Regular_Reefer
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When the tank is cycled, what do you guys typically add first: coral or fish? And what success or issues have you run into ?
What comes first? Coral or Fish
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SPR1968
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I would say fish is the most common first addition but you can add corals whenever the water parameters are correct but more importantly stable. Stability is the key.
I added fish and corals from the start in my new system, but again the water was ready.
Think of yourself as a water keeper, if you can keep it within the correct limits you should be fine
I added fish and corals from the start in my new system, but again the water was ready.
Think of yourself as a water keeper, if you can keep it within the correct limits you should be fine
NowGlazeIT
Happy to help, Ask away.
Fish first for me. Then a test coral or two. I add fish first because they are tougher then my coral. And in the beginning I normally have some dry rock that’s going to make stability challenging.
I always thought fish. Recently I have seen a few videos of beautiful coral tanks that are totally fishless. Just a lot of dosing to take the place of fish poop. There are a couple guys in our local club that run fishless coral tanks as well that look pretty good.
Darren in Tacoma
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I always start with fish. I want to get a bio load going and build up the bacteria. Get a little stuff growing on the rocks for some grazing fish and the clean up crew. I will have a couple easy to grow corals while getting the tank to settle in then get the more demanding stuff.
I have had better luck adding corals first but that is based on having stable parameters and letting the coralline algae first cover the rocks. Then a couple of fish are added while a lot of corals are added. Once the corals are doing well and growing more fish can be added slowly while keeping a close eye on parameters as well as how each addition fish interacts with the corals.
Most people go with a lot of fish first and that’s fine, I just take a different path.
Most people go with a lot of fish first and that’s fine, I just take a different path.
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Ulm_nano_diybudgetreef
Active Member
From what I understand u need bacteria first to add fish and u need coraline algae first for calcifying corals. I guess everyone's goals are different so it depends on u.
But u will need to dose something in lieu of fish poop if corals go in first
But u will need to dose something in lieu of fish poop if corals go in first
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Daniel@R2R
Living the Reef Life
I prefer fish first as the tank matures more
Fish are in my opinion more important to add first, as they are apart of the water quality needed to help keep corals alive as they help with the cycle and helping the tank mature and get all its good bacteria and micro-fauna. But you can add more coral at a time then you can fish do to the lesser bio-load coral take/give compared to adding a lot of fish which can cause an ammonia spike fairly easily.
Bryn
Valuable Member
I did it backwards, as expected... 
Depends on what fish you are adding. If I was adding Tangs for Algae control, then they would be first, once I was through the ugly tank phase, and I was seeing stable parameters and maybe Coraline algae growth, then Corals+light.
Now you can add more forgiving corals, get through the tank ugly's and add fish.
So my boring, keep the family in suspense method. Cycle about 40 days, add fish no light about another 40-60 days, add coral and light. You could turn on lights for a short period of time to watch fish.
As @SPR1968 put it, we are keepers of water. For anything to survive, and thrive, the water has to be good, and stable, and you have to hurry up and wait. Do your research and do it your way. Come back if you run into a problems.
Have fun.
Depends on what fish you are adding. If I was adding Tangs for Algae control, then they would be first, once I was through the ugly tank phase, and I was seeing stable parameters and maybe Coraline algae growth, then Corals+light.
Now you can add more forgiving corals, get through the tank ugly's and add fish.
So my boring, keep the family in suspense method. Cycle about 40 days, add fish no light about another 40-60 days, add coral and light. You could turn on lights for a short period of time to watch fish.
As @SPR1968 put it, we are keepers of water. For anything to survive, and thrive, the water has to be good, and stable, and you have to hurry up and wait. Do your research and do it your way. Come back if you run into a problems.
Have fun.
Oregon Grown Reef
Valuable Member
Well, I've done it both ways. I have a frag tank that I took a bio block from another tank and threw it in so I wouldn't have to worry about cycling. It was running with only coral for some time. I now have a Molly Miller Blenny for algae and feed reef roids once per week to keep the bacteria happy. The corals were also producing waste on their own before I added the fish and started feeding. My skimmer was pulling out nasty stuff. On the other hand, the tank I took the media block from has only fish in it with no lights. It's been running for 9 months. I have everything for it, but I want to add all of my fish to this system before turning the lights on and adding coral. Main reason is I want only choice fish in there. We'll see which one will grow coral quicker.
