Cycling Your Tank

[Derude]

Hey Guys

I was wondering after I Cycle my tank and it's ready for live stock to be added how should i start ? Do you guys suggest starting with fish or coral first, start off slow or are there certain types of fish or corals I should get first that are better to get in the beginning ?

Thanks

 

[Tahoe61]

Hi and welcome to R2R.

I start with small hermits, no snails yet because they will not have enough to eat in a newly cycled tank. If all is well in 5-7 days I add a fish or two, avoiding over feeding, test again for ammonia and nitrites 2-3 days after new additions to a newly cycled tank. Perform water changes as indicated by values, have some Prime on hand just in case. After about 2 week I will add another fish or two.
Now this is all variable on the size of tank and any quarantine procedures you practice. Basically you allow the biological filter to grow between additions. Over stocking and over feeding can quickly lead to new tank syndrome.

 

[Jesterrace]

Hey Guys

I was wondering after I Cycle my tank and it's ready for live stock to be added how should i start ? Do you guys suggest starting with fish or coral first, start off slow or are there certain types of fish or corals I should get first that are better to get in the beginning ?

Thanks

Fish are easier and cheaper than corals (unless you get fish that are notoriously difficult to care for). They are far less picky on lighting. There are some easier to grow corals out there (ie Frogspawn, Soft leather Mushrooms) that might do okay under a cheap full spectrum LED, but fish will do okay under just about any basic LED light. As mentioned above, start with small snails (ie Trochus, Astrea) and small hermits (ie red legged or scarlet hermit crabs) to help deal with the diatom bloom (brown algae) that is likely coming. Just be sure you don't put them in until the bloom happens so that they have a food source.

 

[Palyzoa]

I would start with beginner fish. Do some research on the fish you do want to keep and go from there. Always research before adding anything to your tank. Also, proper quarantine procedures can help prevent allot of headache and money down the road. Since you are cycling now you could start QT and have your fish ready to go into his forever home when you are done cycling the display.

Oh yeah, Research, Research, Research! and ask questions

Best of luck!

 

[beaslbob]

FWIW a good beginner fish would be just a common FW molly. And don't add food for the first week.

After a 2-3 weeks of the molly surviving, you should be good to go for the more expensive marine only fish.


my .02

 

[EmptyWallet]

I recommend 2 or so small blue/green chromis to start off with, and you can add a few more each 2 weeks or so to start a shoal/school - cheap, reef safe etc. to build up your biological filter. Always good to have a bottle of Prime for emergencies