New 29G Nano- Cycle Complete- Recommended stocking order?

[treminga]

I have a knockoff Biocube 29G- had it for years- made by AquaUSA, but looks almost idential to a Biocube but different chambers and reversed.

Any ways, here is the current setup:
1" live sand -CaribSea Arag-Alive Special Grade 10lbs
29G of RO/DI water at 1.025-1.026 Salinity using Reef Crystals
20lbs of Marco Dry Rock
8 Lbs of liverock from LFS- lots of life on it
Skimmers- Aquatic Life 115 Mini
Heater - Eheim Jager 75W
Lighting - Arctic T247-B LED
Return Pump - MJ-1200
Circ Pumps- 2x Hydor Koralia 425gph
ATO - AutotopOff.com w/ Tom's Aqualifter

Cycling completed about a week ago. Just did my first large 20% water changed last night and plan to do another one in the next day or 2.

Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - 50+ prior to last water change- have not tested again- will do tonight. Will NOT stock anything until down below 20.
Ph - 8.1-8.2
Temp - 77.8-78

Cycling complete- ammonia dosed in the morning to 3-4ppm is at 0ppm within 24 hours. Nitrites around 2ppm are at 0ppm within 24 hours.

What I am looking for help with is recommended stocking priority. I don't have much in the way of algae right now. I do have Boyds Chemi Pure Elite and Seachem Purigen on hand once I do begin to stock.

I am not looking to rush at all but I do want to start within the next week. Tank has been cycling for 3-4 weeks and I'd like to see a bit more life moving around.

I have just received my ReaSea Reef Foundation test kits - Alk, Ca and KH. Replaced my pH test kit from API with Elos. New Nitrate kit from Salifert. The Ammonia and Nitrites will remain API. I have not tested Alk,Ca and KH yet. Hoping to this week.

I know I will not stock corals until those tests are completed.
What is the recommended stocking order- inverts, fish, corals, etc?

Finally I do plan to purchase a similar sized tank with hang on filter, no light, etc. This will be my QT tank that will be setup to hold fish for a month-5 weeks prior to adding to the Nano. Since I have nothing in this tank now I don't really need a QT. Will use the Nano at the QT for first batch of anything.

I would not see adding items sooner then a month apart, so again not looking to overdo the stocking. Just questioning what order would everyone recommend? Keeping in mind this is a new tank, and once I start turning on the lights I do expect some algae growth. Lights have not been turned in yet, got them last week and never had the lights on during the cycle. Most light the tank has seen is my home office LED can lights .

Thanks everyone!
Tom

 

[thegrun]

I think there are advantages to stocking easy to care for corals before fish since many of them will actually help clean the water by filtering it. The more difficult to care for corals like SPS, anemones and clams should not be stocked until the tank has stabilized which usually takes 6 months or so. After that stock your most timid fish holding the more aggressive species to be added last.

 

[treminga]

I think there are advantages to stocking easy to care for corals before fish since many of them will actually help clean the water by filtering it. The more difficult to care for corals like SPS, anemones and clams should not be stocked until the tank has stabilized which usually takes 6 months or so. After that stock your most timid fish holding the more aggressive species to be added last.

Do you have some specific coral recommendations. I wasn't planning clams and SPS much further down the road. Initially mushrooms and the like.

Is it requires to QT corals like people do with fish?

 

[thegrun]

I would at a minimum dip all corals in a good coral dip solution.
Here is a website listing several easy yo grow corals:
http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/coralcare/ig/15-Easy-Corals/

This site lists many of the common corals found in the hobby with their light and water flow requirements:
https://sites.google.com/a/asira.org/www2/caresheets

 

[Fate]

I would at a minimum dip all corals in a good coral dip solution.
Here is a website listing several easy yo grow corals:
http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/coralcare/ig/15-Easy-Corals/

This site lists many of the common corals found in the hobby with their light and water flow requirements:
https://sites.google.com/a/asira.org/www2/caresheets

Which Solution do you recommend?

 

[treminga]

I would like to know what people recommend as well.

I did order a cleanup crew from reef cleaners dot com. Got a 25g kit, figured I really only need to size it to the display part of the tank. Should be here by the weekend.

I plan to tune up my lights this week, assuming that should pop up a bit more algae and give the CUC something to work on.


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