tmccaffery
Member
My tank is almost cycled.. And curious which first fish or coral? My LFS told me coral like a zoo; mushroom or leather coral to start instead of fish. He told me to go coral then later add fish.
Fish or Coral first?
- Thread starter tmccaffery
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tmccaffery
Member
Got you but nothing for them to eat.. Unless I run lights a bit first..
RobZilla04
Active member
Snails and crabs first (clean up crew), then fish, then coral.
Fish or Coral first?
I do a fish then a clean up crew shortly after if all is well. My reasoning for this is the clean up crew needs something to eat or they're pointless. They could run out of food fast if I'm not adding nutrients to the tank. Plus, I want something swimming around to look at. I suppose I'd be entertained enough if I had a large tank and added a coral colony, but adding a frag or two wouldn't do it. Plus, I'd want to feed the coral to keep my bacteria population up.
I don't do corals first for a similar reason. I want to add something that's going to keep the cycle going and keep my bacteria population up. Then when things settle in a bit and there's some balance, I'll add corals. If you're adding softies, they're generally much more forgiving so you'd probably be fine but I have only LPS and a few SPS (tank is still new, will acquire a lot more SPS) so I tread a bit lighter and make sure things are semi-stable first. I say "œsemi-stable" because it takes a very long time for things to become truly stable which is well after adding fish, coral, etc. We're talking a year or more depending on the coral you're keeping, the rock you started with, etc.
I've done it many different ways though and haven't really had issues with any of them. The first tank I set up a decade ago, I used live rock, let the tank cycle from the die off, once cycled added a CUC and a coral shortly after, then a fish a couple weeks after that. It also worked out just fine.
I guess what I'm saying is, I have my own method that works for me and makes sense to me, but I've done it various ways and haven't had issues so do what you feel makes sense and what you want and feel free to experiment a bit. I think you'll be fine either way.
My only real warning would be, if you add the CUC first, make sure you have some nori or something to feed them if they make quick work of any algae. Without a nutrient source, the algae will not keep growing after it's been eaten.
I do a fish then a clean up crew shortly after if all is well. My reasoning for this is the clean up crew needs something to eat or they're pointless. They could run out of food fast if I'm not adding nutrients to the tank. Plus, I want something swimming around to look at. I suppose I'd be entertained enough if I had a large tank and added a coral colony, but adding a frag or two wouldn't do it. Plus, I'd want to feed the coral to keep my bacteria population up.
I don't do corals first for a similar reason. I want to add something that's going to keep the cycle going and keep my bacteria population up. Then when things settle in a bit and there's some balance, I'll add corals. If you're adding softies, they're generally much more forgiving so you'd probably be fine but I have only LPS and a few SPS (tank is still new, will acquire a lot more SPS) so I tread a bit lighter and make sure things are semi-stable first. I say "œsemi-stable" because it takes a very long time for things to become truly stable which is well after adding fish, coral, etc. We're talking a year or more depending on the coral you're keeping, the rock you started with, etc.
I've done it many different ways though and haven't really had issues with any of them. The first tank I set up a decade ago, I used live rock, let the tank cycle from the die off, once cycled added a CUC and a coral shortly after, then a fish a couple weeks after that. It also worked out just fine.
I guess what I'm saying is, I have my own method that works for me and makes sense to me, but I've done it various ways and haven't had issues so do what you feel makes sense and what you want and feel free to experiment a bit. I think you'll be fine either way.
My only real warning would be, if you add the CUC first, make sure you have some nori or something to feed them if they make quick work of any algae. Without a nutrient source, the algae will not keep growing after it's been eaten.
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homer1475
New member
You do know there are plenty of studies out there that show the nitrifying bacteria in our tanks, once established can live for well up to a year with 0 food source?
Not saying your wrong, just your reasoning behind it is wrong.
Personally, I would do coral first. Start with something hardy like a frogspawn, then when it starts to grow, then go with a couple fish.
My reasoning, you need pretty decent water to keep corals, once thats established fish are easy. You can do it either way OP. No one way is right.
So I started with my nem first until he did not move for a month,then my clown pair, then I add a peaceful fish and a couple of corals...then every two weeks or so.....a fish....a coral or two...and so on....
18 months later, 6 fish, 3 shrimp, 25 softies, 20 LPS, 5 SPS, and 3 clams....finished...70g...
18 months later, 6 fish, 3 shrimp, 25 softies, 20 LPS, 5 SPS, and 3 clams....finished...70g...
Hmm, I had heard like 6 weeks or something. I had no idea it lived up to a year! I'll have to check that out!
