Am I ready to go?

jenni620

Member
My 90 gallon has been cycling for four and a half weeks. I did a 25% water change yesterday. My readings are as follows
pH 8.15
nitrites 0
trates 1
ammonia 0
sg 1.023
temp 78
Am I ready to get my clean up crew? I have two hermits that I added last a couple of days ago. They are doing fine. I just want to be sure that it is safe to add some more crabs, some snails and a shrimp or two. Thanks! :happyfish
 

jenni620

Member
thank you alyssia and reefrobert! i will rasie the salinity a little bit :joy:
anybody have suggestions on what kind of clean up crew to get? i have some ideas, but would like some additional input! the tank will not be aggressive, and I don't plan on having any corals. Thanks!
 

dmjordan

Active Member
i like nassarius and cerith snails. turbos are ok but the are big and can knock stuff over. i have some hermits in my tank but they will kill your snails and wear their shells proudly.
 

mandarin w

Member
Sounds like you are ready to go, But take it easy, don't go crazy, or all the hard work and time put in will be wasted, The bio load that is built up in your tank, is able to handle what is in your tank at that time. It takes time to build it up. So just get a few snails at a time. Wait a week then add a few more. This is also true especailly with the fish. Set up a QT Tank before you start buying your fish so it will be ready to go when the time comes to start buying your fish. A QT tank is as important to this hobby as a skimmer, lights and even saltwater. It can save you alot of headaches and heartaches down the road.
Just get one fish at a time, get the least aggressive first, don't ever impulse buy, If you see a fish you like see if you can put a deposit down on it to hold it for a week, This will give you time to research the care and needs of that fish, check if it is compatible with the fish you already have or plan on getting down the road, And lastly I gives you a chance to make sure that fish is healthy, There are alot of problem with fish that you won't be able to see just by looking at it. And you don't want to spend your hard earned money to buy a fish and take it home to die in your tanks.But don't ever concider a fish that has any type of film, bubbles covering its body, if the fins are damaged, eyes don't look good anything, chances are not going to be good for that fish. Look at any fish real well, if you like that fish, ask the store to feed the fish. don't let them get away with feeding brine shrimp. Brine shrimp is like ice cream to a kid, even if they don't feel well they will eat it, You need to be sure the fish will eat. If they don't eat in the store they may not eat for you. Now got out and start stocking your tank,
 

jenni620

Member
dmjordan thank you for the suggestions. :joy:
mandarin w, thank you also. Trust me, I am not rushing this at all. We have been slowly buying things for this tank since June, and researching all along. I have seen enough people on this site get flamed for their mistakes; I don't want to be one of them!
I am just going to start with a small clean up crew for now, and then start adding fish; probably about one every three to four weeks. I have a 10 gallon that is being set up as a QT; I heard a QT is your best friend in this hobby! I already have a fish list in mind; nothing to complicated...I am too scared to take too many risks! Thank you for the advice; every little bit of info helps! :happyfish
 

1journeyman

Active Member
Ceriths and Nass. snails are great. They can upright themselves when they fall over (which happens occasionally when they get knocked over, fall off glass, etc.) Some other snails can't and die.
Small hermits are good cleaners ,as are Emerald Crabs. Some have had problems with hermits and these crabs but they seem to work great to me.
A Lawnmower Blenny will eat a ton of algae. They leave little "kiss" marks on the algae that grows on your glass.
Don't overstock the Clean Up crew. A new tank always seems like it's an algae farm, but you'll be surprised once the tank settles in at how much those critters eat.
Black Brittle stars are also good. Caribbean Cucumbers are usually hardy and can make great sand cleaners. The Colorful Pacific Cucumbers can nuke a tank when they are stressed, but I think the Caribbean varities are much less toxic.
 

jenni620

Member
thanks 1journeyman!
I was thinking of adding 10 nass. snails, 3 emeral crabs and 10 hermits. I also want shrimp...I like the coral banded, but I like the cleaner shrimp too. We will definitely get a lawnmower blenny once the tank is a little more established...that fish is the whole reason my boyfriend wanted to get a saltwater tank!
Thank you everyone for the great advice...it is much appreciated! :happyfish
 

socko6774

Member
Originally Posted by 1journeyman
Coral Banded can be problematic.. be sure to read up on them.

yeh i have a coral banded in my tank, cool looking guy, but hes very grumpy and always snaps at my fish if they get close...
 

beadmaker

Member
wait on cleanup crew until you have good algae growth. a load of hermits can strip a tank in no time flat. I suggest a pair of cleaner shrimp. Cute easy to feed and will be useful in cleaning up excess food and cleaning fish in the future. Once the algae grows then get blue leg hermits and/or emerald crabs and some snails.
 
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