Up and Cycled!!

[dantj99]

Well, my tank has officially cycled. Came home from a weekend trip, turned my light on, and pods went scrambling for cover!!! The leather and xenia I was given are open and flourishing!! Now time for fish and corals, or and Clean Up Crew. Wife saw a sally light foot that she wanted. Anyone ever have one of those? How do they compare to an emerald crab? Also, if anyone has an abundance of nasaris snails or hermit crabs and would like to donate or cell, let me know. Also looking for some frags of mushrooms, zoo's, hammer or frogspawn let me know.
Thanks,
Dan

 

[Engloid]

I hope you know to be slow adding in livestock. If you just suddenly put several fish into a tank that is "cycled" based on having none...you will probably get a big spike of ammonia. You need to add them slowly, making sure ammonia doesn't go up.

 

[dantj99]

Agreed. I am probably going to add snails, hermit crabs, and one sally light foot or an emerald crab spread out this weekend. Hoping to get a frag or to at the group meeting as well. If I do add a fish it will probably be one this weekend and that is it.
Thanks.

 

[Engloid]

"They" say that inverts don't really add up against the biological load of a tank, but if they contribute to providing ammonia for bacteria, then they have to add some to it. But I doubt it's much at all, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Myself, I go a more direct route. I just put a fish or two in and do water changes to keep ammonia down. I've never once cycled a tank without fish in it. To each his own.

 

[cee]

Agreed. I am probably going to add snails, hermit crabs, and one sally light foot or an emerald crab spread out this weekend. Hoping to get a frag or to at the group meeting as well. If I do add a fish it will probably be one this weekend and that is it.
Thanks.

Stay away from the sally lightfoot crab, they get predatory. Quote from another site: "When it grows to a larger size, this crab can become aggressive and catch and eat small invertebrates and fish". Also, the number of fish you can add simultaneously is a function of tank size and should be carefully planned out. For example, certain fish can be added but should be added last due to their disposition. A list of fish you are interested in will go along ways towards a successful experience and impulse buying can lead to a troubles later.

 

[dantj99]

Thanks cee for the info. Since this is probably going to be a goby tank (That is what the wife loves) I will for sure stay away from the Sally lightfoot.
Thanks,
Dan

 

[cee]

Be careful, not all gobies are created equally and won't necessarily coexist in a harmonious manner. The main message to take away from my posts is do thorough research and get input from multiple sources before plopping your credit card down on the vendor's table. Not trying to sound negative; I just want to see people enjoy the hobby as it can be very rewarding or extremely frustrating. Someone told me once the average time a person is in this hobby is 8 months and I don't find that hard to believe at all. Good luck!

 

[dantj99]

Thanks cee. Yeah, I guess in a way I made it sound like I was going to buy everything lol. I had tanks in Michigan, my largest was a 90 gallon, and I have learned to research everything before buying. I still appreciate all the help I can get. It is easy to get caught up in the moment and buy on impulse, so kind reminders like that always helps. Thanks cee, and thanks everyone for all the help. Keep it coming!! LOL.

 

[Engloid]

The main message to take away from my posts is do thorough research and get input from multiple sources before plopping your credit card down on the vendor's table.

That's probably the best advice anybody could be given in this hobby.

There are so many successful ways to do things and many wrong ones...not just one right and one wrong. I always try to get several opinions about things...then weigh them based on how many are inline with each other... then I form my own plan of action.


Even that doesn't always work out though. :lmao: