Added snails, when to add fish?

JackDemetriou · Jun 19, 2020

I added 5 trochus, 5 nassarius, and 5 turbo snails in my tank yesterday. My tank is 160 litres. I am wanting to get a pair of clownfish and wondering how long I should wait before adding any fish?

Big G · Jun 19, 2020

Hello Jack,
How "new" is your tank?

JackDemetriou · Jun 19, 2020

Big G said:
Hello Jack,
How "new" is your tank?

It's been set up for about 2.5 months now

BighohoReef · Jun 19, 2020

2.5 months is good cycle time. What are your parameters? No ammonia or nitrites I'm assuming? If that is the case and you have some nitrate in your tank you most likely are ready to add fish. Post a pic as lets see the algae on your rocks

JackDemetriou · Jun 19, 2020

BighohoReef said:
2.5 months is good cycle time. What are your parameters? No ammonia or nitrites I'm assuming? If that is the case and you have some nitrate in your tank you most likely are ready to add fish. Post a pic as lets see the algae on your rocks

I tried to send a picture but wouldn't attach. I had brown algae growing at first, then green algae. I now have my snails eating away at the algae in the tank now.

Nathan Milender · Jun 19, 2020

I would add the fish, 2 is not going to crash it.

Big G · Jun 19, 2020

JackDemetriou said:
It's been set up for about 2.5 months now

With a tank that young, you may need to feed the snails a bit. The Turbos and Trochus need algae and the Nassarius are good for cleaning uneaten food.
But yeah, time to add fish. Think Bio-load. Adding fish with low bio-load (small poo & pee rates) first can be an advantage.

JackDemetriou · Jun 19, 2020

Big G said:
With a tank that young, you may need to feed the snails a bit. The Turbos and Trochus need algae and the Nassarius are good for cleaning uneaten food.
But yeah, time to add fish. Think Bio-load. Adding fish with low bio-load (small poo & pee rates) first can be an advantage.

Does 2 clownfish have a low bio-load? Are they good to start with?