Which fish to add first? - Page 2

dweber618 · 07/20/2016, 10:23 PM

You can add the inverts as long as it's been a couple of weeks after the cycle is complete and your parameters have stabilized. I don't think there is a set time frame for how long to wait to add the fish after adding the inverts, I would say waiting a couple of weeks would be sufficient.

If after a couple of weeks you inverts are still alive then start slowly adding fish, and if your inverts are dead, then something is off and fish shouldn't be added.

Stephen Hiatt · 07/20/2016, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dweber618

You can add the inverts as long as it's been a couple of weeks after the cycle is complete and your parameters have stabilized. I don't think there is a set time frame for how long to wait to add the fish after adding the inverts, I would say waiting a couple of weeks would be sufficient.

If after a couple of weeks you inverts are still alive then start slowly adding fish, and if your inverts are dead, then something is off and fish shouldn't be added.

What would I feed the inverts?

dweber618 · 07/20/2016, 10:57 PM

Ideally there would be some algae build up for the snails to feed on. I had to go fishless due to ich for 3 months and fed my tank small amounts of mysis a couple times a week.

Stephen Hiatt · 07/20/2016, 11:09 PM

Would they not just eat pellets?

CarrieB · 07/21/2016, 06:24 AM

I feed my hermit crabs algae tablets and the snails eat the algae that grows on the glass.

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bdunn12 · 07/21/2016, 07:03 AM

I used 2 PJ Cardinals as my starter fish and they both survived.

Stephen Hiatt · 07/21/2016, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarrieB

I feed my hermit crabs algae tablets and the snails eat the algae that grows on the glass.

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What about the shrimp?

CarrieB · 07/21/2016, 07:45 AM

I don't have any shrimp yet, but LiveAquaria says freeze dried, frozen or flakes for cleaner shrimp so sounds like you have a lot of choices. I think they are pretty much just scavengers.

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Stephen Hiatt · 07/21/2016, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarrieB

I don't have any shrimp yet, but LiveAquaria says freeze dried, frozen or flakes for cleaner shrimp so sounds like you have a lot of choices. I think they are pretty much just scavengers.

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I'll probably try flakes. Those will be the cheapest option.

Brieninsac · 07/21/2016, 09:45 AM

Another option for quick cycling is using Bio-spira. I started my system with live sand and dry rock. Added a bottle of Bio-spira and was able to add my starter fish a week later. Personally I started with two Clowns and had no problems. I did weekly 10% water changes for the first couple of months.

Stephen Hiatt · 07/21/2016, 01:37 PM

Can I use the inverts for the cycle?

CarrieB · 07/21/2016, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen Hiatt

Can I use the inverts for the cycle?

No. We don't cycle with livestock. You can use fish food, ammonia (with no additives), or a raw shrimp to feed your cycle.

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CarrieB · 07/21/2016, 07:48 PM

Sorry, that sounded preachy. Perhaps you are unaware that ammonia and nitrite are potentially deadly to both inverts and fish. I should give you the benefit of the doubt.

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Stephen Hiatt · 07/21/2016, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CarrieB

Sorry, that sounded preachy. Perhaps you are unaware that ammonia and nitrite are potentially deadly to both inverts and fish. I should give you the benefit of the doubt.

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I know about that. In freshwater some people use minnows and guppies to cycle their tanks, which is what I did with my 210. I was just wondering if the shrimp and snails are hardy enough to do the same thing.

CarrieB · 07/22/2016, 04:40 AM

Yeah, IMO, people use minnows and guppies for cycling because they are cheap, so if they die, no big loss. They may be tougher than some other fish but It's not that minnows and guppies can breathe ammonia.. They will still suffer through the cycle. People used to use damsels to cycle saltwater as well, for the same reasons. There is no advantage to using fish over other ammonia sources.

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TauntingBeef · 07/22/2016, 05:01 AM

a month for in between fish so the tank can keep up with the bio load

Stephen Hiatt · 07/22/2016, 11:23 AM

Does anyone have experience with Red Sea reef mature pro kit? It's what BRS uses along with Bio-spira. I'll probably get both, unless one doesn't work.

07/21/2016, 06:24 AM	#30
CarrieB Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 526	Which fish to add first? I feed my hermit crabs algae tablets and the snails eat the algae that grows on the glass. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

07/21/2016, 09:45 AM	#35
Brieninsac Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2015 Posts: 782	Another option for quick cycling is using Bio-spira. I started my system with live sand and dry rock. Added a bottle of Bio-spira and was able to add my starter fish a week later. Personally I started with two Clowns and had no problems. I did weekly 10% water changes for the first couple of months. __________________ Red Sea Reefer 350 (73gal/18gal sump) / Kessil a360WE Lights

07/22/2016, 05:01 AM	#41
TauntingBeef Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Aztec,Nm Posts: 200	a month for in between fish so the tank can keep up with the bio load __________________ 2 blue chromis,1 maldives exquisite firefish, 2 yellow clown gobies,1 green clown gobies, lawnmower blennie it 1 flamehawk Current Tank Info: 48"long 55 gallon 30 pounds of dead sand,40 pounds of reefsaver rock, 5 pounds of live fiji rock, 2 sun powerheads,20 long sump with a viaAqua 2600 pump

07/20/2016, 10:23 PM	#26
dweber618 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: MT Posts: 334	You can add the inverts as long as it's been a couple of weeks after the cycle is complete and your parameters have stabilized. I don't think there is a set time frame for how long to wait to add the fish after adding the inverts, I would say waiting a couple of weeks would be sufficient. If after a couple of weeks you inverts are still alive then start slowly adding fish, and if your inverts are dead, then something is off and fish shouldn't be added.

07/20/2016, 10:57 PM	#28
dweber618 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: MT Posts: 334	Ideally there would be some algae build up for the snails to feed on. I had to go fishless due to ich for 3 months and fed my tank small amounts of mysis a couple times a week.

07/20/2016, 11:09 PM	#29
Stephen Hiatt Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 98	Would they not just eat pellets?

07/21/2016, 07:03 AM	#31
bdunn12 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 79	I used 2 PJ Cardinals as my starter fish and they both survived.

07/21/2016, 07:45 AM	#33
CarrieB Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 526	I don't have any shrimp yet, but LiveAquaria says freeze dried, frozen or flakes for cleaner shrimp so sounds like you have a lot of choices. I think they are pretty much just scavengers. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

07/21/2016, 01:37 PM	#36
Stephen Hiatt Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 98	Can I use the inverts for the cycle?

07/21/2016, 07:48 PM	#38
CarrieB Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 526	Sorry, that sounded preachy. Perhaps you are unaware that ammonia and nitrite are potentially deadly to both inverts and fish. I should give you the benefit of the doubt. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

07/22/2016, 04:40 AM	#40
CarrieB Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 526	Yeah, IMO, people use minnows and guppies for cycling because they are cheap, so if they die, no big loss. They may be tougher than some other fish but It's not that minnows and guppies can breathe ammonia.. They will still suffer through the cycle. People used to use damsels to cycle saltwater as well, for the same reasons. There is no advantage to using fish over other ammonia sources. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

07/22/2016, 11:23 AM	#42
Stephen Hiatt Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 98	Does anyone have experience with Red Sea reef mature pro kit? It's what BRS uses along with Bio-spira. I'll probably get both, unless one doesn't work.