what's next?

Hi friends! I'm newby in this hobby.
Project: tank 50gl + sump 15gl
4 weeks cycled, 40lb dry aragonite + 25lb live rock + 10lb dry rock
I have 6 dials of BioDigest bacteria, my question is:
Can I add the bacteria and then a clean crew? or
Can I add the clean crew and then bacteria and finally the fish?
Pleasw some body help me, what are the steps to follow?
Thank you!

 

I never add vials of bacteria to a tank. Absolutely no need for it.
Just put in one yellow tail blue damsel to keep a cycle going until the tank stabilizes for adding more fish one at a time, over the next few months.

 

!!!

Hi Bogie, I added a fire goby 3 weeks ago and a shrimp 1 week ago...
I checked the parameters yesterday and are ok:
ammonia: 0
nitrites: 0
nitrates: 5
phospates: 0.5

Do you think it's ok the cycle? I want to add corals and zoos...
Thank you for your help!

 

Hey Dexters
parameters given are OK for a month old tank

you should be OK now for the adding of the clean up crew
the bacteria as mentioned by Bogie is not required IMO - nature will do that job for you

IMO - after adding the CUC , its always good to wait another 8 weeks before adding subsequent fish/corals etc, that way the tank will be maturing nicely and you should avoid any problems that are often associated with adding to much to quickly

there after as Bogie said - 1 fish a fortnight or one or 2 pieces of coral
it will take a while to complete you set up, but doing it this way, increases everythings chances of survival IME

Steve

 

Agreed.

One more thing that you will need to acquire is............ patience. Take your time in this hobby.


Luna

 

!!!

Thank you Steve!
I think the parameters are ok, because I have 25lb of live rock.

I going add a pair of turbo snails.
As you mentioned I could add a little coral or a yellow polip (zoos)?
I wanna add a pair of clown fishes with its anemone.

Thank you for your coment.

 

Hi Dexters , your welcome

yes the live rock has certainly helped with regard cycling and will continue to help with providing great real estate for bacteria that process your waste

IMO - if this is your 1st venture into reef tanks this is what I would do (and still do to be honest)

as stated after the snails, wait another 8 weeks ( its hard but you wont regret it)
then add any fish they have the heavier bioload than corals do, so the bacteria develops faster/ in greater numbers when adding fish

once you have your fish in then start adding corals - I always start any tank with easier corals like Shrooms/ Zoanthids/ Yellow polyps/ GSP etc as if these dont do well, then I know straight away the more demading species are going to struggle

The nem - whislt I totally understand the desire to have one, they are right up there with the demanding species in terms of lighting/ water quality/ flow etc and many people believe a set up needs to be 6 months old before a nem is placed in them

Clowns dont need to host or be hosted by a Nem - they can do just as well in tanks with nothing to host or they can host numerous other species of corals like Zoanthids , Leathers and a whole list of easier to keep, less demanding corals

so if you do want a Nem, be prepared to wait and wait until you know conditions/ water maturity is perfect for them

Steve

 

I agree with Steve....everyone wants to start with a clown hosting a nem. I was in the same boat. My first real fish (not used for cycling) was a clown...as was most other reefers. I steered away from nems until recently because my clown started to host with my frogspawn. I am glad I waited to get an anemone because it probably wouldv'e died going through what my tank has been through. I just got one and they are a pain. I try not to touch it in fear that it will send me to the hospital. Everytime it moves, it kills anything in its path. They are a lot to keep up with and you have to keep corals out of their paths. I would suggest you get your clown to host with something other than a nem until you really get the swing of things. There are much cooler fish than clowns and when you get deeper in the hobby, I'm sure your wants will change.

Join a local reef club....there are always local reefers throwing corals out. I'm sure you can get some gsp, zoos, palys, kenya, colt, or xenia for free from someone if you want to pop something in right away.

 

!!!

thank you steve & mattheuw1...
as you say steve, it's very hard have to wait!!!!!!!!!! ;D
ok, I gonna to add a pair of perculas, but with out anemone... and wait some weeks... after that I want to add zoas and xenias and of course yellow polyps!!!
Thank you for your comments and help!!! I'll be in contact with news! ok?

 

Sounds good to me dexters

start a build thread on the show of your fish tanks forum , then you can document your additions and it acts as a great diary for yourself - as you add things, take pictures
then you can have a record of your tanks development and growth

Steve