new tank additions questions

[westernpilot]

Hello, I just started up my 20 gallon tank with 18 pounds of rock total. 7 pounds of it is live fiji rock from my LFS. and the rest is dry reef rock that i also got from my LFS. I set up the tank and got the salinity and temp where they need to be. all of the tank parameters have been normal and i have been adding a supplement to the tank daily to help with the cycle. after 4 days I added a Clown fish form the LFS store to help start the cycle and he is doing great after a few days.

My question is when can I consider adding invertebrates and snails and things like that? I plan on adding some soft corals when I can but im sure it would be best to wait a while before I add any corals.

 

[gone fishin]

IMO slow down. Using a fish to cycle is old fashioned. A lot of folks will use pure ammonia, a raw cocktail shrimp or just use some fish food to cycle the tank.

There is a sticky at the top of the forum called setting up. It is basically a book.

What supplement are you using to help the cycle?

Good luck just my 2 cents

 

[westernpilot]

im using stability by seachem. i will check out the sticky

 

[rsain]

new tank additions questions

It is typical to wait a month or more (not about time, rather the cycle - a biochemical process) from the time you get your tank wet to add fish... Some links for you:

SETTING UP:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1031074

Cycle= establishing micro fauna to handle bioload (poop and other junk). Starts with ammonia which gets converted to nitrite then onto nitrate (basic cycle). This can take a bit - like a month or more.

You can't really add critters prior to the cycle being completed as they will almost certainly die.


Sk8r does an awesome summary here:

"Since we have so many new tanks this week---some advice."
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2547716

Also:

Quarantine

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2195588

Tank Transfer Method

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2507836

Dirt Simple Chemistry

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2152814

I could go on and on with links... so much good info. Really, it's overwhelming at the beginning from the research perspective. But you'll be so much happier if you take your time and really do some good research about best husbandry practices early on.

Sorry for the cut and paste. But it's the same info.

-ryan

 

[westernpilot]

thanks a lot guys

 

[e048]

I got lr and no base rock my tank cycled in a 3 days...

Just test your water after adding pure ammonia and see if it still reads a few hours later if not then you're done cycling if not wait a few more days and try again

 

[westernpilot]

the reading to date have shown a little ammonia and nitrate but it is going back down. I will have to try that and see what happens. thanks!

 

[gone fishin]

DO NOT add ammonia to the tank with fish in it already. There is a good possibility they will die.

 

[rsain]

^^^ this.

Test every day or every other day. Post your results here.

A given reading may send you astray. Lots of measurements will show you where you are at.



-ryan

 

[westernpilot]

I didn't add ammonia to the tank like recommended above. This morning my nitrates were at around. 25-.50 and ammonia were pretty much not readable. Everything else looks good so far. I also did a 25% water change last night.