Too many fish to add at once?

[radav88]

Real quick question. I have had my 150 gallon reef tank up and running for almost 4 months now. I have the opportunity to purchase two fully qt'd fish from my stock list which would ship today for arrival tomorrow. The fish are a flame angel and a flameback angelfish. It just so happens I have 3 fish coming this Thursday. Would I be moving far too fast to add all 5 of the fish at the same time?

 

[davidcalgary29]

Yes, but not from a filtration standpoint: if you're adding two quarantined fish, why would you undo that good work by immediately adding three unquarantined fish to the mix? I say add the two angelfish now -- let them establish their territories at the same time -- and then add the rest later. After quarantine.

 

[Pneumatic_Addict]

Real quick question. I have had my 150 gallon reef tank up and running for almost 4 months now. I have the opportunity to purchase two fully qt'd fish from my stock list which would ship today for arrival tomorrow. The fish are a flame angel and a flameback angelfish. It just so happens I have 3 fish coming this Thursday. Would I be moving far too fast to add all 5 of the fish at the same time?

Just a genuine curiosity: why would you spend a premium on QT’ed fish if you don’t plan on QT’ing all the fish in your tank?

 

[radav88]

Yes, but not from a filtration standpoint: if you're adding two quarantined fish, why would you undo that good work by immediately adding three unquarantined fish to the mix? I say add the two angelfish now -- let them establish their territories at the same time -- and then add the rest later. After quarantine.

I should have added that the three fish I am receiving Thursday are also quarantined.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Real quick question. I have had my 150 gallon reef tank up and running for almost 4 months now. I have the opportunity to purchase two fully qt'd fish from my stock list which would ship today for arrival tomorrow. The fish are a flame angel and a flameback angelfish. It just so happens I have 3 fish coming this Thursday. Would I be moving far too fast to add all 5 of the fish at the same time?

Yes- huge impact on bioload which your bacteria population will increase with the new bioload processing waste and converting it to nitrate quickly. Its also important to note that overloading the aquarium with too many fish can exceed what the bacteria can handle which is why its best to add new fish slowly over the first few months. The bacterial levels will adapt if you don't overload the system with too many mouths to feed.
The two angels you mentined can also be a potential war

 

[radav88]

Yes- huge impact on bioload which your bacteria population will increase with the new bioload processing waste and converting it to nitrate quickly. Its also important to note that overloading the aquarium with too many fish can exceed what the bacteria can handle which is why its best to add new fish slowly over the first few months. The bacterial levels will adapt if you don't overload the system with too many mouths to feed.
The two angels you mentined can also be a potential war

This is what I figured, thank you for the response. Would you say a month would be a good amount of time to wait to add a couple more fish?

I do realize I could have a potential war on my hands between the two angels. I do not have a minimalist aquascape and have provided a lot of caves and ledges for fish to find a place to hide to hopefully help the situation. That's also why I'm adding them at the same time. If it looks like this situation will end in the death of one of the fish I have a friend who is willing to take one them if comes to that.

 

[vetteguy53081]

This is what I figured, thank you for the response. Would you say a month would be a good amount of time to wait to add a couple more fish?

I do realize I could have a potential war on my hands between the two angels. I do not have a minimalist aquascape and have provided a lot of caves and ledges for fish to find a place to hide to hopefully help the situation. That's also why I'm adding them at the same time. If it looks like this situation will end in the death of one of the fish I have a friend who is willing to take one them if comes to that.

4-8 weeks- longer the better

 

[Petcrazyson]

@Pneumatic_Addict can I just say I LOVE that profile photo lol. Is the fish yours?

 

[ReefSakes]

I added 10 medium to large angels/tangs into my 260g after they were done with qt that already had 10 smaller angels and tangs. The system had been running for 6 months.

 

[Pneumatic_Addict]

This is what I figured, thank you for the response. Would you say a month would be a good amount of time to wait to add a couple more fish?

I do realize I could have a potential war on my hands between the two angels. I do not have a minimalist aquascape and have provided a lot of caves and ledges for fish to find a place to hide to hopefully help the situation. That's also why I'm adding them at the same time. If it looks like this situation will end in the death of one of the fish I have a friend who is willing to take one them if comes to that.

What are the “other three fish”? Size of fish definitely determines load on your bio filter.

I added 5 Bimacs & 2 Regals & 2x Multicolors to my 220 at the same time. But I also planned & made sure to add products similar to Bio-Spira and Prime heavily a week before

I would definitely add the Dwarfs at the same time.

@Pneumatic_Addict can I just say I LOVE that profile photo lol. Is the fish yours?

Appreciate it! Though I can’t take credit. She’s my fish, but my girlfriend’s photography. Marketing major that was using my tank to play with her new camera before the first shoot.

Poma’s Conspics are Cherry & bullet proof. 10/10 would recommend. Heard they have some freshly hatched little peanuts up for grabs.

 

[Bob Weigant]

I only add one maybe 2 at a time. Go slow

 

[Petcrazyson]

What are the “other three fish”? Size of fish definitely determines load on your bio filter.

I added 5 Bimacs & 2 Regals & 2x Multicolors to my 220 at the same time. But I also planned & made sure to add products similar to Bio-Spira and Prime heavily a week before

I would definitely add the Dwarfs at the same time.



Appreciate it! Though I can’t take credit. She’s my fish, but my girlfriend’s photography. Marketing major that was using my tank to play with her new camera before the first shoot.

Poma’s Conspics are Cherry & bullet proof. 10/10 would recommend. Heard they have some freshly hatched little peanuts up for grabs.

Thx for the recommendation! I like their prices so once I get a bigger tank I’m definitely looking to get a Conspic and/or a Blue Line.

 

[radav88]

What are the “other three fish”? Size of fish definitely determines load on your bio filter.

I added 5 Bimacs & 2 Regals & 2x Multicolors to my 220 at the same time. But I also planned & made sure to add products similar to Bio-Spira and Prime heavily a week before

I would definitely add the Dwarfs at the same time

Tomorrow I'm adding a McCosker Flasher Wrasse, a tomini tang, and a cleaner goby. I'm not a fan of larger fish, the only fish getting larger than 3 or 4 inches I want to add to the tank is a regal angel.

 

[FishPureLuck]

Couldn't you just add something like aquavitro seed while adding the fish to increase the biofilter? According to some of these bottled bac companies, you can add the bacteria and almost instantly add fish to a new tank. Wouldn't a lower dose when adding fish accomplish the same thing? I'm an old school reefer that just got back into the hobby a few months ago, so I'm still researching all of these new chemicals and approaches to keeping a reef.