Are we ready to add fish????

SteveNMegz · #1 01/02/2008, 03:24 PM

Hey guys,

So we've had our tank up and running for a month now.
First week we added live sand, and saw an ammonia spike,
second week we added 30 lbs of live rock(still had 2 weeks left to cure) and saw an ammonia spike
Third week we added another 40 lbs of live rock (same rock as before(cured)) and saw no ammonia spike or nitrites
fourth week still no ammonia, or nitrites, and 5mg/L of nitrates.

We have copepods, peanut worms, diatoms and algae growing throughout the tank(and on the glass), and wondering if its time to add a couple snails and hermits?

65 gallon tank, skimmer, korilia powerheads, etc...

THANKS!!!

old salty · #2 01/02/2008, 03:33 PM

Now would be the time to put the fish you want to add into quarantine. By the time you are finished with this, the tank should be nice and stable.

SteveNMegz · #3 01/02/2008, 03:36 PM

is it safe to put the clean up crew into the tank right now?

How long should the fish be in quarantine for?

brward5 · #4 01/02/2008, 03:43 PM

you should be good to add the CUC. QT the fish for 4-6 wks.

SteveNMegz · #5 01/02/2008, 03:50 PM

Our PH is low at 7.9

Do we use a buffer to raise this to 8.1 or above?

If so, are there any good brands to looke for?

dsn112 · #6 01/02/2008, 03:52 PM

I don't believe in buffers for that. Water changes help. What time of day did u test? Its higher during the day and lower at night.

SteveNMegz · #7 01/02/2008, 04:10 PM

if no buffers, then how can you raise it? its been 7.9 throughout the tanks cycle. we'll try testing it again right now though to make sure. We're using RO water and coralife salt.

warrenm107 · #8 01/02/2008, 04:55 PM

I would say that it is safe to add a couple of snails. However if the snails head straight for the top of the tank, you probably have a little more cycling to do. Try a water change and see if this helps the snails out.

kau_cinta_ku · #9 01/02/2008, 05:15 PM

for your pH problems
Low pH: Causes and Cures

auntynatal · #10 01/02/2008, 05:49 PM

My Ph has always sat at 7.9 I used to use buffers until I started reading here. It doesn't seem to affect anything badly.

paveking1 · #11 01/02/2008, 06:19 PM

I would let cycle for 2 more weeks ,then put the low end fish in first. No sense killing exspensive livestock or any for that matter,but start at low end just incase.clean up crew should be fine i put them in my tank at 2 weeks . there still in there cleaning up 2 yrs later. hope i helped .Rick

tcilmo · #12 01/02/2008, 09:47 PM

I would say toss in a few clears, snails , etc for a week or two and then you should be clear add your first fish.

george81 · #13 01/03/2008, 12:02 AM

you have got 1/2 the required live rock....you need a MINIMUM of 1 lb per gallon ideally 1.5-2 per gallon. You are going to have many problems. sorry. but get the required amount of live rock, this is not a cheap hobby.

george81 · #14 01/03/2008, 12:03 AM

you have got 1/2 the required live rock....you need a MINIMUM of 1 lb per gallon ideally 1.5-2 per gallon. You are going to have many problems. sorry. but get the required amount of live rock, this is not a cheap hobby. you re tank is not ready until you have 0 nitrates. dont add anything.

rlm2005 · #15 01/03/2008, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by george81
you have got 1/2 the required live rock....you need a MINIMUM of 1 lb per gallon ideally 1.5-2 per gallon. You are going to have many problems. sorry. but get the required amount of live rock, this is not a cheap hobby.

The first post states that they have 70 lbs of live rock. It's a 65 gallon tank.

george81 · #16 01/03/2008, 01:42 AM

oh i m sorry for some reason i thought you said 35 lbs rock my bad....i should learn to be more observant.

Rustylugnuts · #17 01/03/2008, 01:51 AM

It happens to the best of us (or in my case way to often).

tmz · #18 01/03/2008, 01:59 AM

If you are just starting with fish in a few weeks now is the time to make the committment to quarantine all fish for at least four weeks before placing them into your tank.
Through quarantine and treatment you will lose many fewer fish since they will be in an environment where medications can be administered as needed which is not the case in a reef tank and you will protect your tank from a parasitic infestation which will be extremely difficult to deal with.It may seem a daunting task lbut it's pretty easy and well worht the effort.

SteveNMegz · #19 01/03/2008, 10:14 PM

so a quartine tank is just used to observe the fish over a matter of weeks to find out weather the fish is sick, right? and if so then treat it.
is this correct?

kau_cinta_ku · #20 01/03/2008, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SteveNMegz
so a quartine tank is just used to observe the fish over a matter of weeks to find out weather the fish is sick, right? and if so then treat it.
is this correct?

that is correct. otherwise if you put the fish into the main tank without quartine and it does get sick it can spread it to the other fish.

tmz · #21 01/03/2008, 10:54 PM

IF the fish is in your reef and your reef tank is developed it may be impossible to get it out. There are other reasons for quarantine but the main one is disease prevention and protection of your display tank as well as the ability to treat a sick fish. Quarantine if set up as a nice environment can also offer opportunities for a new fish to suffer less stress than it would if dropped in with boisterous tankmates and for you to employ speciific feeding strategies for certain sp[ecimens which may be reluctant to eat. Some advocate prophylactic treatments of hypo salinity ,prazi pro and/or copper sulfate. My preference is a slightly lowered salinity because it's easier on the new fish(sg 1.20 or less) and a 4 week quarantine p[eriod with no symptoms of any infestation.Quick treatment if symptoms appear.