Patience may be a virtue, but.......

[NoSump]

In reviewing my tank log book yesterday, I noticed that my tank was initally set-up on 11/04/04. I removed my crushed coral substrate and replaced it with sand a month later (that set me back a bit). Since then I have been adding live rock (in three phases). With each live rock phase, I have had to wait for curing in a large plastic container and then a further period in the tank. I just introduced the last phase of live rock to the tank last night.


My question is this - I am now at three months and counting, and as yet have only snails and a few (soon to be fewer) hermit crabs; am I dragging the cycling process well beyond what is a normal period? I know that the short answer is that it is the tank conditions that determine when to add lifestock, not time. But I am beginning to wonder if I am being a bit overly cautious.

Thanks,
Chuck

[Samper]

When I set up my 120 gallon it won't have any life in it other than a cleanup crew for atleast the first 6 months. That's a bit extreme and I'm not saying this is what you need to do. Take your time though and don't chomp at the bit too much it'll pay off.

[Peterock]

I think that you are dragging the process because of the addition of live rock in so many phases, Why didn't you add that all at once? Also you might want to try some bottle bacteria to help nutrilize and start cycling quicker. I might be wrong but that is what i did on my 45gallon

[Samper]

Instead of wasting money buying bottled bacteria just throw a shrimp in there and let it decay until it's gone.

[Peterock]

What type of shrimp will do that i have never heard of that before. I am new to the game and looking for all the info i can get....

[Samper]

Basically anything you can put in there and let rot will build up bacteria populations. Some people use a frozen shrimp from the seafood dept is the reason I said shrimp. You don't want something huge or it might stink though.

[NoSump]

Basically anything you can put in there and let rot will build up bacteria populations. Some people use a frozen shrimp from the seafood dept is the reason I said shrimp. You don't want something huge or it might stink though.

Thanks guys, actually my water parameters are good. I've been holding off, on introducing lifestock until my nitrates are under 5ppm. I'm around 15-20 ppm now. I know that by phasing my live rock, that has also stretched out the process. Frankly, I did in it phases because I did not want to buy too much or too little. Each time I've added rock, I get a better idea of how much would required to complete the acquascape that I was trying to achieve.

It's now complete, so I should be introducing lifestock soon.

Chuck

[Samper]

IF you just added a good amount of LR to your existing you might experience another small cycle in the next little bit.

[NoSump]

IF you just added a good amount of LR to your existing you might experience another small cycle in the next little bit.

Chuck:

Yes, I'll have to let the last batch of rock cycle for a few more weeks before I even think about adding some fish.

The plan for my 72 Gallon is as follows:

2- Ocellaris Clowns
1- Royal Gamma Basslet
1- Neon Blue wrasse
1- yellow watchman goby
1- coral beauty angelfish
1 - yellow tang

a couple of shrimp, and of course some soft coral. I plan to first introduce the clowns, and then wait a couple of weeks, between each new introduction. What do you think?

Chuck

[Samper]

I think someone else should chime in about your list and the order of which to add your fish. I've never had experience with many of them and am not too familiar with their behaviors etc.

[Reefland]

Not sure about the "Neon Blue Wrasse" but the others look ok to me.

[charlie]

Just make sure you add the tang last!!!! Like Reefland, I have no experience with the wrasse, so I'm not gonna offer there.
There is nothing wrong with taking your time!! you seem to have it all in one big bag, so keep it that way. I kind of like your idea about adding LR in different phases, sure it may stretch out the cycle, but that's no biggie.
Are you going to have a sand bed, the watchman may appreciate that. Mine takes mouthfuls of sand for a munchie every now and then. They have a great personality too!!
Good luck

[NoSump]

Thanks,

From what I've read the blue neon is a fairly easy cleaner fish to keep - I'll find out how easy.

In terms of my substrate, I started out with a mixed sand and crushed coral base. Ninong gave me some great advice, which was too remove the crushed coral and start all over with sand only. I hated to do the switch at the time, but I am glad that I did. I now have a nice deep bed of good old Home Depot tropical playground sand. I complimented it with live sand from three different mature sources. So I should have a nice active sand bed that should accomodate the watchman gobie.

Also, the Yellow Tang will be added much later - at least 6 months. I understand that the most docile species should be introduced first. And that the most agressive should be last. My list was also the order in which I am planning to introduce the fish. Posiedon recommended that my first coral should be Ricordia. Which will be introduced soon after the first fish.

In terms of the shrimp, I plan to add one or two peppermint shrimp but I'm not sure about the other varieties (I may get a pistol shrimp to interact with the gobie).

Any thoughts on my strategy? One other question, do you recommend a quarantine tank. Most of the books that I've read recomend quarantining new fish. I assume that it's even more important with a reef tank - since copper treatment would be toxic to the corals.


Chuck

[charlie]

Stick with your plan, it sounds pretty solid. If you have the room, do a "Q" tank. I wish I had!!!!

[Poseidon]

Sounds like you are doing GREAT!!! Keep it up, you will have this tank LONG term so keep it slow and simple, you will succeed!

BTW my Ocellaris clowns are/can be pretty nasty! The Female bites the crap outta me every time I go near HER hammer coral! You may want to add those just before the Gramma Loreto but be careful even with that last one, they have HUGE mouths!!

[NoSump]

BTW my Ocellaris clowns are/can be pretty nasty! The Female bites the crap outta me every time I go near HER hammer coral! You may want to add those just before the Gramma Loreto but be careful even with that last one, they have HUGE mouths!![/QUOTE]


Posiedon:

Thanks, this site has been a huge help in learning about reef keeping.

I was under the impression that Ocellaris Clowns were the most peaceful of all the Clown varieties - is that accurate? Are all clowns a bit agressive? The last time that you told me somthing was nasty, it was hermit crabs. You were right then, and I'm sure that you are right now.

Chuck

[zhenya]

Chuck,

Pretty much all clownfish can be very territorial. I've had a Premnas a little while ago that many consider to be the most agressive of the clownfish. In my case it was the the most peaceful fish in the tank. It rearranged some rocks and sand bed but never bit me or other tankmates. In my other tank I have a Clarkii clownfish which is a terror....
What I am trying to say is that a lot depends on the individual character of the fish in each species.
I like your fish list by the way and the order in which you plan to add them.
The Centropyge bispinosa can be a fish to watch on that list though, some are quite dosile towards corals but some are notorious nippers of corals and clam mantles.

[NoSump]

Zhenya:

Thanks - I'm looking forward to finally having some fish in the tank.