1st fish

ashields4611 · 12/15/2011, 01:15 PM

I bought a used 75 gallon tank and with it came cycled approx 60-65% cycled water. I let it run and settle for about 5 days and I was told by the previous owner that it was ok to add fish. I added a clownfish and it seems to be ok. He kind of stays in this one corner sometimes goes out to another corner. I was wondering how long should I observe him to make sure he is fine before I add more fish. I feel like he is lonely and might want a friend or something. I was thinking another clown or a chromis. The Chromis might show him that the tank is fine. I dont know what I should do. Should I buy more live rock? ( i only have about 10lbs maybe 15) buy a cleaning crew? or another fish? what are your takes on this.

stingythingy45 · 12/15/2011, 01:18 PM

Water really has nothing to do with the cycle,it's mostly the live rock and sand.
Are you testing for ammonia just in case?

*Also you need like 1 lb. of live rock for every gallon of water.

foxriverat · 12/15/2011, 01:28 PM

I have had my clown for over a year. He always stay in the right top rear corner. Clowns need to be intruduced to the tank in pairs when they are small. If you add another clown. They will usually not get along.

stingythingy45 · 12/15/2011, 01:37 PM

Rule of thumb with clowns is to get one large and one small.
Large one will be the female and the male the smaller of the pair.
I had my male carpet dive a few years ago and introduced another small clown and they got along just fine.

ashields4611 · 12/15/2011, 01:55 PM

I know about the live rock rule. I just figured I would get it piece by piece. With christmas here I cant really spend 200 dollars + on rocks. And as far as adding pairs I thought your supposed to add 1 fish at a time. I was planning on going back and getting his tank mate once I know he is stable in my tank. I was just wondering if I should get a fish, cleaning crew, or some live rock for my next purchase. I am not planning on spending a ton at once, I just spend a lot buying all of the equipment and such. I was planning on buying little by little and eventually having a masterpiece!

mjhall85 · 12/15/2011, 04:19 PM

Personally I wouldn't of added any fish until you had all the equipment you need including live rock. If you don't want to spend a lot buy more dry rock then seed it with a piece or two of live rock it will save you quite a bit depending on how much rock you plan on putting in. You usually add a clean up crew first but everyone does it different.

SushiGirl · 12/15/2011, 08:03 PM

I would keep an eye on your ammonia if you moved any sand in the tank & it got stirred up in any way (or you took it out & put it back in). Also, since you already have a little live rock in the tank, just get dry rock. I'd wait on the fish until you find out if the tank is going to cycle again from the move.

jim.crunk · 12/15/2011, 09:37 PM

I would definately buy 50lbs of dry rock before adding anything else for a couple of reasons. 1st the dry rock will seed and will become much more bio filtration, 2nd it will add alot more hidding/grazing/&mounting places for new tank mates of any type.
50lbs of dry rock is alot more rock than 50lbs of live rock & you can get 50lbs shipped to your house for around $100 with free shipping.
The clown was a good 1st fish, thay are pretty tough and a whole lot better than damsels.

12/15/2011, 01:15 PM	#1
ashields4611 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Syracuse Posts: 22	1st fish I bought a used 75 gallon tank and with it came cycled approx 60-65% cycled water. I let it run and settle for about 5 days and I was told by the previous owner that it was ok to add fish. I added a clownfish and it seems to be ok. He kind of stays in this one corner sometimes goes out to another corner. I was wondering how long should I observe him to make sure he is fine before I add more fish. I feel like he is lonely and might want a friend or something. I was thinking another clown or a chromis. The Chromis might show him that the tank is fine. I dont know what I should do. Should I buy more live rock? ( i only have about 10lbs maybe 15) buy a cleaning crew? or another fish? what are your takes on this.

12/15/2011, 01:18 PM	#2
stingythingy45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 3,296	Water really has nothing to do with the cycle,it's mostly the live rock and sand. Are you testing for ammonia just in case? *Also you need like 1 lb. of live rock for every gallon of water. __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref

12/15/2011, 01:37 PM	#4
stingythingy45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 3,296	Rule of thumb with clowns is to get one large and one small. Large one will be the female and the male the smaller of the pair. I had my male carpet dive a few years ago and introduced another small clown and they got along just fine. __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref

12/15/2011, 08:03 PM	#7
SushiGirl Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fort Worth, TX USA Posts: 8,267	I would keep an eye on your ammonia if you moved any sand in the tank & it got stirred up in any way (or you took it out & put it back in). Also, since you already have a little live rock in the tank, just get dry rock. I'd wait on the fish until you find out if the tank is going to cycle again from the move. __________________ Visit my Homepage or "My Albums" (via Profile) for hitchhiker pics. Current Tank Info: 55g softy/LPS tank & 20L reef tank

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12/15/2011, 01:28 PM	#3
foxriverat Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Geneva IL Posts: 74	I have had my clown for over a year. He always stay in the right top rear corner. Clowns need to be intruduced to the tank in pairs when they are small. If you add another clown. They will usually not get along.

12/15/2011, 01:55 PM	#5
ashields4611 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Syracuse Posts: 22	I know about the live rock rule. I just figured I would get it piece by piece. With christmas here I cant really spend 200 dollars + on rocks. And as far as adding pairs I thought your supposed to add 1 fish at a time. I was planning on going back and getting his tank mate once I know he is stable in my tank. I was just wondering if I should get a fish, cleaning crew, or some live rock for my next purchase. I am not planning on spending a ton at once, I just spend a lot buying all of the equipment and such. I was planning on buying little by little and eventually having a masterpiece!

12/15/2011, 04:19 PM	#6
mjhall85 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Phoenix,AZ Posts: 535	Personally I wouldn't of added any fish until you had all the equipment you need including live rock. If you don't want to spend a lot buy more dry rock then seed it with a piece or two of live rock it will save you quite a bit depending on how much rock you plan on putting in. You usually add a clean up crew first but everyone does it different.

12/15/2011, 09:37 PM	#8
jim.crunk Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 179	I would definately buy 50lbs of dry rock before adding anything else for a couple of reasons. 1st the dry rock will seed and will become much more bio filtration, 2nd it will add alot more hidding/grazing/&mounting places for new tank mates of any type. 50lbs of dry rock is alot more rock than 50lbs of live rock & you can get 50lbs shipped to your house for around $100 with free shipping. The clown was a good 1st fish, thay are pretty tough and a whole lot better than damsels.