now what

[boomer135]

All water parameters are good to go and I have added a small clean up crew 10 Nasurrs snails, 6blue legges hermits...They are doing well and their job...also added some peppermint shrimp, but cant find most of them in the rock work....now where should I go for the next step?

 

[brians4671]

how long has the tank been set up? is the rock cured?

 

[mat167]

If your water params are all in check, you might want to try a small piece of coral or a small hardy fish. Since you mentioned that all the clean up crew is doing well so far, I'd say you're likely ready to begin adding (slowly) your livestock. Plan everything out accordingly, though. Some fish are more sensitive or aggressive and should be added last. Test the water before adding anything, since you've added livestock it's possible that there's a small NH3/NH4+ spike. To reiterate, whatever you add make sure it's done in small increments.

 

[boomer135]

tank has beenup for aprox 6 weeks, and I used cured rock to start the tank..A shop who I dont goto anymore suggested that I add a few damsels and I did a couple weeks ago, they are doing great but now reading this forum, I am trying to get them out...I now have a new LFS that is awesome and setting me on the right track...Just trying to get the damsels out is hell...I am using a soda bottle trap,as i am notmoving around the LR anymore

 

[acronuts]

I personally think that inverts are more sensitive to water than fish. I usually wait 3-4 months before I start adding any.

 

[Stanley-Reefer]

3-4 months

Not advised, but I do have experience. I don't acclimate anything. Get you home and in you go if you're a fish. In you go after a dip if you're a coral.

I put 250#of premium cured LR in my 175 with 200# of LS, 2 instant cycling bottles from Instant Ocean and lot of high dollar fish went in on day 7, sps, lps, etc in on day 10.

Here it is almost 7 mos later!!!

To each his own.

 

[JEFFR259]

If your parameters are settled and relatively stable, you can get those damsels out (sounds like they stayed healthy) and add a fish that you have on your "want list". But try and pick something that is hardier vs. the others on the list. Work your way (slowly) through the list to the harder ones, if possible, compatability wise.

ie- Don't shoot for a Butterfly or Mandarin
Go for something like a wrasse or Blenny or Chromis, which tend to be hardier...

But be patient during the adding process, you don't want to shock your system and overload it because it is still growing and maturing even though parameters are stable