I am really new to the hobby and trying to make sure I don't make too many mistakes. I have a 75 gal. tank. It has been cycling for just over 3 weeks. It has live rock which seems to be doing very well and yesterday I added hermit crabs and a variety of snails. My question is, how long should I wait before adding fish and coral. The current levels are: Calcium is 325, Phosphate 0, Nitrates 0, and KH 7 dkh. Thank you for any advise.
Advise please
- Thread starter Angelab1986
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Homebrewer
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Probably going to get a lot of opinions on this one. BRS recently put out a video on the BRS/WWC system where they suggest 4 months. I think any “set” amount of time is hard to pin down because everyone’s setup is different. However, in my opinion (what I’ve done a few times in the past), if your parameters are showing stability with no spikes on any measurements, you can ghost feed for a week or two and if you still see stability while you’re adding organic matter to the system, then I think you’re good to go. Once you start adding, plan well and go slow. Just my 2 cents.
malacoda
Valuable Member
+1 to what Homebrewer said. If you can feed a little bit for a week or two and see no change in stability, then your bacterial population should be established enough to handle a couple of fish.
That said, while you provided the levels of some of your tank parameters, you left out the most important two that you should be watching at this stage: ammonia and nitrite.
What are your ammonia and nitrite readings?
The only way to know for certain that your cycle has taken place, and finished, is to measure those two parameters.
During the cycle, ammonia will rise. Then, as bacteria begin to populate your tank, the ammonia will fall as they consume it and turn it into nitrite, causing the nitrites to rise. Other bacterial will then consume the nitrite and turn it into nitrate.
You MUST see the ammonia rise to know that the cycle has actually started. Then, you MUST see it fall to zero ... and then see your nitrates also fall to zero, to know the cycle has completed.
Once they both fall to zero, you should be able to ghost feed (e.g. add a little food even though there are no fish yet) and NOT SEE any rise in ammonia or nitrites. When you can ghost feed without seeing any rise in them, your tank is ready for a few fish.
The only exception to this process is if you use aquacultured live rock straight from the ocean, or established live rock straight from another tank. In those instances, the bacteria on the rocks is already established and there is little likelihood of anything on the rocks dying, so you likely wouldn't see (or need) a cycle.
That said, while you provided the levels of some of your tank parameters, you left out the most important two that you should be watching at this stage: ammonia and nitrite.
What are your ammonia and nitrite readings?
The only way to know for certain that your cycle has taken place, and finished, is to measure those two parameters.
During the cycle, ammonia will rise. Then, as bacteria begin to populate your tank, the ammonia will fall as they consume it and turn it into nitrite, causing the nitrites to rise. Other bacterial will then consume the nitrite and turn it into nitrate.
You MUST see the ammonia rise to know that the cycle has actually started. Then, you MUST see it fall to zero ... and then see your nitrates also fall to zero, to know the cycle has completed.
Once they both fall to zero, you should be able to ghost feed (e.g. add a little food even though there are no fish yet) and NOT SEE any rise in ammonia or nitrites. When you can ghost feed without seeing any rise in them, your tank is ready for a few fish.
The only exception to this process is if you use aquacultured live rock straight from the ocean, or established live rock straight from another tank. In those instances, the bacteria on the rocks is already established and there is little likelihood of anything on the rocks dying, so you likely wouldn't see (or need) a cycle.
SPR1968
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Hi there and firstly welcome to R2R it’s great to have you with us!
You haven’t mentioned what your ammonia/nitrite levels are, or if it’s finished cycling, but you may find these links helpful and should answer many of your questions, and anything else just ask away
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/cycling-an-aquarium.306554/
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/
You haven’t mentioned what your ammonia/nitrite levels are, or if it’s finished cycling, but you may find these links helpful and should answer many of your questions, and anything else just ask away
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/cycling-an-aquarium.306554/
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.138750/
jabberwock
2500 Club Member
When you do get ready, add one fish at a time, unless a pair, then wait at least a week if not longer to add another. Add them in order of least aggressive to most aggressive. Corals should come closer to the end of stocking.
Thank you all for your responses. I will do some more test and a lot more reading. I think I will try ghost feeding very slowly and keep checking the levels. I did use live rock straight from another tank, some are purple while others are a brownish color with green (I assume algae).
I am still very new and any advise is welcome and very much appreciated.
I am still very new and any advise is welcome and very much appreciated.
Thank you all for your responses. I will do some more test and a lot more reading. I think I will try ghost feeding very slowly and keep checking the levels. I did use live rock straight from another tank, some are purple while others are a brownish color with green (I assume algae).
I am still very new and any advise is welcome and very much appreciated.
I am still very new and any advise is welcome and very much appreciated.
Thank you all for your responses. I will do some more test and a lot more reading. I think I will try ghost feeding very slowly and keep checking the levels. I did use live rock straight from another tank, some are purple while others are a brownish color with green (I assume algae).
I am still very new and any advise is welcome and very much appreciated.
I am still very new and any advise is welcome and very much appreciated.
vetteguy53081
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I levels are good, a basic fish such as damsel or clown would not hurt as they will poop, etc and help establish the actual cycle
