What to add next?

Hey all,

So I just added a small cuc to my 60 gal reef. The tank has been set up for a month now. Current parameters are ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate between 5-10, so just about done with the initial cycle.

My cuc was sourced from indo pacific sea farms. I have 6 hermits, 6 snails, amphipods ( not sure how many ) and worms. Everything seems to be doing well so far.

My question is what should I add next to the tank? After doing some research some people are saying to add a fish or two but I don't think thats right since I want to build the ecosystem from the bottom up. I understand that many fish will snack on copepods and amphipods. I am fearful of that happening because i believe that they play a major role in the success of deep sand beds. The argument I have heard for adding a fish or two next is to provide extra bio-load for the creatures below it in the ecosystem.

I think adding a beginner coral may be the next move. the softies I like are xiena, zoas, palys and mushrooms. Will these be ok in a newly setup system? How long should I wait before starting? Or should i think about adding something else first?

 

You could add some zoas or mushrooms in there no problem. I did when my tank was at that point and they were all very happy. I would avoid xenia, just because it grows like a weed and can take over a tank if you let it.

 

I kinda like the look of xenia. How would you keep it in check? Pruning imaginably? my goal with the tank is lps dominated with a few sps if possible and maybe some nps. obviously down the road a ways. When is it appropriate to add stuff like that?

 

With your nitrates at that level you could technically add LPS and such now. I would wait until you add a few fish and really let your bacterial base take hold and get settled first though. And yes, pruning or some other form of removal would be necesary with the xenia. I know a lot of people like it, but it just grows out of control IME. With SPS you need to keep nitrates under 5ppm ideally, so I would wait on those too. What lights are you using? And if you want to do NPS I would say start with a sun coral, they are pretty easy to take care of and are good, colorful NPS corals.

 

I think you are correct in your thoughts of adding some easier corals to start. For Xenia, keep it on one rock, and keep it pruned to try and avoid it taking over. You could do some Zoas as mentioned. Otherwise some other good "starter" LPS corals would be either a Duncan or Candy Cane (try a single head of either to start).

I personally would stay away from NPS until you are experienced. While lighting does not matter, they are actually more difficult since they require the same high water quality as well as daily feedings. Stick with easier photosynthetic corals to start (IMHO).

 

Drewsk, I have a radion pro, it should be enough power for most corals. I am on the fence about adding fish because I don't want anything eating my pods until there is a sustainable population. On the other hand I also want to add a fish to add some bioload and feed the nitrogen cycle. I would consider a tang because they are herbivores but I'm afraid that the tang police would come after me for only having a 60 gal dt.

Marshall O, I'm planning to stay away from nps for a bit until my my tank matures some. I think all the feeding might overwhelm my bacteria unless I am very careful. At this point i don't want to risk it. I'll keep an eye out for the corals you mentioned. Any other LPS that would be considered easier?

 

tank pics?

I wouldnt worry too much about about the pods- so long as they have hiding places (like around the bottom of rock) they should take root nicely. A fuge is a good breeding place, or you can always look up pod condos if you're really want. A fish might pick at them, but unless you get something that lives solely on pods it probably won't decimate the population.

I would go for it and get a fish... they can help build up your bacteria, with both poop and any uneaten food.

 

I am not familiar with 60 gallon tanks; what are the dimensions? The minimum for the smallest of tangs is typically a 4' long x 18" wide tank. 6' long is preferred. Either way, you want to add them to an established tank, not a new one. Any other fish you are interested in?

For corals, other options would be mushrooms, Ricordeas, and maybe a single polyp Acan.

 

I too like the look of xenia but it literally took over my tank.It spread to all well lit areas of the tank by single polyps becoming detached and taking hold in another area creating another colony.It wasn't till I changed tanks that I was able to get rid of it by scrubbing all of the rock.If lps and sps is what you would like I would skip the xenia.Mushrooms,zoanthids and even star polyps look nice and are much easier to control.

 

Xenia is very easy to control given you have good husbandry. I love my small patch of pulsing xenia. Star polyps will take your tank way faster than xenia will. Nothing will take your tank unless you let it. Neon star polyps are one of my favorite corals. Think about adding a fish before corals, the initial bio load will affect your nitrates. Dont worry so much about the pods, no fish is gonna wipe them out unless you put a mandarin in the tank which you shouldn't anyway. I would add a couple fish before anything.