Adding livestock

[tank1970]

Well this weekend I will be adding my first livestock (if all goes as planned) this is my list for the first introduction into the tank.
1 turbo snail
5 asterea snails
3 red or fire reef hermit crabs
5 Onyx Nassarius snails
1 camelback shrimp
2 fire clowns
2 bartlett anthias

Long term I want a reef tank so other then adding a tang I don't think I will add more fish (maybe a blenny)

I would like to add a coral but the aquarium will only be 26 days old on Saturday.

Please let me know if this list is ok or am I missing things?

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

IMO, that's too much too fast. I don't think you tank has even finished cycling yet. Has it? No livestock should be added until ammonia and nitrites are zero and stay there for a week or more. I don't think your tank is even 2 weeks old. If you add anything before the cycle is complete and stable, they may likely die and increase your cycling time. You might just be wasting time and money by adding too soon. You don't need any livestock to cycle your tank. Just toss in a small amount of food every few days.

Edit: I skipped the part where you said your tank is 26 days old. But my opinion still respectfully stands.

[tank1970]

Thanks FoMo
I won't be adding live stock till all is stable - my Ammonia is at 0 and I am waiting till this weekend to add livestock. Do you think It should be older? Do I not need to add a clean up crew and a fish or two to keep the cycle moving forward?
On the week end the tank will be 26 days old (actually 27 on Sat)

If my Ammonia and Nitrites are still at 0 On Saturday would that be a good time to move forward?

I am not in any hurry and want to do it right.

Should I wait longer? and if I am to wait longer how much longer?

Is it to much fish? or too many clean up crew? to start.

You said add food??? What do you suggest? I do have a refugium with micro algae

[tank1970]

Just read more on this subject and 2 things jumped out at me.
#1 don't add hermit crabs
#2 add less

So maybe the 2 fire clowns, snails to start then add a crab or two?

This is if the ammonia and nitrite is still at 0 this week end

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

I would wait at least a week after the ammonia and nitrites hit 0 ppm before adding any livestock. That way, it gives the bacteria a chance to stabilize. In the meantime, I would feed the tank a couple of grams of frozen marine food (thawed and rinsed) every other day or so. It's for both the pods/ worms/ etc.. And the bacteria to be fed. Then, I would add the clean up crew (snails, crabs, etc...). After that, I would wait at least a couple of more weeks ( the more the better) for the bacteria to 'catch up' with the increased bio load. I would also test the water regularly to make sure there's no ammonia or nitrite spikes. If all is well, I would add one or 2 small fish at a time and wait for a few weeks in between. It seems like most of your time will be occupied by waiting but it's necessary to help prevent problems.
Another recommendation would be to quarantine your livestock in another tank before introducing them into the display. That way, if there's an illness or parasites, you can begin treatment immediately after diagnosis rather than having to try and catch sick fish in a tank full of rocks. I think Leebca recommends no less than 4 weeks of quarantine. I personally like 6 weeks but may even stretch it out to 8 weeks since I found my clowns with ich recently (after qt'ing them). It might be overkill but I'm sure I would feel better. Remember. I'm not the resident expert here so others may have different opinions about it all. I'm sure almost everyone can agree that the slower you go, the better off you will be. Hope this helps.

[tank1970]

Thanks again MoFo, I am waiting a week after the nitrite and ammonia was 0, so I am on the right track.
So should I be putting in shrimp pieces now? and adding a clean up crew this week end?

[Original Fin]

[QUOTE=tank1970;230391]Thanks again MoFo, QUOTE]

Tank 1970, I don't know if you did it on purpose or not, but that gave me a good chuckle...Ford Motor Company Master Tech does sort of look like MO FO if you glance at it quickly

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

I didn't catch that until you pointed it out.
I've been called much worse!

[tank1970]

oh so sorry - no it was by mistake

I must have been tired.

So sorry :-)

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

No worries. I wonder if I can change my name to MoFo. Would suit me better.