fish or coral first?

carina · 04-15-2007, 03:39 PM

im just setting up my tank and it has its first fish in it , it has been there for 2 weeks . should i add all my fish first before putting the coral in or can i put then both in at same time . i would stagger the introduction, say a fish every 2 weeks. i would appreciate some input. i want to put a star fish in for the algae. what would you suggest??? and what coral would you suggest for a beginner???

Twan013 · 04-15-2007, 04:02 PM

Hi Carina, how ya doin? anyway, i'm about ready to add some livestock to mine as well. i've been told its safer to put in the fish first, before adding any kind of corals, because until the beneficial bacteria pick up on the ammonia to neutralize it, the ammonia will mess with the corals bigtime... i may have adlibbed a little, but still, i was told fish before corals, becuase of the ammonia... but i'm sure other's have added corals first, then fish... its just preference... i guess a small fish wouldn't harm the corals all that bad... not enough to kill it anyway...

amcarrig · 04-15-2007, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twan013

Hi Carina, how ya doin? anyway, i'm about ready to add some livestock to mine as well. i've been told its safer to put in the fish first, before adding any kind of corals, because until the beneficial bacteria pick up on the ammonia to neutralize it, the ammonia will mess with the corals bigtime... i may have adlibbed a little, but still, i was told fish before corals, becuase of the ammonia... but i'm sure other's have added corals first, then fish... its just preference... i guess a small fish wouldn't harm the corals all that bad... not enough to kill it anyway...

Good advice given here. As for starfish, I don't know any that eat algae so you're better off adding snails to tackle that problem.

carina · 04-15-2007, 09:23 PM

thanks for the input

Twan013 · 04-15-2007, 10:21 PM

ahem... where's my karma?? lol.... jus kiddin... i'm just glad i'm giving what is considered "good advice" instead of asking what is considered "stupid questions"...

carina · 04-16-2007, 02:19 AM

sorry im only new hear what is karma??? lol

kimmy · 04-20-2007, 02:15 PM

are these "new tanks" cycling still? I am unsure about that fact. You should only have ammonia if you are cycling and in that case, you really should be only adding 1-2 fish (if thats the route you want to take) and keep that at green chromis, something easy, non-aggressive and hardy. All other fish and corals need to wait until cycling is complete. And if you have not added all of your live rock, add it slow or while it is cycling with no fish as the live rock die off can cause a spike.

coral reefer · 04-20-2007, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Twan013

Hi Carina, how ya doin? anyway, i'm about ready to add some livestock to mine as well. i've been told its safer to put in the fish first, before adding any kind of corals, because until the beneficial bacteria pick up on the ammonia to neutralize it, the ammonia will mess with the corals bigtime... i may have adlibbed a little, but still, i was told fish before corals, becuase of the ammonia... but i'm sure other's have added corals first, then fish... its just preference... i guess a small fish wouldn't harm the corals all that bad... not enough to kill it anyway...

Corals, actually feed on the end result of their Zooxanthellae's photosynthetic process...ammonium! So, as long as their isn't a huge amound of ammonia in your tank, your coral will do just fine. Make sure that your tank has in deed cycled...I would also like you mentioned, add a fish periodically and not everything at once or your tank's water parameters will spike.
Like anything, take your time and research is your best tool to help you in your success in the salt hobby IMO.
You can add fish or corals in any order as long as the tank has cycled completely and you do it in moderation! The size of your tank and the size of the fish is all relative and needs to be addressed as well as adding a 5"Lion fish to your tank will put more of a strain on your tanks parameters than a couple Green Chromis'! Plus the larger sized tank will dillute potential water spikes and fluxuations!
I have added fish and corals intermittently and interchangeable with no ill effects...again, doing it slowly!

coral reefer · 04-20-2007, 03:34 PM

Make sure your tank has cycled completely! You can cycle your tank with just using live rock and no fish!!!! Uncured rock is best...also you don't need to use lights and don't need a skimmer during the initial cycling of your tank IMO.
As for the Sea Stars, they are detritivores, not herbivores so you would be better to get a Tang, snails, Mithrax crabs, Diadema black spinned Urchins or a Blenny, to help with the algae issue. Brittle and Serpent Sea Stars are beneficial in keeping detritus in check within your rock work and in your substrate along with Shrimp, hermits, Sea Cucumbers, Conch and Nassarius snails!