Possible feeding issue?

[OrQidz]

I agree with the advice given, and won't repeat what's already been said. But, another thought: I'm not sure how long you've had the damsels or if you QTd them, but if they've got any parasites like ich that is in your tank now. Hopefully you've had them long enough for anything they could have to manifest itself. Just another reason to avoid cycling with fish. But you learn as you go, we all do. Good luck with your new tank!

 

[Ytsejam02]

I agree with the advice given, and won't repeat what's already been said. But, another thought: I'm not sure how long you've had the damsels or if you QTd them, but if they've got any parasites like ich that is in your tank now. Hopefully you've had them long enough for anything they could have to manifest itself. Just another reason to avoid cycling with fish. But you learn as you go, we all do. Good luck with your new tank!

Thx, regarding sickness, I'm hopeful since there's no evidence of other issues. I've stared at them for a long time looking for any additional signs and haven't found anything.

I have not setup a QT tank yet, because I was planning on using cycled water so that I didn't need to maintain that tank. I just have to deal with what's already been done, which is why I really appreciate the advice!

 

[Ytsejam02]

Frankly if they had you put two damsels into a tank less than 100 gallons, they ought to know why the tail got damaged.

Welcome, by the way. Just drop a few flakes of fish food in daily as if the damsels were still in there, and the tank will cycle just as if they were. Continue the ghost-feeding for about 4 days after the first ammonia spike, and if the tank continues to swallow it down with NO re-appearance of ammonia, you're cycled, and the next step is snails and micro-hermits, maybe a hardy coral. Few weeks on (be quarantining your first fish at this point) you're ready to introduce a fish who'll find the environment ammonia-proof and very friendly.

Ghost feeding will be my plan going forward. It's definitely registering nitrates (20 ppm), so I think I'm on my way.

My plan was to add a cleanup crew after it cycled. Wait a few weeks, then add peaceful fish: two ocellaris clowns, wait a few weeks, add a goby, wait, blenny, wait, and maybe a dartfish. My idea being that I can determine if I'm balanced the entire time, to see whether or not the tank can handle it.

On the corals, I've heard conflicting things. I know I'm going to go with softies, maybe an LPS in a year or two, but overall, I've read that tank shoulds be very established, and I feel with my experience that makes sense.

Does that seem reasonable?