Hi everyone, I just started my new 40g reef with 60lbs of Fiji LR. I wanted to ask everyone if they would put fish in first or corals first once the tank has cycled.

Thanks

Hello,

I am relatively new to the reef thign as well, but IMHO I would say a few small fish would be a good idea to get things started and ad the coarls a little at a time

Brian

PS Maybe the elder's here can help you more like aquanut and the other reef gods!!

I dont think you will find a difintive answer here. From a filteration perspective it would be better to add the fish last so the tank could handle the bio-logical. The problem is patience usually wins. Meaning not too many of us actually waited, or for that matter even worried about order.

IMO doesn't really matter which way you go, they key is to just go slow. I know the temptation to stock to the hill is overwhelming, but it takes time for a tank to become established.

Staceon is right about going slow. You do not want to add a lot of either, at any time. Go slow. I don't think it really matters which is first.

Jamey[img]/ubb/biggrin.gif[/img]

No to sound redundant...but going slow is the only way to go [img]/ubb/wink.gif[/img] Staceon made a good point about bio-load...corals are not as much of a bio-load as fish...you have the general rule of thumb of 1" of mature fish for every 5g...unlike corals, basically you just have to have the room for their growth.

I posted a question a while back about dumping many corals in at one time...because of Jeff's 9 for $99 special...the replies all stated that as long as the system is established...there should be no problem in doing this...so that should show you the difference of bio-loads to the system...you surely couldn't do this with fish additions.


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The NUT!
Alex's Ocean Realm
GO FOR A DIVE!!!
http://home.earthlink.net/~amariquit/thereef

My highly subjective opinion is that the corals (even the snails and worms!) are far more interesting that the fish.

But as a newbie, I'm taking my time, getting the tank environment stable and establishing biodiversity, before adding corals and other highly desirable invertibrates.

I look at it this way... a fish dies, you're out a few bucks and you flush it. But if a coral, clam or treasured something-or-other dies, it represents a lot of work and care on your part, and in the case of coral is a set of vanishing species, usually dynamited by locals to provide getaways for rich couples from Japan.

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Cheers,
Rob
New York City

Thanks for your replies everyone. I agree with all of you about taking the time to slowly stock my tank. The last thing I want to do is waste money by purchasing livestock too soon and have them die off just because I couldn't wait. I have a 12g reef sitting in my cubcle at the office and it's thriving. My guess is, it's because I took my time stocking that tank. Anyways, have a happy 4th of July everyone!

you will see in my profile that i only have three fish in a 120, (i don't count the blennies as fish, hee hee). i love the corals but a few fish adds to the asthetics of the tank. i am waiting for an order from the LFS of my new citron gobies. and that will be it.


Jade