A Few Simple Questions

[adpgibso]

Hi all, my 29 bowfront has been cycling now for a month...
I just recently purchased a small yellow tang (going to get big I know) and I have 25lbs more cured rock coming on Wednesday. All chemistry is looking good...so now the questions

Will my skimmer help at all with green algae?
-I just started my skimmer the other night after 3 weeks of initial cycling, and I have a hell of a green algae outbreak. Thinking of getting a clean up crew

Has anyone had experience with phosphate removers?
-I've read this will take care of my problems...I've also lowered the daylight 6500k lights down to only 6 hours a day...still running actinics around 10 hours

How sensitive will my tank be to new fish/crews?
-I'm thinking about ordering (2)Percula Clowns, (1)Purple Pseudochromis, (1)Florida Condi Anemone, 10 Hawaiian Zebra Hermit crabs, and 10 Turbo snails from saltwaterfish.com
I just didn't know if those 3 fish being added at once will harm the water? I figure the skimmer and live rock will help

Sorry for the length but you never can be too sure! This is an expensive hobby for a college guy! Thanks again!

[geo]

I would not add any fish at this time and take back or find a new home for that tang if possible. Adding a clean up crew is a good idea, but take it slow on stocking the tank. Reef tanks take years to mature, rushing things never ends up well. I would also suggest avoiding the condy anemone.

[sinkingbeach]

I would return the tang first, then add the 25lbs of live rock skimming 24/7, make sure you don't get a mini cycle with the added rock, then introduce a clean-up crew. The clean-up crew should take care of your algae problem and you will have an algae problem due to it being a new tank. I've learned not to add anything unless you test for it so what are your current phosphate readings? Slowly add fish 1 or 2 monthly provided your water quality is pristine. I would seriously reconsider adding a tang to your system, quite frankly your tank is to small. I hope you find this helpful

[exacta123]

29 gl way to small for a tang add LR & 24/7 skimming if your not using RO water you should consider that will help with your phosphates

[adpgibso]

I'm thinking of going with a couple of percula clowns when I return the tang to the pet store...much better suited I am sure

[adpgibso]

so the list i added earlier is too much to add to the tank at once? (even after the live rock)?

[timmy_boy188]

I have added 3 fish at a time with only having my tank cycling for 1 month, they all are still alive and happy, (blue tang, yellow tang, percula clown)

Tim

[adpgibso]

cool, i add the clown and pseudochromis...no biggie, after the live rock of course

[timmy_boy188]

right on,

Tim

[mskohl]

I have been advised to let a week or so between fish. This way the water and the fish adjust. With a new tank, I'd take it slow and just get one fish or a mated clown pair. If somethings wrong with either the fish or the water, it could wipe out everything.

[adpgibso]

very true i'll go very slow...

will snails and crabs typically throw the chemistry out of balance like adding too many fish at once will?

[LuLu3889]

Adding snails and crabs wont throw th chemisty out of balance...they have a very small bioload

[adpgibso]

probably add the crabs and a pseudochromis...

[blorkiemom]

Can I put in a word here for QT? If you QT all new fish for a month, you'll lower the strain on the tank's bioload (because additions will of force be slowed down), you'll avoid introducing anything horrible into the main tank, and you'll get a chance to bond with the new fish. :-) Seriously. I put an anthias in QT two days ago and already she's my pal--if she were in the main tank competing with all the other fish, I don't think she'd be swimming over to say hi every time I walk into the room.

'Course, I'm weird like that to bond with marine animals.