i cycled!

[Dert42]

not ready!
my lights aren't in
i don't have a sump or skimmer set up yet!
and i don't have a quaranteen set up.

going to be a busy weekend.
does anyone have a any recommendations for a good first fish?
one to test the water with? (literally)

 

[Reefer Wannabe]

You must trust in the test results, my young padawan.

Try a peppermint shrimp and some snails first. If things are way off, they won't survive. As far as fish, percs are pretty hardy. I'd stay away from damsels, which are very cheap and very hardy.

 

[hagfish]

If a clown of any kind is on your list, they are a good first fish. Some gobies, like a yellow watchman would be good too. Just don't get anything that is too mean or else it is difficult to add other fish.

I agree with putting a small cleaner crew in at first. I'd do that for a week and if all is well put a fish in after that.

 

[Dert42]

ok, i wanted a few clowns so i might start with 2.
strangely when i got my sand from goalie66, he gave me a 5 or so crabs, 2 snails and 2 starfish.
i haven't seen the starfish in about 2 weeks.
but everything else is alive and well.
they lived through the cycle.
i also have some kind of clam/mussel type thing attached to the side of my tank. it's alive, but i don't know what it is. not even 1/2 the size of a dime.

i will take your advice and add a couple more snails and crabs.
should i give them a fresh water dip? or just chuck them in the tank?

 

[mjpelikan]

you may also think of a couple of chromis as well

 

[stlsaltwater]

Y not just get everything set up....then add some stuff...

Y the hurry?

 

[Shooter7]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7220052#post7220052 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mjpelikan
you may also think of a couple of chromis as well

I was going to suggest one of these guys too. I have one in my 10 gal who is happy as a clam to be in there by himself.

 

[Dert42]

no hurry.
i'll have everything set up before i add stuff.
couple snails and crabs shouldn't hurt.
instead of playing halo this weekend or going to the winerys, i'll work on my tank stuff.
i want to do it right.

 

[Shooter7]

Oh yeah, don't put any fish in there until you can QT them. I see alot of people saying "If it's yer first fish it don't matter", but if your first fish has ich and is in the display, now your new display has ich as well. Start out doing things right. Get your QT set up and stabilizing, after that happens get your first fish and put him in the QT, and while he's in there, your clean up crew can be working on the upcoming algae phases you'll go through. About the time alot of that is done your first fish in QT should be ready to make the jump to the display. That's what I would do and have done.

 

[Dert42]

thanks shooter, thats exactly what the plan is.
i even went though the thought process of putting the first fish in there, but thought about what if i infect the whole tank with ich? thats not worth it. so i will definatly use QT.

 

[hagfish]

Don't give inverts like crabs, shrimp, snails and starfish a freshwater bath. They are all extremely sensitive to changes in salinity. A freshwater bath could kill some of this stuff.

 

[Dert42]

awesome, thanks!

 

[Kathy55g]

I agree about the qt thing, except if you get clownfish from me. They won't have ick. They have effectively been in quaranteen all their lives.

 

[trottman]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7220537#post7220537 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by hagfish
Don't give inverts like crabs, shrimp, snails and starfish a freshwater bath. They are all extremely sensitive to changes in salinity. A freshwater bath could kill some of this stuff.

i wouldnt give anything a FW bath, unless it is zoos, or a diseased fish.

and FYI i only acclimate fish so far, and everything that i have bought has lived (execpt for my loses.... fro the "hot tub" incident)

 

[Shooter7]

and FYI i only acclimate fish so far, and everything that i have bought has lived (execpt for my loses.... fro the "hot tub" incident)

I've stuck this gun to my head and pulled the trigger 5 times and I'm ok so far....

Eventually you'll get that one fish that is the "bullet" for your tank. Why take the risk? Follow the course you're on Dert.