Initial fish load in new tank

[DanATL]

I have a new system cycling with Dr Tim's and ammonium chloride. About 100 gals with sump. Dry rock and dead sand. Looks like the desert in there now! As an initial order of fish I'm wanting to put in 2 ocellaris clowns, royal gramma, rainford goby, and tailspot blennie to start. I figured a freshly cycled tank could handle 5 small fish all at once. Is that a safe assumption?

 

[blaxsun]

Maybe, although you'll probably have better results and stability in your tank if you introduce 1-2 fish at a time along with an appropriate number of cleaning crew. I'm not sure if you've looked into your cleaning crew, but I would recommend the following:

* Orange lip conch for detritus and sand-sifting
* Trochus snails for the glass
* Spiny astrea snails and Ring Cowries for the rocks
* Nassarius snails for the substrate
* Some turbo snails for general duty
* Blue leg and scarlet hermit crabs for scavengers
* A few emerald crabs for algae patrol

 

[PlumbTuckered]

I have a new system cycling with Dr Tim's and ammonium chloride. About 100 gals with sump. Dry rock and dead sand. Looks like the desert in there now! As an initial order of fish I'm wanting to put in 2 ocellaris clowns, royal gramma, rainford goby, and tailspot blennie to start. I figured a freshly cycled tank could handle 5 small fish all at once. Is that a safe assumption?

What's your rush to fill the tank with fish? Slow and steady!

 

[Arego]

Whatever you decide you need to stay consistent with the amount every time in order to see and gauge how your system is processing waste and if it's doing it efficiently.

I say start with two small whatever and go from there. If it works the other way great, if it doesn't you're out a bit of coin. The slower way is much more ideal. There are endless ways to lose money in this hobby, don't let impatience be one.

Good luck

 

[Lyss]

I feel like most reputable fish stores wouldn't let you walk out w/all those fish for a newly cycled tank -- mine wouldn't and didn't. I went in after my cycle for a clown pair and tailspot blenny, and left w/the blenny, and they had me set to come back a week or two later for the clowns. Introducing 1 or 2 at a time is gonna be best.

 

[DanATL]

Maybe, although you'll probably have better results and stability in your tank if you introduce 1-2 fish at a time along with an appropriate number of cleaning crew. I'm not sure if you've looked into your cleaning crew, but I would recommend the following:

* Orange lip conch for detritus and sand-sifting
* Trochus snails for the glass
* Spiny astrea snails and Ring Cowries for the rocks
* Nassarius snails for the substrate
* Some turbo snails for general duty
* Blue leg and scarlet hermit crabs for scavengers
* A few emerald crabs for algae patrol

Great list. I'll keep it for reference. My general plan was to intro some small fish and let them establish hiding/living space. Was planning CUC next once there is actually something to clean up. The tank is a like an operating room at this point.

 

[blaxsun]

You can always supplement with a bit of seaweed wrapped to a rock once or twice a week.

 

[DanATL]

I will say that I once dropped a yellow tang and a coral beauty into a 55g at once with no ill effects. I'd say that's about twice the bio load in a tank half the size of my current tank. Of course that was 30years ago in a fish only tank with under gravel filter and Eheim canister! I still remember the tang was $20 and the angel was $34 at my LFS; my how times have changed!