freshly cycled question on adding fish

Vadafallon · 09/19/2016, 07:04 AM

Cycle is not complete, but I am cycling my tank and moving my fish and leathers from another tank. I have about 7 fish, 2 leathers and some torch corals. Is that to much to just move over all at once or should move 2 fish at a time and leathers separate too? Moving from a 60 cube/24 sump to a 75/30 sump.

fishgate · 09/19/2016, 07:38 AM

It is always better to move 1 or 2 and wait for the bacteria to catch up with the new additions. Take ammonia readings and base it on that. You might be ok but on a newly cycled tank it is just barely balanced and needs to time ramp up between additions. Be prepared to make large water changes if needed.

Vadafallon · 09/19/2016, 07:39 AM

I moved a ton of live rock from 3 feet away into the tank. I would expect to not have an issue with the amount of bacteria, but i will monitor it. Thanks!

niladride · 09/19/2016, 07:43 AM

Just add a couple max at a time to be on the safe side.

abIngenui · 09/19/2016, 08:38 AM

I vote for a gradual move of fish. Since you have lots of live rock, it could probably be able to handle it but I am not a gamblin' man, especially with our livestock

Sk8r · 09/19/2016, 09:37 AM

Go slow. The corals ARE filters, but they also generate a little waste. And the fish are a load on the biosystem: so go slow on them. It's usually best, on a completely new system, to let the CUC live and work in there for a month, then start adding fish one at a time, but when you're transiting between tanks you don't necessarily have that option. Just feed really lightly and don't push it.

aznflyfisherman · 09/19/2016, 10:23 AM

Why dont you move a few cleaner crew first, if they dont die then you can start moving the soft corals and a few fish first and then wait a week and then the rest if they look good. Thats what i usually do in new tanks and have always worked out.

Vadafallon · 09/19/2016, 01:40 PM

Actually already moved some hermits and found a few little brittle stars rolling around. I added more ammonia last night though, 2ppm since i have not seen any Nitrates and i am waiting to see if the Ammonia is gone in 24hrs to make sure the cycle is done or still rolling.

09/19/2016, 07:04 AM	#1
Vadafallon Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 974	freshly cycled question on adding fish Cycle is not complete, but I am cycling my tank and moving my fish and leathers from another tank. I have about 7 fish, 2 leathers and some torch corals. Is that to much to just move over all at once or should move 2 fish at a time and leathers separate too? Moving from a 60 cube/24 sump to a 75/30 sump.

09/19/2016, 07:38 AM	#2
fishgate Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Damascus, MD Posts: 3,340	It is always better to move 1 or 2 and wait for the bacteria to catch up with the new additions. Take ammonia readings and base it on that. You might be ok but on a newly cycled tank it is just barely balanced and needs to time ramp up between additions. Be prepared to make large water changes if needed. __________________ 125RR in-wall, 40B Sump, CS180 BM Skimmer, ATI 4x80 watt, eheim 1262, custom wrap around rock wall, ReefKeeper Elite 120g in-wall, 40B Sump, PC 54wx4, Jabao DC-6000 (full siphon), future seahorse t Current Tank Info: 125g, 120g, 2x40b sumps, ATI 4x80 T5HO

09/19/2016, 09:37 AM	#6
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Go slow. The corals ARE filters, but they also generate a little waste. And the fish are a load on the biosystem: so go slow on them. It's usually best, on a completely new system, to let the CUC live and work in there for a month, then start adding fish one at a time, but when you're transiting between tanks you don't necessarily have that option. Just feed really lightly and don't push it. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

09/19/2016, 07:39 AM	#3
Vadafallon Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 974	I moved a ton of live rock from 3 feet away into the tank. I would expect to not have an issue with the amount of bacteria, but i will monitor it. Thanks!

09/19/2016, 07:43 AM	#4
niladride Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Kolkata, India Posts: 567	Just add a couple max at a time to be on the safe side.

09/19/2016, 08:38 AM	#5
abIngenui Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 50	I vote for a gradual move of fish. Since you have lots of live rock, it could probably be able to handle it but I am not a gamblin' man, especially with our livestock

09/19/2016, 10:23 AM	#7
aznflyfisherman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 957	Why dont you move a few cleaner crew first, if they dont die then you can start moving the soft corals and a few fish first and then wait a week and then the rest if they look good. Thats what i usually do in new tanks and have always worked out.

09/19/2016, 01:40 PM	#8
Vadafallon Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 974	Actually already moved some hermits and found a few little brittle stars rolling around. I added more ammonia last night though, 2ppm since i have not seen any Nitrates and i am waiting to see if the Ammonia is gone in 24hrs to make sure the cycle is done or still rolling.