Starting a new frag tank, is it ok to add clownfish to freshly-made saltwater

[jiffyjhn]

Hi

I am starting a new frag tank, I've filled it with 20% water from my other established tank, and the rest with freshly made saltwater. I've heated the tank to the correct temperature.
I've moved a piece of live rock from my other tank into the frag tank. I'm not planning to have any substrate in this tank. So I think the tank doesn't need to cycle. Is it ok to move a clownfish as a first fish into this tank right now? The water still has that chalky freshly made saltwater smell so I'm not sure.

Thanks

 

[worm5406]

Please don't.

While clowns are hardy and have been used so much to cycle a tank, they really should not be used like this.

The rock, as it is already live will continue to live and be your source of bacteria. But let the tank its self, walls and such, get a layer on it. Once the water is clear and in the right parameters then see about adding it.

As you will be doing frags you will need to get your other chemicals ready anyway.

Just wait a bit more first.

 

[jiffyjhn]

The rock, as it is already live will continue to live and be your source of bacteria. But let the tank its self, walls and such, get a layer on it. Once the water is clear and in the right parameters then see about adding it.

Thanks for your reply. I understand you should not put a fish in during the cycling process because of ammonia/nitrite levels, but will my tank actually go through a cycle in this case? there are no ammonia in the freshly made saltwater, and the live rock is still alive. So where would the ammonia come from? Maybe you are referring to some die-off that may have happened when I transfered live rock from 1 tank to another? Thanks, just trying to understand it.

 

[worm5406]

I was more saying let the tank it's self season some. Every surface of the tank gets bacteria on it. It is all a ammonia eating machine, not just on the LR.

No it will not go through a cycle, I did not really know the skill level you had and assumed some.

Like I said as long as the parameters are correct then it would be good. I have made up tanks and done tank moves in fresh ASW with no problems.

 

[125mph]

If you add enough live rock, I think its just like transferring to a new tank.. It shouldn't cycle.

 

[pfan151]

I wouldn't worry about it. Maybe add a little more rock but one clownfish isn't going to put out a whole lot of ammonia. I'd feed lightly for a couple weeks.

 

[Elricsfate]

As I am planning to use a current tank as a frag tank once I finish setting up the larger tank I will be moving my fish to, I have a question.

Is there any particular reason to have ANY fish in a frag tank? The point is to grow frags, right? So why add a fish at all? Just wondering.

Not trying to hijack the thread, but I'm also interested in knowing if corals are going to be the only living thing in the tank, insofar as filtration goes, what is needed and what is not?

 

[worm5406]

I saw a video a few days ago and the large wholesaler used quite a few wrasses in their frag tank(s) to get at anything that came in from the outside world.

I have see many a frag tank have a few fish in it to assist. I assume with this or maybe to keep the bio load up, if it was a separate system.

 

[Raintree]

As I am planning to use a current tank as a frag tank once I finish setting up the larger tank I will be moving my fish to, I have a question.

Is there any particular reason to have ANY fish in a frag tank? The point is to grow frags, right? So why add a fish at all? Just wondering.

Not trying to hijack the thread, but I'm also interested in knowing if corals are going to be the only living thing in the tank, insofar as filtration goes, what is needed and what is not?

It's not necessary to have fish in a frag tank per se, but coral DO need nitrogen, phosphorous, and other nutrients that come from food and animal waste.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/fish-pee-is-vital-to-reef-health

 

[Raintree]

To the OP, it's probably a good idea to dose some ammonia or add fish food to your tank and measure ammonia the next day, just to see how the system handles it, before adding any live fish. Just to be safe.