Almost done cycling.What next??Fish?plants?

[b-baby80]

O.K. the ammonia spiked and is now at 0.The trates went all the way to 5 and is now down to 1.So it won't be long.I'm trying to decide what to put in the 55 gallon first.I have 2 large hermits but they seem pretty layed back.they haven't bothered our snail or the 1 damsel(i know don't start please

)So what should i add first?
I really want to try coral but i'm gonna buy a cheap frag first.Whats the best bet on that?What do you think they would not bother?It won't be yet.I haven't upgraded my lights yet.
As for fish what do you think?I know we want a clown or 2.
A reef safe star fish?
Plants?
More clean up crew?
colorful fish?
I really like the Valentini puffers but i don't think it would be good in the long run.
I want everything to live in harmony.Well as much as they can LOL!

 

[texasmetal]

Get a good cleanup crew stocked first.
As for plants, caulerpa is a good beginner macro, but it will take your tank over FAST. I would avoid it, just for advice, which is just my 2 cents.
Don't add a starfish for a long time. They need a well matured tank in order to survive.
Valentini Puffers are neat, but yeah, if you plan on having corals in the long run probably a bad idea.

 

[b-baby80]

Originally Posted by TexasMetal
Get a good cleanup crew stocked first.
As for plants, caulerpa is a good beginner macro, but it will take your tank over FAST. I would avoid it, just for advice, which is just my 2 cents.
Don't add a starfish for a long time. They need a well matured tank in order to survive.
Valentini Puffers are neat, but yeah, if you plan on having corals in the long run probably a bad idea.
Yeah i'm not going to get the puffer not matter how cute he is.Maybe when we have a aggressive fowler i will.I did find exactly what my crabs are.their actually sold by some online stores.It says their reef safe.So i guess i'll test as planned just to be sure

 

[tangwhispr]

Originally Posted by B-Baby80
O.K. the ammonia spiked and is now at 0.The trates went all the way to 5 and is now down to 1.So it won't be long.I'm trying to decide what to put in the 55 gallon first.I have 2 large hermits but they seem pretty layed back.they haven't bothered our snail or the 1 damsel(i know don't start please

)So what should i add first?
I really want to try coral but i'm gonna buy a cheap frag first.Whats the best bet on that?What do you think they would not bother?It won't be yet.I haven't upgraded my lights yet.
As for fish what do you think?I know we want a clown or 2.
A reef safe star fish?
Plants?
More clean up crew?
colorful fish?
I really like the Valentini puffers but i don't think it would be good in the long run.
I want everything to live in harmony.Well as much as they can LOL!
Take a deep breath...give the tank some time, Then decide what direction you want to take the tank. You say you haven't upgraded lights yet, don't buy coral with the intentions of getting lights...get the lights first.

 

[rolxism]

Just dont ever put any copper solution in your tank. Wish someone would have told me when I was at this stage.

 

[texasmetal]

Originally Posted by rolxism
Just dont ever put any copper solution in your tank. Wish someone would have told me when I was at this stage.
Yessir, I had a 100 gallon freshwater tank I wanted to use when I got into saltwater but curse it, I used ich treatment in it, so that idea was shot and I sold the 100 gallon.

 

[b-baby80]

Originally Posted by TangWhispr
Take a deep breath...give the tank some time, Then decide what direction you want to take the tank. You say you haven't upgraded lights yet, don't buy coral with the intentions of getting lights...get the lights first.
Yeah if you notice i said.I wouldn't buy coral yet.because i haven't upgraded my lights.

That will be a couple more weeks or so.I was thinking of going ahead and getting a fish.I think in about a week i'll add a clown.
Oh and i know the direction i want to take.Which is coral and reef safe fish.

 

[nereef]

clowns are great beginner reef-safe fish. they do well in new tanks. some people even use them to cycle (not that i would recommend that).

 

[jpc763]

Originally Posted by B-Baby80
Yeah if you notice i said.I wouldn't buy coral yet.because i haven't upgraded my lights.

That will be a couple more weeks or so.I was thinking of going ahead and getting a fish.I think in about a week i'll add a clown.
Oh and i know the direction i want to take.Which is coral and reef safe fish.
I have read that you should add clowns in pairs. I added 2 false percs at the same time to my 55g and they hang together all of the time.
John

 

[1journeyman]

What type of damsel? You may need to remove it as many species don't fit in a passive "reef safe" tank. (Why the heck did ya add a damsel??? You were doing so well listening to the advice around here)
Don't add any corals for another month or so. Then, with basic lighting, try mushrooms.
Go with 2 clowns at once. Also buy maricultured clowns. They have a better survival rate over wild caught.
Plants (macro-algaes) work great in a refugium, but not your main display.Macro algaes can outgrow your display.
Brittle stars (serpent stars) are good choices. Linkias and other "reef" safe stars are poorly suited for all but very large tanks.
A good clean up crew consists of multiple types of snails and brisk water movement. Also, strong skimming.