fast or not

DaltonJames

New member
i think i might off went a littel fast i added my live sand and rock at the same time they sat there for a week then i added one fish he did ok then next week i added two a valtint puffer and a niger tigger then two weeks later i added a fish i dont know the name of him but he is reef safe and everything like that did i go to fast or didnt i i just dont want to have problems with my tank and i just added 12 pounds of LR today im at a total of 30 pounds now
 
the live rock was cured and test the water the water is good i have another Q can i add tap to the RO/DI water that i bought when it gets low
 
Usually the rock needs to cycle for a bit (allowing the chemical nasties that are byproducts of stuff on the rock dying off to settle down), but you may have gotten rock that was already cycled. If the fish are doing OK then maybe you lucked out, but just to be safe give your water a test every now and again and see if your ammonia or nitrite levels are up. Do this for a few weeks at least along with regular water changes of at least 10%, and don't add any more livestock in the meantime. It would be a shame to spend the $ on the fish only to lose them - and a shame for the fish who would be suffering through the conditions - because your tank wasn't quite ready for them.
 
I'd give your tank 3 months before I added any more fish. You really need at least 25 more pounds of LR to have adequate filtration in a 55. From your post it sounds like you don't even know if your tank has cycled and yet you have added 4 fish. I'm afraid that you are really not receiving good advice. A niger trigger will grow to be 10" long and needs a 100 gallon tank, your valentini puffer is not reef safe, and you have 2 other fish. Both the trigger and puffer will eat crabs, snails and shrimp. So far you have dodged the bullet but it is really time to S-L-O-W down, enjoy the fish that you have and let your tank become established.

You should not use tap water. It can create big problems for you.
 
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Well said, CarmieJo. Ill second that. Get some test kits and some books and read read read. One thing I find in this hobby is that people feel that by creating their little slice of ocean in their house that they are powerful and can do whatever they want. In reality its still nature that rules here, think of the tank more like a guest in your house, you must play by certain rules and treat it well or it will leave (die).

Not to get too personal but it doesnt sound like you even know the basics here, unless you are using a lot of other filtration as supplement you are gunna want at least 1lb of LR per gallon of water. Id also make sure you have enough flow, its not just to push water around and make corals happy it is also an important part of filtration. With a puffer and a trigger you have some messy eaters and another common mistake of those new to the hobby is over feeding. If you give them meaty foods on an immature tank with insufficient flow and liverock I can see you having a big probem really fast. At this point Id really suggest you read up as much as you can possibly stand, read this forum until your eyes water, you will find many topics on books to read, Ive picked up a few and by far my favorite is "The Conscientious Marine Aquarist" if you get no other book at least get that one. I would also get some test kits as soon as humanly possible and test your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. Spare water for a water change wouldnt be a bad idea either. Best of luck to you sorry for the rant but I hope this helps. Im just afraid that if you continue on this path you are heading for a tank crash or at least sick, unhealthy fish. Too many people get out of this amazing hobby because they just didnt know enough about it to begin with.
 
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