Dummy proof it, pleeese!

[Reefer Obsessed]

I have 100 gallons I have converted from freshwater to eventually have a mixed reef. I have Fuji sand; live rock; Jebao wavemaker with 2 60p pumps mounted at the opposite ends of the tank from each other with alternating on/off mode; Coral Pro salt; Buble Magus Curve A5 skimmer; 200 micron filter sock; RODI water purifier; Odyssea T5 with LED combo light. Since it is converted from freshwater, I have a HOB overflow into the sump below the tank. It has been running for 3 months now. I have added a yellow tang and a fire shrimp.
I'm sitting here with books, notes and the laptop surrounding me. I feel like I'm back in nursing school. LOL. I have read many articles and watched videos until I'm blind. I looked at numerous threads. Then I screwed up. I studied Chris's algae farm. WOW!
Where do I go now? Do I need to add my other fish or can I start adding softies? Do I need to start dosing first or add corals first? Thanks for the help!

 

[Pockets]

Slow slow down lol I wouldn't add anything 3 months old is a very young tank stability is what your after if you rush it you risk losing everything. Your tank needs time to establish itself lots of swings can happen even when things are testing ok. It's a delicate balance especially in the beginning adding new things to soon can disrupt. I would worry about dosing yet just keep your water changes tight and monitor your basic Paramatures temp ph alk phos/ nitrates. And keep reading and researching

 

[Reefer Obsessed]

Thank you so much!! Being a former freshwater person, we don't have to wait as long to add everything at one time. I'm not called obsessed for nothing. <g> How long is recommended to wait or what will be the sign that the tanks ready to start adding stuff?

 

[Pockets]

As far as dosing That all will depend on what's in your tank as you add corals and coralline algae starts to grow they will start to use up the elements calcium mag and so on then you'll need to test and figure out how much is being obsorbed and how much needs to be replenished to maintain proper levels. So for instance you test your tanks Params and add coral and give it a few days and test again if there's a drop in the elements then that gives u a starting point. There's lots of videos and more in depth info out there

 

[AntarcticIkeelu]

From personal Experience I added my first fish after 1 month of cycling, my fisrt coral after 4 months, and my first anemone after 6 months (it died), added another 1 after a year (has split and looks great).

 

[Pockets]

Well the longer the better lol. Just add slowly you don't wanna overwhelm the tank you have a lot of water volume so mistakes will be alittle more forgiving. Every tanks different just add slowly and give it time to adjust to the new bio loads.

 

[Pockets]

When I first got coral I got them from a friend with every bell and whistle prestine tank and put them in mine and everything died. Went to pet co because there tanks looked as sad as mine did at the time and they lived lol

 

[Reefer Obsessed]

Oh my! The theory of the dirtiest kids in the neighborhood never get sick but our clean kids catch everything. I will follow your advice though & slow down. But I don't think I'll go to pet co. I'll probably have to order everything off the internet. I don't have any close sources. pet co is a hour away so I drove 2 hours to get the tang & shrimp. I had to order everything else. I've seen post of tanks fully stocked at only weeks of running & wondered how successful they were in the long run.

 

[Reefer Obsessed]

From personal Experience I added my first fish after 1 month of cycling, my fisrt coral after 4 months, and my first anemone after 6 months (it died), added another 1 after a year (has split and looks great).

Thank you so much. This really helps by giving a time line to help go by. Great help, just what I needed.

 

[Reefer Obsessed]

As far as dosing That all will depend on what's in your tank as you add corals and coralline algae starts to grow they will start to use up the elements calcium mag and so on then you'll need to test and figure out how much is being obsorbed and how much needs to be replenished to maintain proper levels. So for instance you test your tanks Params and add coral and give it a few days and test again if there's a drop in the elements then that gives u a starting point. There's lots of videos and more in depth info out there

This makes sense to me. Thanks, I needed this put into these simple, dummy proof guidelines. Such a great help. I don't feel like I'm floundering. I guess I got myself really confused. I'll continue to study too. I've gone from a scratch pad to a 1" ring binder to now a 3" ring binder with tabs and an excel spread sheet.

 

[AntarcticIkeelu]

Oh my! The theory of the dirtiest kids in the neighborhood never get sick but our clean kids catch everything. I will follow your advice though & slow down. But I don't think I'll go to pet co. I'll probably have to order everything off the internet. I don't have any close sources. pet co is a hour away so I drove 2 hours to get the tang & shrimp. I had to order everything else. I've seen post of tanks fully stocked at only weeks of running & wondered how successful they were in the long run.

Do you have an idea of what you want to add?

Some of the places I've ordered from are:

live aquaria - best overall selection (do not order anything in the maricultured section) pricing: moderate

blue zoo aquatics: small selection of coral but good pricing, very large fish selection, have ordered multiple from them and never lost one

Cherry corals: best selection of ACANs and zoas, pricing is higher end corals

WorldWideCorals: good selection, very high end corals so higher pricing

 

[Cflip]

I have 100 gallons I have converted from freshwater to eventually have a mixed reef. I have Fuji sand; live rock; Jebao wavemaker with 2 60p pumps mounted at the opposite ends of the tank from each other with alternating on/off mode; Coral Pro salt; Buble Magus Curve A5 skimmer; 200 micron filter sock; RODI water purifier; Odyssea T5 with LED combo light. Since it is converted from freshwater, I have a HOB overflow into the sump below the tank. It has been running for 3 months now. I have added a yellow tang and a fire shrimp.
I'm sitting here with books, notes and the laptop surrounding me. I feel like I'm back in nursing school. LOL. I have read many articles and watched videos until I'm blind. I looked at numerous threads. Then I screwed up. I studied Chris's algae farm. WOW!
Where do I go now? Do I need to add my other fish or can I start adding softies? Do I need to start dosing first or add corals first? Thanks for the help!

Get a QT too. Learn from my mistake

 

[Reefer Obsessed]

Thanks everybody. Ya'll are the greatest. My want list goes on forever so will continue that research & narrow it down. I seem to want it all. I feel like I have ADHD. I want this... no this one... no this one too...
I don't have a QT but now since you said it, that will be my next project while I wait. Don't know why I haven't done that yet. Being a nurse, I believe in prevention.

 

[Reefer Obsessed]

Get a QT too. Learn from my mistake

How did you set your QT up? I've seen numerous conflicting information & am confused as to the best method. Thanks for the help.

 

[Cflip]

How did you set your QT up? I've seen numerous conflicting information & am confused as to the best method. Thanks for the help.

10 gallon tank with a HOB filter sized for a 50 gallon tank. Dr Tims for bacteria remove the charcoal filter in the HOB filter. A heater and an ammonia alert.

 

[Reefer Obsessed]

10 gallon tank with a HOB filter sized for a 50 gallon tank. Dr Tims for bacteria remove the charcoal filter in the HOB filter. A heater and an ammonia alert.

Awesome. That sounds easy enough for peace of mind. Do you medicate too even without any signs of illness or observe then medicated for the illness seen? I read articles for both ways. Which has worked best for you?

 

[Brandon3152134]

I Dont medicate if I Dont see illness I have found it stresses the fish more causing illnesses

 

[Reefer Obsessed]

I was thinking that medicating for illnesses not seen doesn't make good practice. In human medicine, this is how antibiotic resistant bugs were created like MRSA. Over use of medications also makes bugs tolerant & resistant.

 

[Brandon3152134]

Also treatments will weaken a fishes immune system causing a parasite to attack

 

[Cflip]

What if they don't show illness until they are in your DT? Then it's too late. Per this forum I'm going to do copper for 30 days for all new arrivals. Fish stores run copper in their tanks all the time.