adding fish to my new tank?

[jag1979]

I bouth 200 lbs of live sand and 70 lbs of live rock from an established aquarium. I had that sitting in my tank w/ a heater and pump for a week and a half. Then i added another 120 lbs of cured live rock from lfs. Then I filled my tank and started it running, this was last Saturday. The amonia and nitrites climed a little. Now they are both zero and the nitrates are at 20.

Too early to add fish? what about crabs and snails? I know the longer you wait the better off you will be, but I would really like to add two fish and some crabs and snails

 

[Shooter7]

I'd do a decent sized water change to help bring the nitrates down a bit, then add your cleanup crew. One or two fish would be a good start, I would think. Do you know what you're planning on stocking and what order you want to do them in?

 

[jag1979]

I want one or two (if they will get along) pairs of clown fish, one or two tangs (again if they will get along) a bicolor seudo, a goby, maybe a hawkfish, not sure what else.

so you think the clean up crew will have plenty to eat? What order would you recomend?

 

[Shooter7]

At this point you'll start getting diatoms and algae growth, so yeah, the cleanup crew should be fine finding stuff to eat. Myself, I like astrea and cerith snails. I don't do hermits anymore. Got tired of watching them murder my snails.

As far as the fish, I think it's usually best to add the least aggressive and territorial first and gradually move towards the more aggressive later on towards the last.

 

[Sk8r]

Are you running a wet-dry or a cannister? I'd recommend going no-filter. WIth that much rock, no problem. Only withdraw filter medium bit at a time.

 

[jag1979]

not sure where the filter comment came from...i am just using a skimmer in my 60 gallon sump

 

[Shagsbeard]

I would give it a week or two more with 0 ammonia and nitrate. (Probably over cautious, but it certainly couldn't hurt). You could certainly add snails and crabs if you choose. I'd wait on the tangs until later, and wouldn't consider adding them without quarentine. Tearing that tank down just because you let Ick get in it would really be a chore. Tangs pretty much all have Ick. It's not true, but it's a safer assumption than assuming the one you pick out is free of the parasite.

With that much rock in it, you really have no need for further bio-filtration. A good skimmer (or two) is all you really need. Make sure your skimmer fits in your sump before you buy it (my biggest mistake, and many subsequent headaches).

 

[Shooter7]

yeah, I'm actually surprised that I didn't mention QT'ing first, since I'm so adamant about doing it myself to all newcomers to my tank. But yes, like was said, would recommend QT'ing all fish you put into the tank. My QT is a 29 gal I have set up right next to my computer at home and while on it, I can kind of watch the new fish to the side of me and they can kind of get used to having me around.

 

[rekn]

a hawkfish might pester even the larger type of gobies

 

[jag1979]

thanks everyone

so hawkfish are aggresive towards gobies? other then that are the pretty good?

So what do you need for a QT tank (just a cheap filter, heater, and small pump?) and how long do you keep the fish in it? Is this were you would treat fish deseases prior to putting in your main tank? You just watch the fish for a few days for anything weird...

 

[Maveri9720]

The usual recommended time for quarantine is 4 weeks.

This will give any disease, especially ick, to run it's course and die off.

You are correct in the fact that the QT is where all treatments should take place.

After every fish is moved out of the QT into the main tank, you should empty out your QT and change whatever filter you have running in there.

Also, no substrate or LR in the QT. You can put pieces of PVC in there for hiding places for the fish, but that should be about it. Anything you put in there will suck up any medications you put in to treat the fish, thereby contaminating everything else once you refill and change filters.

Keep it simple and easy to maintain. A small heater, small powerhead and a hang on back filter should be fine.