What comes first?

[Lysh87]

Hi everyone! After my tank with the dead rock has been cycled ( I believe this takes a month?). What is the next thing to introduce? Coral? Fish? Bottom feeders?

 

[fishheadreef]

I started with my clean up crew first. Snails, turbo snails, and some hermit crabs. This is what I decided on due to not as expensive and made sure that my tank would be good for fish and then eventually coral. I have read and been told to do it in this order.

 

[fishheadreef]

Post some pics when you get a chance and Welcome to R2R

 

[kbsharp]

Depends on the state of the tank, i would say fish as the clean up crew will die off if there is no algae and that for them to eat.Then when your tank gets algae and a bit dirtier then a clean up crew then coral in that order.

 

[Lysh87]

 

[Lysh87]

This is day 3

 

[Lysh87]

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[Bbfishb81]

Usually start with CUC, they are cheaper then fish and more sensitive then fish, so if the tank isnt for sure cycled, they will let you know.

 

[kbsharp]

Usually start with CUC, they are cheaper then fish and more sensitive then fish, so if the tank isnt for sure cycled, they will let you know.

What is the logic of clean up crew if the tank doesn't have much for them to eat, they will die fast and possibly cause an ammonia spike. A hardy fish then CUC then coral is my suggestion and Ive watched many pros on youtube and it makes sense if you think of it.

 

[Bbfishb81]

Hermit crabs are a few dollars a piece and they are scavengers, they will eat what they find, including fish food. And if you have a absolutely zero algae in what is suppose to be a cycle tank, then I would think it's not cycled yet. Or if you're worried about snails not having enough food you can put a piece of seaweed in for them.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

I started with my clean up crew first. Snails, turbo snails, and some hermit crabs. This is what I decided on due to not as expensive and made sure that my tank would be good for fish and then eventually coral. I have read and been told to do it in this order.

This is what I do as well.

 

[Lysh87]

This is what I do as well.

Great! Thank you! How many would you start with? I have 13.5 gallon fluval Evo but it actually holds 10 gallons of water.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Probably just a couple of snails. I like trochus snails a lot.

 

[lapin]

What I would do
6 snails because some will die. 3 for sand and 3 for rocks. No hermits because they will eat snails. Ghost feed the tank flakes or a few pellets to keep them alive.

 

[Lysh87]

Probably just a couple of snails. I like trochus snails a lot.

And I’m looking at a month for cycling to be done? I have dead rock and live sand.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

And I’m looking at a month for cycling to be done? I have dead rock and live sand.

I'd wait to add anything living until after the cycle is done. The ammonia in the cycle is poison to anything you put in there before it's done.

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

3 ceirths and 2 blue legged hermits. Maybe add a turbo later but they are more likely to starve.

 

[Lysh87]

3 ceirths and 2 blue legged hermits. Maybe add a turbo later but they are more likely to starve.

Thanks!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Me personally:
CUC yes, and about 3 Black or silver mollies. Will be under $5 for all and will help seed your tank, survive in saltwater and will eat algae.
Also easy to net out when you're ready to stock. Then you can set up a 2.5 - 5 gallon tank for the kids and let them enjoy the mollies !!

 

[burnetb1]

My advice it to start with a couple snails and a single small and hardy fish, then add CUC as needed. I found that hermits were fun to watch, but they are more aggressive than their small size leads on.

Make sure you research and understand what a cycle is. "One month cycle" is an estimate and not a hard timeline. I prefer a longer cycle, closer to 2 or 3 months, but this is all dependent on your water parameters, not how long since it was started.
The ammonia levels are the big indicator, and will give you the best idea of whats going on in the tank.

I cant remember who said it, but I heard someone describe reefing like this: "We don't take care of fish or corals, we take care of water." Learning everything you can about reef chemistry will greatly help in keeping a successful reef.