Fish adding, pls read whole post

[fishguy777]

When do I add fish?
New tank is a 240 system, 200lbs of old live rock, which has been through multiple tanks over the last 8 years. 300lbs of new sand.
Simplicity 800DC skimmer, lifeguard 55 watt UV.

I dumped two bottles of the 16oz API marine quick start in over the past few days.

Fish are being stored in a 65 gallons, and a 40 gallon tub, half filled.

In the 65 and 40, the ammonia levels have been creeping up.

Ammonia in new tank is .15, from an API test kit. I’m guessing it’s from all the new sand, but not sure.

A few days ago I put in some krill in one of the filter socks to try to get some more bacteria started.

I added in a snail to test how the tank would react. Nothing changed, snails alive and well.

Better to add them, or keep them where they are? If I should add, which ones? As I don’t have a lid yet.
I can try to Jerry-rig something with plastic tops.
But not confident it will stop my eel or snapper. Add a weight on top of plastic lid?

Fish are:
40 gal tub
5”emperor ange
4” purple tang
4” polleni grouper

65 gal
8” threadfin snapper
30” zebra eel
6” magnificent foxface
5” blue throat trigger
3” bi color angel

 

[kevgib67]

Boy those are expensive fish so take what I say with a grain of salt . In over 18 years I’ve only started with live rock that contained all the beneficial bacteria for an instant cycle. I would think that if your rock has never left the water, it contains on its surface everything you need to add your fish, unless they were dry for any period of time. I would add them or at least a few, if parameters are fine add the rest. Good luck, and beautiful tank, can’t wait to see it full of life.