My first 25 gallon reef tank

[Kylecva]

Hey! I'm new to the forum and fish keeping, so here's my first post. I just got a 25 gallon tank yesterday and I am setting it up saltwater! Just wondering what would be a good time period to let it cycle? I'm going to put 15 gallons of salt water from my girlfriends already established tank in along with 10 gallons of premixed salt water I'm also going to put a little bit of her live rock and sand in there as well. Also any suggestions for what type of fish I could put in there? Planning on having some corals to probably a Kenya tree and some pumping xenias to start out! Any advice would be great!
These are the fish I'm planning on putting in my 25 gallon as of right now. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Ocellaris (2)
Orange fire fish
Royal gamma
6 line wrasse
Sand sifting goby
Got the water and live rock in there had a few hermit crabs get in there too they are doing great and there's a mushroom too that's doing just fine!

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[DerekFF]

Fish list looks good. Looks like you're off to a good start. Once you're water tests with nitrates and 0 ammonia and nitrite it's good to start adding more stuff. You could probably add dr Tim's or quick start to shorten your wait time. I've cycled tanks in 2-3 days with dr Tim's and prodibio products.


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[Mike J.]

First, welcome to Reef 2 Reef! The Royal Gramma might pick on the Goby. "The Royal Gramma may chase small zooplankton feeders (e.g., Chromis, certain gobies), but this is not a problem unless the tank is small." The Six-line Wrasse might pick on everything. Might want to study these fishes aggressiveness. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Kylecva]

I'm thinking about doing a fish in cycle. All of my levels are perfect I'm thinking of maybe adding 3 blue green chromis tomorrow and do a water change for a few days in a row while I watch my levels. I've also put some filter media from my girlfriends already established tank in there. As far as the six line wrasse goes I know a few people that have them and they don't pick on anything of theirs maybe it just depends on which one you get I don't know.


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[Mike J.]

Just a suggestion - maybe start out with just one or two fish. Just do regular weekly water changes unless you detect an ammonia presence. Usually a clean up crew comes first, also.

 

[Kylecva]

Definitely! I'm thinking about adding a few blue green chromis tomorrow or maybe 2 ocellaris clowns instead. Any suggestions?


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[Kylecva]

We are also ordering a cleaner crew here in a few weeks. I already have about 10 hermits in there right now along with a purple mushroom all are doing great and all the levels are perfect!


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[Mike J.]

You haven't mentioned an elevated ammonia cycle, so it makes me wonder. Do you have a confirmed cycle established? By that I mean do you have elevated nitrates after ammonia and nitrate readings? My suggestion sincerely is that you read this: The Mature Aquarium I still wouldn't put in a bunch of fish at once. Also the best way to stock a tank is to make a list of the fish you want and put the least aggressive in first and continue to the most aggressive. Ocellaris clowns are known to be the least aggressive of the clowns, but that's because most of the other clowns are highly aggressive.

 

[glb]

I'd wait on the fish. You have some great beneficial bacteria from the live rock and your girlfriend's seawater. Any ammonia at all will stress the fish. For what it's worth, I haven't had the best of luck with chromis. My 0.02.


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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.

 

[NanaReefer]

Personally I'd scratch the Kenya and Zania. Both invasive and in a 25g they would overrun your tank in no time. Also you'd be better off just using all new water along with the live rock and sand. Why put dirty water in your tank? No benefit to it at all. I also agree with waiting on the fish. Give it a month at least. Your going to have some die off which could cause a slight ammonia spike. Why subject your fish to this kind of stress and possibley lead to their demise.

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[Kylecva]

What type of corals would you suggest? Also any thoughts on a good power head and lights for a 25 gallon tall? I also already have 2 t5 high output lights on it already. the reason we used some of her water was to try and jump start a cycle. I'm fixing to do a water change on the tank in the next few hours.


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[Mike Savage]

I think you have a good fish list other than the Fire Goby which will be picked on probably by everything else. I would skip it. I would also use some live water.

 

[Kylecva]

We put some live water in there today I'm adding a powerhead and another filter either tomorrow or Monday.


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[glb]

I wouldn't rush on the corals. I'd get the tank nice and stable as fowlr first. That's what I did and once I added the corals they all did fine. New tanks can be temperamental. Fish can handle that a lot better than corals. Good luck!


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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.

 

[Kylecva]

I agree I'm not planning on adding anything for a few weeks. I was just trying to get an idea about some cool corals this is my first sw tank so I'm not sure what I want yet.


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[glb]

I agree I'm not planning on adding anything for a few weeks. I was just trying to get an idea about some cool corals this is my first sw tank so I'm not sure what I want yet.


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I was thinking more like a couple of months! Lol. That would give you the chance to become really comfortable with the water parameters and how your individual tank acts. They really do all have their own unique personalities. You really want consistent water quality before you introduce any corals. Just my opinion and what worked for me!


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12g Nanoreef. Zooanthids, Ricordia, Star Polyps, Acans and two clownfish. CF Lighting, 75% actinic blue, 25% 10,000k white.

 

[NanaReefer]

Do you have a good reef test kit yet? IMO more important NOW then fish or corals.


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[1.0reef]

Stick to the pair of clowns, firefish, and RG
Add them slowly, starting with teh firefish, then the RG, then the clowns.

 

[Kylecva]

Stick to the pair of clowns, firefish, and RG
Add them slowly, starting with teh firefish, then the RG, then the clowns.

That's what I'm planning on doing my gf is excited about the fire fish because she can't have one in her 55 reef (no lid).


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[Kylecva]

Do you have a good reef test kit yet? IMO more important NOW then fish or corals.


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Yes I do my girlfriend has been letting me use hers until I get one. It's and API saltwater master kit and I plan on getting the reef master.


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