Fish or Coral first?

tmccaffery · 04/13/2018, 06:23 PM

My tank is almost cycled.. And curious which first fish or coral? My LFS told me coral like a zoo; mushroom or leather coral to start instead of fish. He told me to go coral then later add fish.

AlSimmons · 04/13/2018, 06:29 PM

I like to add a few snails or perhaps a hermit crab first. If they survive for a week or two then I'll start thinking about spending some serious money on livestock. Just playing it safe.

tmccaffery · 04/13/2018, 06:33 PM

Got you but nothing for them to eat.. Unless I run lights a bit first..

AlSimmons · 04/13/2018, 06:42 PM

It's not so much feeding an inhabitant at this point, it's just a matter of keeping them alive. (a test) Within the first 6-8 months or so lightning can strike. (as your developing a routine) In other words go slow. GL.

RobZilla04 · 04/13/2018, 06:54 PM

Snails and crabs first (clean up crew), then fish, then coral.

ramseynb · 04/14/2018, 01:27 AM

I do a fish then a clean up crew shortly after if all is well. My reasoning for this is the clean up crew needs something to eat or they’re pointless. They could run out of food fast if I’m not adding nutrients to the tank. Plus, I want something swimming around to look at. I suppose I’d be entertained enough if I had a large tank and added a coral colony, but adding a frag or two wouldn’t do it. Plus, I’d want to feed the coral to keep my bacteria population up.

I don’t do corals first for a similar reason. I want to add something that’s going to keep the cycle going and keep my bacteria population up. Then when things settle in a bit and there’s some balance, I’ll add corals. If you’re adding softies, they’re generally much more forgiving so you’d probably be fine but I have only LPS and a few SPS (tank is still new, will acquire a lot more SPS) so I tread a bit lighter and make sure things are semi-stable first. I say “semi-stable” because it takes a very long time for things to become truly stable which is well after adding fish, coral, etc. We’re talking a year or more depending on the coral you’re keeping, the rock you started with, etc.

I’ve done it many different ways though and haven’t really had issues with any of them. The first tank I set up a decade ago, I used live rock, let the tank cycle from the die off, once cycled added a CUC and a coral shortly after, then a fish a couple weeks after that. It also worked out just fine.

I guess what I’m saying is, I have my own method that works for me and makes sense to me, but I’ve done it various ways and haven’t had issues so do what you feel makes sense and what you want and feel free to experiment a bit. I think you’ll be fine either way.

My only real warning would be, if you add the CUC first, make sure you have some nori or something to feed them if they make quick work of any algae. Without a nutrient source, the algae will not keep growing after it’s been eaten.

homer1475 · 04/14/2018, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ramseynb

Plus, I’d want to feed the coral to keep my bacteria population up.

I don’t do corals first for a similar reason. I want to add something that’s going to keep the cycle going and keep my bacteria population up.

You do know there are plenty of studies out there that show the nitrifying bacteria in our tanks, once established can live for well up to a year with 0 food source?

Not saying your wrong, just your reasoning behind it is wrong.

Personally, I would do coral first. Start with something hardy like a frogspawn, then when it starts to grow, then go with a couple fish.

My reasoning, you need pretty decent water to keep corals, once thats established fish are easy. You can do it either way OP. No one way is right.

Uncle99 · 04/14/2018, 12:03 PM

So I started with my nem first until he did not move for a month,then my clown pair, then I add a peaceful fish and a couple of corals...then every two weeks or so.....a fish....a coral or two...and so on....
18 months later, 6 fish, 3 shrimp, 25 softies, 20 LPS, 5 SPS, and 3 clams....finished...70g...

ramseynb · 04/14/2018, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by homer1475

You do know there are plenty of studies out there that show the nitrifying bacteria in our tanks, once established can live for well up to a year with 0 food source?

Not saying your wrong, just your reasoning behind it is wrong.

Personally, I would do coral first. Start with something hardy like a frogspawn, then when it starts to grow, then go with a couple fish.

My reasoning, you need pretty decent water to keep corals, once thats established fish are easy. You can do it either way OP. No one way is right.

Hmm, I had heard like 6 weeks or something. I had no idea it lived up to a year! I'll have to check that out!

04/13/2018, 06:23 PM	#1
tmccaffery Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 170	Fish or Coral first? My tank is almost cycled.. And curious which first fish or coral? My LFS told me coral like a zoo; mushroom or leather coral to start instead of fish. He told me to go coral then later add fish.

04/13/2018, 06:54 PM	#5
RobZilla04 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: St. Augustine, FL Posts: 1,857	Snails and crabs first (clean up crew), then fish, then coral. __________________ 90g Mixed Reef

04/14/2018, 01:27 AM	#6
ramseynb Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: New Braunfels, TX Posts: 630	Fish or Coral first? I do a fish then a clean up crew shortly after if all is well. My reasoning for this is the clean up crew needs something to eat or they’re pointless. They could run out of food fast if I’m not adding nutrients to the tank. Plus, I want something swimming around to look at. I suppose I’d be entertained enough if I had a large tank and added a coral colony, but adding a frag or two wouldn’t do it. Plus, I’d want to feed the coral to keep my bacteria population up. I don’t do corals first for a similar reason. I want to add something that’s going to keep the cycle going and keep my bacteria population up. Then when things settle in a bit and there’s some balance, I’ll add corals. If you’re adding softies, they’re generally much more forgiving so you’d probably be fine but I have only LPS and a few SPS (tank is still new, will acquire a lot more SPS) so I tread a bit lighter and make sure things are semi-stable first. I say “semi-stable” because it takes a very long time for things to become truly stable which is well after adding fish, coral, etc. We’re talking a year or more depending on the coral you’re keeping, the rock you started with, etc. I’ve done it many different ways though and haven’t really had issues with any of them. The first tank I set up a decade ago, I used live rock, let the tank cycle from the die off, once cycled added a CUC and a coral shortly after, then a fish a couple weeks after that. It also worked out just fine. I guess what I’m saying is, I have my own method that works for me and makes sense to me, but I’ve done it various ways and haven’t had issues so do what you feel makes sense and what you want and feel free to experiment a bit. I think you’ll be fine either way. My only real warning would be, if you add the CUC first, make sure you have some nori or something to feed them if they make quick work of any algae. Without a nutrient source, the algae will not keep growing after it’s been eaten. __________________ How do you make an octopus laugh? Ten tickles! Last edited by ramseynb; 04/14/2018 at 01:33 AM.

04/13/2018, 06:29 PM	#2
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	I like to add a few snails or perhaps a hermit crab first. If they survive for a week or two then I'll start thinking about spending some serious money on livestock. Just playing it safe.

04/13/2018, 06:33 PM	#3
tmccaffery Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 170	Got you but nothing for them to eat.. Unless I run lights a bit first..

04/13/2018, 06:42 PM	#4
AlSimmons Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: California Posts: 2,482	It's not so much feeding an inhabitant at this point, it's just a matter of keeping them alive. (a test) Within the first 6-8 months or so lightning can strike. (as your developing a routine) In other words go slow. GL.

04/14/2018, 12:03 PM	#8
Uncle99 Crab Free Zone Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,906	So I started with my nem first until he did not move for a month,then my clown pair, then I add a peaceful fish and a couple of corals...then every two weeks or so.....a fish....a coral or two...and so on.... 18 months later, 6 fish, 3 shrimp, 25 softies, 20 LPS, 5 SPS, and 3 clams....finished...70g...