When do you think it will be ready?

[ReefArtist]

My 65g tank is now cycling with (Ammonia -0, Nitrates â€"œ 1 and Nitrites - .5) using live rock and sand from my older tank and LFS. I think by this week end it will be finished. At this time the protein skimmer is not attached, but it has been ordered and is on its way. My question is how long you think I’ll need to wait before adding my little Amphiprion ocellaris (Black Clownfish). They’ve been in a sick tank for about 12 weeks now and are doing great, not a speck of lymphocystis (Thank again to Fish and Other Ichthy Things for diagnoses and medication). They have taken to a toy anemone â€"œ yes a toy here’s a photo:

I’ll put the toy in with them to help them adapt to their new surroundings but then remove it and add a Sarcophyton elegans (Yellow Leather Coral). I really think they will take to the coral, but if they don’t I’ve always wanted a S. elegans. My second question is how long do you think I need to wait before adding the leather coral? Third question - has anyone seen one locally - must be a yellow leather?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[mflamb]

When nitrites reach 0, and nitrates are below 5, do a water change, wait 1 day, test again, if ammonia and nitrites are 0, IT'S FISH TIME!!! Probably in a couple days. At that time, you can also add the corals.

 

[ReefArtist]

This is so exciting, I've been waiting so long for this day. Of course I'm hoping they will take to it. I'm not going to add any other fish for some time, I want them to get comfortable first. Should I use any water from their tank or just acclimate them as if they are new arrivals?

I saw that you were starting to get your QT setup ready for your new large display tank - smart! I was so glad I had everything ready for them and my display tank was safe. I guess once they are out of the QT I can purchase the next fish on my list - it will be in QT for at least a month anyway.

 

[mflamb]

Acclimate as a new purchase. Once my QT and Display are up and running, I use Display tank water for water change for my QT, so my parameters are very close. As long as salinity, pH, and temp are the same, no acclimation is necessary for QT to Display. I QT for 6-8 weeks.

 

[ReefArtist]

Muummm 6 to 8 weeks, cool that's a little longer than what I normally QT but I have been reading your schedule would be better. I guess the life cycle time of some diseases are longer than what I originally had thought. That would put it right in line with getting them accustom to their new home and it would give the tank more break-in time. Do you leave your QT up all the time?

 

[mflamb]

Yeah, because I QT all coral, even frags, to make sure no unwanted worms, crabs, bugs get in. It's not worth the risk for me. I'm a very patient person.

 

[ReefArtist]

I've never thought about QTing corals. I do give them a bath in PRO-Coral Cure before adding them and I was under the impression that would take care of everything. It does make perfect since when you really think about it but how do you know if they have something like worms? You know, if they are bored into the coral and living - is there a way of telling? You must have good lighting on your QT, mine is just a basic florescent that I strapped to the top.

 

[mflamb]

In the past with no sps, I used pc lighting for corals in the QT. On the 50 QT, I will use t5 lighting with a eggcrate rack to raise the corals. I put a piece of vinyl screen about 5 inches square on the bottom with fishing line connected to all corners and tied together out of the tank. Once I have several pieces of coral in my QT, and they are acclimated, I put a small piece of shrimp on the screen, and set my alarm for 2am. I get up and inspect with a red lens flashlight. You would be shocked what I pulled out of the QT on the screen. I do this a couple times a week for a few weeks or until I quit catching for a couple weeks.

 

[BlitzK]

got any pics of the setup... did you drill it?

Looks like I might be adding a 65 to the collection too and looking for ideas.

 

[ReefArtist]

MFLAMB that is a very good idea. I might be purchasing some corals this weekend, so I'll try it and see how it goes.

Hey Blitzk, No I didn't drill it I'd had problems with my first tank and ended up cracking the back (Nothing to do with drilling). Well I was told that if this one breaks I could us my old 20G or 10g - nuff said . But plan B took over so I'm running the plumbing over the top for the flow. This is in my living room so I'm trying to keep the noise down as much as possible. Right now I have a "Quiet One" setting out side the stand and it's not really quiet. So now I'm going to work on getting it to fit inside. I have some photo as soon as I get the plumbing positioned. Thanks for your interest. I really like our group helping each other and learning this way.