How Many Fish Can I Add at Once

BaleKlocoon · 03/21/2018, 06:03 PM

My tank has cycled for 7 weeks. I have 2 clowns, a Molly, 10 snails, 10 hermit crabs, and a peppermint shrimp. Ammonia and Nitrite are 0. Nitrate at around 30. I honestly have trouble accurately matching my pH on the color chart but appears to be somewhere between 8.1 and 8.4. I'm in no rush to add more fish but when I do I would like to add 5-10 at once which will likely make my tank fully stocked (90 gallon). My reasoning is that buying them online from live aquaria less than half the price of buying from my LFS and if I spend $99+ it is free shipping. I haven't decided on the type of fish yet. I assume this is a big no-no but worth asking.

Uncle99 · 03/21/2018, 06:46 PM

IMO, adding that many will create a ton of stress both on your fish and your bacteria pop.
Stress leads to Ick, and if your bacteria can't keep in line with processing waste, ammonia can be the second killer.

Trigger Tough · 03/21/2018, 07:04 PM

I would do 2 at a time tops

BaleKlocoon · 03/21/2018, 07:04 PM

Yeah... That's what I figured. What is the most you would recommend adding at once? Then I can factor in the shipping cost on that number of fish and decide whether LFS or online is more economical. It really hurt paying $26 each for my clowns when they are $10.99 online lol.

thegrun · 03/21/2018, 10:17 PM

It really depends on what fish you are talking about. I would not add more than two tangs at one time, but you should be fine adding 3-4 smaller fish like Wrasses, Blennies or Gobies.

nereefpat · 03/22/2018, 07:35 AM

What specific fishes?

tank o tang · 03/22/2018, 07:45 AM

There is alot of variables that come into play. Amount of live rock, skimmer, filtration, flow, tank care, size and type of fish, etc. Everyone will have a different answer with different results. And you will be surprised how quick $99 goes when picking fish, I'm sure you have no problem placing a few orders spaced out and achieve free shipping.

mcgyvr · 03/22/2018, 08:09 AM

I would not worry a single bit about adding whatever you purchase to take advantage of the $99 deal..

You simply need to adapt as needed to ensure that the added bioload does not become a problem.. That may include increasing water change frequency/amount temporarily or feeding sparingly,etc...

nereefpat · 03/22/2018, 09:19 AM

You can also add corals and other inverts to reach that 99$ threshold.

Dmorty217 · 03/22/2018, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nereefpat

You can also add corals and other inverts to reach that 99$ threshold.

+1 and some can be from Diver Den which ships from Wisconsin and some can be added from the Liveaquaria site which ships from Quality Marine in California . Like others have mentioned it depends on the biological capacity of the tank. 2 months ago I added 8 fish to my tank (7 of which were tangs) at once after QT

BaleKlocoon · 03/22/2018, 11:14 AM

Thanks guys. I have 150 pounds of "dry live rock" that has been seeding for 7-8 weeks in my 90 gallon tank with 20 gallon sump with octopus skimmer, forgot exact model but rated for 150 gallons. . The fish I will likely add are damsels, chromis, blennies, gobies. I wouldn't consider adding a tang or angelfish in a big group. I might add a dwarf angel eventually by itself. That would be my last fish.

03/21/2018, 06:03 PM	#1
BaleKlocoon Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Irving, TX Posts: 125	How Many Fish Can I Add at Once My tank has cycled for 7 weeks. I have 2 clowns, a Molly, 10 snails, 10 hermit crabs, and a peppermint shrimp. Ammonia and Nitrite are 0. Nitrate at around 30. I honestly have trouble accurately matching my pH on the color chart but appears to be somewhere between 8.1 and 8.4. I'm in no rush to add more fish but when I do I would like to add 5-10 at once which will likely make my tank fully stocked (90 gallon). My reasoning is that buying them online from live aquaria less than half the price of buying from my LFS and if I spend $99+ it is free shipping. I haven't decided on the type of fish yet. I assume this is a big no-no but worth asking.

03/22/2018, 07:35 AM	#6
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	What specific fishes? __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

03/22/2018, 07:45 AM	#7
tank o tang Thread Lurker Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: CT Posts: 1,527	There is alot of variables that come into play. Amount of live rock, skimmer, filtration, flow, tank care, size and type of fish, etc. Everyone will have a different answer with different results. And you will be surprised how quick $99 goes when picking fish, I'm sure you have no problem placing a few orders spaced out and achieve free shipping. __________________ A 5 gallon bucket of water dosen't look like much till it's on your living room floor Current Tank Info: 180gal

03/22/2018, 08:09 AM	#8
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	I would not worry a single bit about adding whatever you purchase to take advantage of the $99 deal.. You simply need to adapt as needed to ensure that the added bioload does not become a problem.. That may include increasing water change frequency/amount temporarily or feeding sparingly,etc... __________________ Who me?

03/22/2018, 09:19 AM	#9
nereefpat Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 3,190	You can also add corals and other inverts to reach that 99$ threshold. __________________ Pat Current Tank Info: 125 in-wall , 40b sump. 6 bulb T5. ASM G2 skimmer. LPS and leathers

03/21/2018, 06:46 PM	#2
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	IMO, adding that many will create a ton of stress both on your fish and your bacteria pop. Stress leads to Ick, and if your bacteria can't keep in line with processing waste, ammonia can be the second killer.

03/21/2018, 07:04 PM	#3
Trigger Tough Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2018 Posts: 85	I would do 2 at a time tops

03/21/2018, 10:17 PM	#5
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	It really depends on what fish you are talking about. I would not add more than two tangs at one time, but you should be fine adding 3-4 smaller fish like Wrasses, Blennies or Gobies.

03/22/2018, 11:14 AM	#11
BaleKlocoon Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Irving, TX Posts: 125	Thanks guys. I have 150 pounds of "dry live rock" that has been seeding for 7-8 weeks in my 90 gallon tank with 20 gallon sump with octopus skimmer, forgot exact model but rated for 150 gallons. . The fish I will likely add are damsels, chromis, blennies, gobies. I wouldn't consider adding a tang or angelfish in a big group. I might add a dwarf angel eventually by itself. That would be my last fish.