when is a tank ready for fish?

Joshthenosh · 02/14/2006, 01:08 PM

my 16 gla nano was cycled for a week and the clean up crew are in and a leather coral they all seem happy, when should i put my fish in?

thinking about 2 perc clowns, and either a royal gramma, a purple dottyback, fire fish, or some other type of goby

WaterKeeper · 02/14/2006, 01:19 PM

Hang on there Josh. That is a bunch of fish for a 16. It is not like FW where you can pack them in. I'd go with the Royal Gramma for that size tank. If everything is OK after a month or two then try one more small fish. That is about all your tank can support. Clowns grow too big for anything less than a 30.

Joshthenosh · 02/14/2006, 01:40 PM

i want clowns! im not sure if euro gallons n us gallons are diffrent? but i see clowns in tanks my size all the time

Joshthenosh · 02/14/2006, 01:41 PM

oh sorry but when u think i can put my first fish in?

my params are

amonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 25
Sg 1.025
temp 78

keeperofthefish · 02/14/2006, 02:16 PM

People who put clowns in tanks your size will end up with stunted or dead fish. Clowns can live a decade or more. If they live less than that, you as an aquarist are doing a less than adequate job of caring for them. Even if you want to do nearly 100% water changes every week, that tank is not suitable for clowns. A royal gramma and another small fish (a firefish, perhaps--but avoid purple ones with the gramma in there) would be a great choice.

Joshthenosh · 02/14/2006, 05:43 PM

still aint answered the question

bidding on e bay for a 39 gal tank now

vonodie1 · 02/14/2006, 06:00 PM

I am a noob, so take this with a grain of salt. Everything that I have read from other posters; you should make sure that you ammonia and nitrite readings are at zero for at least a week, two or three would be better.

HTH

tbettis · 02/14/2006, 06:02 PM

whole up a minute and think. dont rush.

zimmy1979 · 02/14/2006, 06:03 PM

IMHO I would wait another 2 or 3 weeks while you continue to do water changes and monitor your tank then add 1 fish..rinse and repeat.

Joshthenosh · 02/14/2006, 07:09 PM

ok will do thanks

02/14/2006, 01:08 PM	#1
Joshthenosh Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 188	when is a tank ready for fish? my 16 gla nano was cycled for a week and the clean up crew are in and a leather coral they all seem happy, when should i put my fish in? thinking about 2 perc clowns, and either a royal gramma, a purple dottyback, fire fish, or some other type of goby

02/14/2006, 01:19 PM	#2
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Hang on there Josh. That is a bunch of fish for a 16. It is not like FW where you can pack them in. I'd go with the Royal Gramma for that size tank. If everything is OK after a month or two then try one more small fish. That is about all your tank can support. Clowns grow too big for anything less than a 30. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

02/14/2006, 06:00 PM	#7
vonodie1 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: OK Posts: 188	I am a noob, so take this with a grain of salt. Everything that I have read from other posters; you should make sure that you ammonia and nitrite readings are at zero for at least a week, two or three would be better. HTH __________________ Stacy Current Tank Info: an empty 180 gallon

02/14/2006, 06:02 PM	#8
tbettis Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 281	whole up a minute and think. dont rush. __________________ 180 My Reef Creations Hybrid Stapphire. MRC 36 bio sump and Reactors. Neptune Apex. Prized Crosshatch and Black Tang. 4 AI Vega LED Current Tank Info: 180 new build. My Reef Creations

02/14/2006, 01:40 PM	#3
Joshthenosh Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 188	i want clowns! im not sure if euro gallons n us gallons are diffrent? but i see clowns in tanks my size all the time

02/14/2006, 01:41 PM	#4
Joshthenosh Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 188	oh sorry but when u think i can put my first fish in? my params are amonia 0 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 25 Sg 1.025 temp 78

02/14/2006, 02:16 PM	#5
keeperofthefish Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Washington, DC Posts: 228	People who put clowns in tanks your size will end up with stunted or dead fish. Clowns can live a decade or more. If they live less than that, you as an aquarist are doing a less than adequate job of caring for them. Even if you want to do nearly 100% water changes every week, that tank is not suitable for clowns. A royal gramma and another small fish (a firefish, perhaps--but avoid purple ones with the gramma in there) would be a great choice.

02/14/2006, 05:43 PM	#6
Joshthenosh Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 188	still aint answered the question bidding on e bay for a 39 gal tank now

02/14/2006, 06:03 PM	#9
zimmy1979 Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: City of Angels Posts: 405	IMHO I would wait another 2 or 3 weeks while you continue to do water changes and monitor your tank then add 1 fish..rinse and repeat.

02/14/2006, 07:09 PM	#10
Joshthenosh Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: London UK Posts: 188	ok will do thanks