What next?

soramsu · 07/19/2011, 10:07 AM

So, my tank is currently cycling and thinking about what to stock with. The definite must haves are a powder blue tang, yellow tang, and a pair of clownfish. Still haven't decided what other fish I want to get.

I guess my question is after the tank cycles, should I go ahead and get one of these and add it? I've heard you should get the clean up crew going, but if I don't have fish, there's nothing for them to 'clean up'. Should I add fish before the CUC? And what should I get for the CUC? I see online most packages for CUC's are targeted at specific problems...I don't have any problems, yet... hah

SneakyPete · 07/19/2011, 10:10 AM

I'm a noob to SW tanks, but I'm pretty sure we are going to need more information about your tank. How many gallons, how much LR, etc.

soramsu · 07/19/2011, 10:12 AM

Uhm...125 gallons, ~125 lbs of dry rock with ~5 lbs of live rock, fuge with live rock/sand, will be getting some cheato to go in it as well.

sporto0 · 07/19/2011, 10:19 AM

I would put a clean up crew in first, the size of which would depend on how many gallons you have. Put the clowns in first & wait for a while to see how your parameters are, then add both tangs at the same time, even though one is an acanthurus & the other is a zebrasoma, they will fight if one is given time to establish itself before the other.

soramsu · 07/19/2011, 10:21 AM

So, it's a 125 gallon, what should I get for a CUC? and what will they eat if there's no fish or algae or anything in the tank? And...how long after adding the CUC should I add the fish?

sporto0 · 07/19/2011, 10:27 AM

They sell package deals for tank sizes, it's up to you what you want, snails, hermits, or both. The clean up crew is for scavenging left over food & nuisance algae, which you will almost certainly have, if your worried about them eating throw a LITTLE bit of food in now & again for them until you get the fish. You should not get fish until you are absolutely certain your cycle has finished & always add livestock a few at a time to give your bacteria time to colonize.

4deepwater8 · 07/19/2011, 10:32 AM

Did you cycle your tank with a shrimp or something? If you did then you have algae growing and the crabs or snails will eat that. Just don't get 100 of them. Better to start slow and get more as needed, depending on what the bioload of your tank will be.

soramsu · 07/19/2011, 10:40 AM

Yea, it's cycling with a dead shrimp, but not finished yet. Haven't seen any algae growing. I'm also running carbon and gfo, although not sure I should during the cycle.

07/19/2011, 10:07 AM	#1
soramsu Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 127	What next? So, my tank is currently cycling and thinking about what to stock with. The definite must haves are a powder blue tang, yellow tang, and a pair of clownfish. Still haven't decided what other fish I want to get. I guess my question is after the tank cycles, should I go ahead and get one of these and add it? I've heard you should get the clean up crew going, but if I don't have fish, there's nothing for them to 'clean up'. Should I add fish before the CUC? And what should I get for the CUC? I see online most packages for CUC's are targeted at specific problems...I don't have any problems, yet... hah

07/19/2011, 10:10 AM	#2
SneakyPete I see you Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Northwestern Minnesota Posts: 513	I'm a noob to SW tanks, but I'm pretty sure we are going to need more information about your tank. How many gallons, how much LR, etc. __________________ 40B in recovery mode Trumpet coral, Kenya tree, unknown Zoa Skunk Cleaner, 2 Ocellaris Clowns, Royal Gramma Current Tank Info: 40B w 29 sump. 50 lbs rock

07/19/2011, 10:12 AM	#3
soramsu Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 127	Uhm...125 gallons, ~125 lbs of dry rock with ~5 lbs of live rock, fuge with live rock/sand, will be getting some cheato to go in it as well.

07/19/2011, 10:19 AM	#4
sporto0 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. Posts: 2,924	I would put a clean up crew in first, the size of which would depend on how many gallons you have. Put the clowns in first & wait for a while to see how your parameters are, then add both tangs at the same time, even though one is an acanthurus & the other is a zebrasoma, they will fight if one is given time to establish itself before the other.

07/19/2011, 10:21 AM	#5
soramsu Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 127	So, it's a 125 gallon, what should I get for a CUC? and what will they eat if there's no fish or algae or anything in the tank? And...how long after adding the CUC should I add the fish?

07/19/2011, 10:27 AM	#6
sporto0 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. Posts: 2,924	They sell package deals for tank sizes, it's up to you what you want, snails, hermits, or both. The clean up crew is for scavenging left over food & nuisance algae, which you will almost certainly have, if your worried about them eating throw a LITTLE bit of food in now & again for them until you get the fish. You should not get fish until you are absolutely certain your cycle has finished & always add livestock a few at a time to give your bacteria time to colonize.

07/19/2011, 10:32 AM	#7
4deepwater8 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: T.S., FL Posts: 67	Did you cycle your tank with a shrimp or something? If you did then you have algae growing and the crabs or snails will eat that. Just don't get 100 of them. Better to start slow and get more as needed, depending on what the bioload of your tank will be.

07/19/2011, 10:40 AM	#8
soramsu Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 127	Yea, it's cycling with a dead shrimp, but not finished yet. Haven't seen any algae growing. I'm also running carbon and gfo, although not sure I should during the cycle.