New 14 gal. tank...do I have to QT?

smartang22 · 02/06/2007, 03:35 PM

Hello all. I am brand new at the saltwater set up and I need a bit of advice. My tank is a 14 gallon BioCube with live sand and 15 lbs. of live rock that has almost finished cycling. I plan on getting 2 shrimp (peppermint or cleaners), a goby, and a captive raised clown from a very good store. I do not have a QT tank and since these fish will all br brought home at the same time, do I have to be concerned with the QT tank? I would like to approach this in the best way possible.

Also, I was thinking about getting some friendly soft coral as well. When is the best time to introduce them to the tank? Before, after, or with the fish/shrimp.

One more thing: I would like to get some cleaner crabs and snails. When do they get introduced? I do have great growth on my live rock that would be yummy to them.

I do not want to overload this system, so does this list seem to be ok?

clown
goby
2 shrimp
3-4 crabs
3-4 snails

Please, any suggestions/comments in setting this up would be so appreciated. I want to make my first attempt at saltwater to be successful.

Thanks!!!

sidneybrooksjr · 02/06/2007, 03:56 PM

patience my friend. imho your list sounds great but i wouldn't add them so quickly or all at once. 14 gal.is not a lot especially w/ live rock so you don't want a large bioload to quickly. on rc you will find that most people recommend qt, especially fish and inverts. your qt can be something as simple as a rubbermaid bin, w/ some type of filter and heater.. i do feel your pain though. i don't have one either but i have paid for it in the past. good luck partner and welcome to RC. this is the best place to learn .

zoomfish1 · 02/06/2007, 04:37 PM

(Welcome)

Don't add all at once or you may experience an ammonia spike. I would add the snails first, then a week later add 1 fish. Wait another week or 10 days and add the other fish. Would add the shrimp last.

Remember, nothing good, in this hobby, happens fast.

As far as QT, I haven't added any fish in so long I don't even know where mine is. But when I add, I QT for 3-4 weeks minimum. Better safe than sorry.

smartang22 · 02/06/2007, 05:00 PM

Of course. It was in retrospect silly for me to think I could add everything at once!!

But as far as needing a QT: I don't have anything in my tank now. If anything were to happen, wouldn't it be easy to fix it with just one fish in there? Remember, this is inexperience talking.

Could you please tell me why I would add the shrimp last? I was almost hoping to add the shrimp first after the snails and then do the fish later (month or two later). I really, really want shrimp; that is kind of the main reason for the nano tank. Any comments about that?

Thanks again for the guidance!!

zoomfish1 · 02/06/2007, 05:12 PM

You could add the shrimp after the snails with no problem. My thinking was the fish would be acclimated and comfy when the shrimp was added. Really wouldn't matter though.

02/06/2007, 03:35 PM	#1
smartang22 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Portage, IN Posts: 191	New 14 gal. tank...do I have to QT? Hello all. I am brand new at the saltwater set up and I need a bit of advice. My tank is a 14 gallon BioCube with live sand and 15 lbs. of live rock that has almost finished cycling. I plan on getting 2 shrimp (peppermint or cleaners), a goby, and a captive raised clown from a very good store. I do not have a QT tank and since these fish will all br brought home at the same time, do I have to be concerned with the QT tank? I would like to approach this in the best way possible. Also, I was thinking about getting some friendly soft coral as well. When is the best time to introduce them to the tank? Before, after, or with the fish/shrimp. One more thing: I would like to get some cleaner crabs and snails. When do they get introduced? I do have great growth on my live rock that would be yummy to them. I do not want to overload this system, so does this list seem to be ok? clown goby 2 shrimp 3-4 crabs 3-4 snails Please, any suggestions/comments in setting this up would be so appreciated. I want to make my first attempt at saltwater to be successful. Thanks!!!

02/06/2007, 03:56 PM	#2
sidneybrooksjr Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 140	patience my friend. imho your list sounds great but i wouldn't add them so quickly or all at once. 14 gal.is not a lot especially w/ live rock so you don't want a large bioload to quickly. on rc you will find that most people recommend qt, especially fish and inverts. your qt can be something as simple as a rubbermaid bin, w/ some type of filter and heater.. i do feel your pain though. i don't have one either but i have paid for it in the past. good luck partner and welcome to RC. this is the best place to learn . __________________ eazz Current Tank Info: w/ 75 gallon, LTA, BTA and maroon clown, lemon peel,fiji damsel

02/06/2007, 04:37 PM	#3
zoomfish1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Claremore, Oklahoma Posts: 1,659	(Welcome) Don't add all at once or you may experience an ammonia spike. I would add the snails first, then a week later add 1 fish. Wait another week or 10 days and add the other fish. Would add the shrimp last. Remember, nothing good, in this hobby, happens fast. As far as QT, I haven't added any fish in so long I don't even know where mine is. But when I add, I QT for 3-4 weeks minimum. Better safe than sorry. __________________ Zoomfish Current Tank Info: 75g RR, dsb w/90 lbs sand, 150 lb live rock, anemone & LPS tank

02/06/2007, 05:12 PM	#5
zoomfish1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Claremore, Oklahoma Posts: 1,659	You could add the shrimp after the snails with no problem. My thinking was the fish would be acclimated and comfy when the shrimp was added. Really wouldn't matter though. __________________ Zoomfish Current Tank Info: 75g RR, dsb w/90 lbs sand, 150 lb live rock, anemone & LPS tank

02/06/2007, 05:00 PM	#4
smartang22 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Portage, IN Posts: 191	Of course. It was in retrospect silly for me to think I could add everything at once!! But as far as needing a QT: I don't have anything in my tank now. If anything were to happen, wouldn't it be easy to fix it with just one fish in there? Remember, this is inexperience talking. Could you please tell me why I would add the shrimp last? I was almost hoping to add the shrimp first after the snails and then do the fish later (month or two later). I really, really want shrimp; that is kind of the main reason for the nano tank. Any comments about that? Thanks again for the guidance!!