Adding Fish ?

[MRA3]

I have a new 75 gal 4 weeks old. 60 lbs LR and 30lb coral substrate and 40 lbs Bimini Pink sand. Added two fish saturday: 1 small Azure Damsel and 1 small Blue Green Chromis. How long should I wait to add additional fish? Next is 2 Clowns , maybe 1 or 2 more chromis, 1 Wheelers, would like to add fire shrimp and maybe emerald crab , few snails.

thanks

 

[MadCnty]

That depends on how your testing works... Test, test, test... Rule for thumb... Ammonia = 0

 

[MadCnty]

And also is this a a FOWLR or reef???

 

[MadCnty]

Fire shrimp do not like Nitrates nor do snails, hermits, etc...

 

[thegrun]

Usually a week to 10 days is a good amount of time between additions. I agree when the tank is new like yours it is a very good idea to test daily for ammonia for a week after you add fish to be sure your biological filtration is keeping up.

 

[MRA3]

Thanks MadCnty! Tank is going to be reef. Ammonia has been 0 / ph 8.4
I've heard points of view to add 1 or 2 fish each week vs add one or two fish every 4 weeks....a bit confusing. I think it makes sense to add 1 or 2 at a time.

 

[joshua_00030]

People like to space out the addition of fish so your tank can adjust to the new bio load. Unless the fish are intended to be paired you should add them separately. This also allows you to enjoy that new fish feeling more often. new additions get addicting sometimes so make it easier on yourself.

 

[MadCnty]

Thanks MadCnty! Tank is going to be reef. Ammonia has been 0 / ph 8.4
I've heard points of view to add 1 or 2 fish each week vs add one or two fish every 4 weeks....a bit confusing. I think it makes sense to add 1 or 2 at a time.

I would go w/1 @ a time every few weeks... Make sure it can handle the bio load...

 

[bat21]

Don't overlook this fact: Once your tank is filled, you can no longer add any fish. No need to rush. Adding fish is one of the true joys of this hobby. If you sprint to the finish line, you will be left a little disappointed that you didn't stretch that time out a bit.

Secondly, you should be quarantining your fish for 4-6 weeks. That is why you hear time ranges like that. If you're adding a fish every week, you clearly aren't quarantining, which is like throwing a live grenade into your tank hoping it doesn't go off each time.

 

[bat21]

I just have a quick query. When our tanks are cycling using LR, the die offs from the rocks produce enough NH3 to build the bacteria colony. Now once the cycling completes, if we add one fish each 7-10 days, aren't we starving most of bacteria colony in a big enough tank? I mean bio load of a single fish in a big tank is quite low compared to the bacteria colony already established there to handle more bio load?

Please correct my mistake.

There are plenty of things invisible to your eyes that are decaying in your tank creating ammonia. Also, the bacteria can go a very long time without ammonia before they perish.

 

[scooter31707]

Technically if you use the right quarantine process, 1-2 fish will be added every 6-8 weeks. Obviously, you are not quarantining your livestock. Anyway like others mentioned above test and test to monitor ammonia. IMO, if not quarantining, I would do 1-2 fish every 2 weeks.

 

[Shawn O]

Everything you put into your tank (food) starts decaying immediately (uneaten food, fish poop, etc). The more stuff you add, the more decay you will have.

It is wise to QT all fish before putting them into your tank. Always try to add fish from least aggressive to most aggressive, to allow the peaceful fish to stake out their own territory. The more aggressive fish should bully the other fish less if they are the new guy in the tank.

 

[bat21]

@bat21

Thanks a lot for replying. Can you please tell what are those plenty of things that are always decaying to create the ammonia? I am already cleaning my rocks properly, removing the dying particles for 4-6 weeks so that they don't decay anymore, still always decaying parts present in my tank, I really want to know what are those so that I can remove them properly.

Also, by very long time before bacteria perishes, can you please tell how much time you are referring to? 10 days, 20 days, a month?

There is an entire world you can't see. Here is an example http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2567904

And a timeframe I have heard is the bacteria can live for a year without ammonia.

 

[MRA3]

Hey - Thank you to everyone who took the ime to reply providing their point of view. VEry much appreciated!!
Best.
Manny