!!!!

Sounds Great! You got a good deal.
Sounds like MR 400 to me :-)

Did you get any live rock with the tank? If not, you can
go ahead and add some. Figure on adding some cheap damsels
in there after you have had it for a week. What are your
plans for the tank? Reef tank, large agressive tank,
comunity tank?

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



Bobbin' for Charlie wrote on 12/19/2005 3:54 PM:
Hi guys!! How's it going?

Say, I just bought a new fish tank for my kids as a present for Christmas.
It was used, but I couldn't resist it. 400 gallons!!! I paid $1,000 for it
and the oak stand. It is square in shape and about 6 feet long on all sides
and 2.5' tall on a 3 feet tall stand. Viewing is about eye level for an
adult.

Wondering how soon I can put fish in the tank. I have over 600 lbs of live
sand that was sold with the tank and we kept 30% of the old water and added
70% new RODI. The tank has a huge skimmer about the size of an old gas pump
that sits externally to the tank. The tank is turned over at least 40 times
per hour according to the guy I bought it from due to the humongous dual
pumps also running externally to the system. The sump for this thing has a
capacity of 250 gallons and is under the tank in the base of the stand. You
guys have to see pictures of this!!!! It's freaking awesome!!!

So!! How soon can I add fish and more liverock? The chemistry is awesome!!!!

Awesome DEAL!!!!!! I am envious

Seriously, I'd add cured LR rightaway. Then make sure the tank's params are
stable for at least 2-3 weeks, especially: NH3/NH4 = 0. NO2=0) then slowly
add fish. 2 at the time the most. Wait loooooong time between additions.


"Bobbin' for Charlie" wrote in message
news:P7Fpf.10641$9G.5848@dukeread10...
Hi guys!! How's it going?

Say, I just bought a new fish tank for my kids as a present for Christmas.
It was used, but I couldn't resist it. 400 gallons!!! I paid $1,000 for it
and the oak stand. It is square in shape and about 6 feet long on all
sides and 2.5' tall on a 3 feet tall stand. Viewing is about eye level for
an adult.

Wondering how soon I can put fish in the tank. I have over 600 lbs of live
sand that was sold with the tank and we kept 30% of the old water and
added 70% new RODI. The tank has a huge skimmer about the size of an old
gas pump that sits externally to the tank. The tank is turned over at
least 40 times per hour according to the guy I bought it from due to the
humongous dual pumps also running externally to the system. The sump for
this thing has a capacity of 250 gallons and is under the tank in the base
of the stand. You guys have to see pictures of this!!!! It's freaking
awesome!!!

So!! How soon can I add fish and more liverock? The chemistry is
awesome!!!!

TekCat wrote on 12/19/2005 7:08 PM:
2 at the time the most. Wait loooooong time between additions.


Umm ,,, this is a 400 gallon tank, not a 55 gallon tank :-)

Most people start out with damsels, not larger expensive fish.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets

Good point
still, why rush things?

Umm ,,, this is a 400 gallon tank, not a 55 gallon tank :-)

Most people start out with damsels, not larger expensive fish.

Wayne Sallee wrote:
TekCat wrote on 12/19/2005 7:08 PM:

2 at the time the most. Wait loooooong time between additions.


Umm ,,, this is a 400 gallon tank, not a 55 gallon tank :-)

Most people start out with damsels, not larger expensive fish.

Wayne that implies that it is common to lose your first fish, is that
so? My pet shop guy said that starting out with 2 tank bred ocellaris
was fine as they are hardy. Damsels are more aggressive and can cause
problems when you add more fish I believe??

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets

No, I'm not implying that it is common to loose fish on
startup, though unfortunately many pet stores do. What I
was emplying is that the risk is not so great.

I also do not agreee that a tank rased clown is as hardy
and a damsel. I don't recomend starting a tank with clown
fish. Damsels are a lower risk, and hardyer fish.

I personaly like damsels. If I had a tank of that size, I
would slowly fill it with damsels up to about 35 damsels.
I like damsels.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



miskairal wrote on 12/20/2005 4:11 PM:
Wayne Sallee wrote:

TekCat wrote on 12/19/2005 7:08 PM:

2 at the time the most. Wait loooooong time between additions.


Umm ,,, this is a 400 gallon tank, not a 55 gallon tank :-)

Most people start out with damsels, not larger expensive fish.


Wayne that implies that it is common to lose your first fish, is that
so? My pet shop guy said that starting out with 2 tank bred ocellaris
was fine as they are hardy. Damsels are more aggressive and can cause
problems when you add more fish I believe??


Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets

MOst folks regard a Damsel as a cheap fish which is very abundant at a
very cheap price ( Often for less than $3.00 with mewmber card at
Petco) as a way to test your waters and see if everything is on
par........That way if something is not quite right your not out a hea
of money if they croak....I view it like this.I trust my test kits and
my knoweledge..I would not feel any different placing a damsel in a
new setup that was properly cycled and water parameters in check than
I would a an Angel fish of $30.00 If the water is right and conditions
are what they should be then things should be fine as long as they are
introduced one or two at a time, depending on how large a system it is
and your filtration.

If I was going to have any damsels, I would add them last so they are
the new guys on the block so they may not be so boisterous and already
have established territories setup......

I do not believe in sacrificing any fish to test the
waters......simple if its not right for a high dollar fish then no
fish go in it. The only exceptions would be fish that eat mainly
copepods etc such as dragonets, and in that case the tank would have
to be pretty well establised and aged with a large population of stuff
for the dragonets to eat. I see lots of dragonets getting sold at
various places and when you talk to the ones buying them they say
things like, yea, we just got our 55 gal setup cycled and have had 4
damsels in it for a month, or yea we have one up now for about a
year......so now were going to add those pretty dragonets......which
on rare occasions will eat prepared foods but most times they starve
in most any tank that is not well established. Its a real shame, but
evidently they are pretty abundant just like damsels as around this
part they go for under $15 a fish.......
--
\\\|///
( @ @ )
-----------oOOo(_)oOOo---------------


oooO
---------( )----Oooo----------------
\ ( ( )
\_) ) /
(_/
The original frugal ponder! Koi-ahoi mates....

One thing, though, is that it's different for an
experienced reefer to start out a tank with an expensive
fish, than it is for a new fish keeper to start out with
an expensive fish. New fish keepers make lots of mistakes.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



Roy wrote on 12/20/2005 6:30 PM:
MOst folks regard a Damsel as a cheap fish which is very abundant at a
very cheap price ( Often for less than $3.00 with mewmber card at
Petco) as a way to test your waters and see if everything is on
par........That way if something is not quite right your not out a hea
of money if they croak....I view it like this.I trust my test kits and
my knoweledge..I would not feel any different placing a damsel in a
new setup that was properly cycled and water parameters in check than
I would a an Angel fish of $30.00 If the water is right and conditions
are what they should be then things should be fine as long as they are
introduced one or two at a time, depending on how large a system it is
and your filtration.

If I was going to have any damsels, I would add them last so they are
the new guys on the block so they may not be so boisterous and already
have established territories setup......

I do not believe in sacrificing any fish to test the
waters......simple if its not right for a high dollar fish then no
fish go in it. The only exceptions would be fish that eat mainly
copepods etc such as dragonets, and in that case the tank would have
to be pretty well establised and aged with a large population of stuff
for the dragonets to eat. I see lots of dragonets getting sold at
various places and when you talk to the ones buying them they say
things like, yea, we just got our 55 gal setup cycled and have had 4
damsels in it for a month, or yea we have one up now for about a
year......so now were going to add those pretty dragonets......which
on rare occasions will eat prepared foods but most times they starve
in most any tank that is not well established. Its a real shame, but
evidently they are pretty abundant just like damsels as around this
part they go for under $15 a fish.......

I still think that the number one stupid mistake of the
century is when a lady purchased some live rock from a
store, and took it home and put it in the aquarium, only
to find out that it had bugs on it, so she took it out and
sprayed it with raid, and put it back in. Naturaly
everything died. :-)

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



Wayne Sallee wrote on 12/20/2005 8:09 PM:
One thing, though, is that it's different for an experienced reefer to
start out a tank with an expensive fish, than it is for a new fish
keeper to start out with an expensive fish. New fish keepers make lots
of mistakes.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



Roy wrote on 12/20/2005 6:30 PM:

MOst folks regard a Damsel as a cheap fish which is very abundant at a
very cheap price ( Often for less than $3.00 with mewmber card at
Petco) as a way to test your waters and see if everything is on
par........That way if something is not quite right your not out a hea
of money if they croak....I view it like this.I trust my test kits and
my knoweledge..I would not feel any different placing a damsel in a
new setup that was properly cycled and water parameters in check than
I would a an Angel fish of $30.00 If the water is right and conditions
are what they should be then things should be fine as long as they are
introduced one or two at a time, depending on how large a system it is
and your filtration.

If I was going to have any damsels, I would add them last so they are
the new guys on the block so they may not be so boisterous and already
have established territories setup......

I do not believe in sacrificing any fish to test the
waters......simple if its not right for a high dollar fish then no
fish go in it. The only exceptions would be fish that eat mainly
copepods etc such as dragonets, and in that case the tank would have
to be pretty well establised and aged with a large population of stuff
for the dragonets to eat. I see lots of dragonets getting sold at
various places and when you talk to the ones buying them they say
things like, yea, we just got our 55 gal setup cycled and have had 4
damsels in it for a month, or yea we have one up now for about a
year......so now were going to add those pretty dragonets......which
on rare occasions will eat prepared foods but most times they starve
in most any tank that is not well established. Its a real shame, but
evidently they are pretty abundant just like damsels as around this
part they go for under $15 a fish.......