Which comes first?

[Raineforrest]

I've read so much conflicting information during the planning phase of the two tanks that I'm setting up. After the tank is finished cycling, I always thought that you add the fish first. Now I'm reading to add corals first.

Has anyone tried this method and if so how long before you added any fish? If you chose to add fish first, how long should you wait to add corals?

 

[CoastalTownLayabout]

So there really is no correct method here, each comes with pros and cons and is also really tied to your preferences.

By adding fish first you get the obvious benefit of having fish, they’re colourful, active and add life / movement to your display. However, their addition immediately mandates care and maintenance specific to their feeding requirements and the amount of waste they’ll produce. Disease and parasites can also factor in here.

By adding coral first you are realising the benefits outlined in the article above without the additional care requirements that fish mandate. Some argue that the waste fish produce is needed for coral health. I’m not convinced on this particularly with the typical starter corals.

I prefer coral first in small to medium size systems. In a larger system, tangs come into play…

 

[lapin]

There are tanks that are fish only and tanks that are coral only. I don’t think it matters as long as there is food for what ever is in the tank

 

[Cell]

What goes into the new tank first? Corals or Fish?

Picos are awesome and the biodiversity on the coral plugs alone with the coral’s own biomes are enough to keep them thriving if you’re good about feeding them to keep them happy. Larger systems just don’t balance out as well. I also put corals in first now and have learned where to tweak to make...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Cell]

Coral benefit more from fish than vice versa and fish generally do better in new tanks than coral so I choose fish first.