compatibility

cherry

cherry

New Member
I've just set up a 75 gal tank and have a few questions. Can I begin cycling with anything other than damsels, such as 2 ocellaris with their anemone? Also, I'm considering either the long-tentacle or the bubble anemone as they sound easiest to care for. Does anyone out there have a preference between these or any other recommendation? Last question is a humdinger! These are the fish I'm considering for my tank: 2 ocellaris clown (plus anemone), Powder blue tang, cuban hogfish, longnose hawk, yellow long-nose butterfly and last, but not least 1 scott's velvet wrasse. If I have to begin cycling with a damsel fish or two I'd like to begin with a couple of yellow tail damsels. I would like to know if these fish would get along okay in the long run and what order I should add them to the tank for best results. I know that I really need to save the wrasse for last, but other than that... Thanks <img src="graemlins//confused2.gif" border="0" alt="[confused2]" />
 
fshhub

fshhub

Active Member
PLEASE DO NOT CYCLE WITH AN ANEMONE!!
i would use a couple of deli shrimp(form the grocier), for cycling, and or lr
it is much more humane than using fish, and easier, but an anemone will not make it
<a href="http://home.gardenet.co.za/landman/Starting%20with%20Marines.htm" target="_blank">web page</a>
read that article
 
dathem

dathem

Member
Hello,
To cycle a tank I recommend using Nature's Ocean live sand. It comes in sealed bags with all the bacteria you need to instantely cycle any size tank if you use 1 lb of it per gal of water---a new tank that is. If you are redoing a tank and recycling some of the old water and substrate then you don't need that much.
Using the N O product allows you to forget about the cycle (almost) and add a few hardy type fish without worring about them dying partway through the cycle. I have used this product 5 times now and never a problem. I wouldn't set up a tank without it again like I did years ago and endure the endless wait for weeks looking at a mostly fishless tank and constant testing the water and getting frustrated. I am sure you will be pleased the results.
 
discusking

discusking

Member
:D AHHH, DON'T CYCLE WITH A ANEMONE. THOSE ARE HARD ENOUGH TO KEEP ALIVE IN A CYCLED TANK. TRY LIVE SAND, NORMALLY DOES THE TRICK. THE CLOWNS WILL PROBALY BE FINE JUST WAIT @ LEAST TWO OR THREE WEEKS UNTIL ADDING THEM. ;)
 
dathem

dathem

Member
Hello again,
Forgot to say some comments about your selection of fish. I am assuming your not interested much in crabs, shrimp, snails, etc. as the hogfish, wrasse,butterflies, & longnose hawk, can sooner or later decide to eat them. My butterfly ate my snails, the hogfish ate most of my crabs before I knew they were dissapearing. I know that hawks can eat shrimp. I lost a coral banded shrimp and scarlet cleaner shrimp too, not sure which fish torn them apart, only found a few pieces, I didn't have a hawk in that tank.
The long nose butterfly can be a shy fish and not get much to eat unless you also have live rocks for it too pick at. Otherwise your fish selection can be compatable, but as I have found there is always one fish that doesn't play by the rules and turns into a bully. My hippo tang turned into a bully and so did the lawn mower blenney chasing my neon dottyback all over my 55 gal tank. That is why a it is a good idea to have at least two tanks.
Don't add damsels but the chromis varieties are great. Damsels can get mean as they get bigger and would be extremely diff to remove in a 75 gal tank.
 
cherry

cherry

New Member
Thanks for the replies :) After considering the opinions and reading the article on the website I think we will probably go for live rock. Is there any advantage to still using the shrimp? If so, would you use the shrimp prior to adding the live rock? If so, how long would you wait to add the LR? Since this is a new tank can the LR be cured in the tank?
dathem, thanks for the input on the compatability of the fish I'm considering. Got any opinion about what order I should consider purchasing? I'd like to get the clowns first and then add the others as I can afford, but not sure what should go next.
One more question, do you need cleaning critters for cycling the LR? If so, what kind would be best? I'm not really sure I want these guys in the long run. Thanks for letting me pick your experienced brains!
 
wrassecal

wrassecal

Active Member
Don't put and anemone in there. I've had my tank for 2 months and bought one (been cycled for 6 weeks). I cycled with live rock and 1 damsel and it only took 2 weeks. Hard to catch little devil when it came time to take back to lfs. In the reef message board there is lots of good advise about anemones and websites links etc. I learned a lot about them there. Good luck with your tank!
 
fshhub

fshhub

Active Member
the shrimp can be used with the lr, if you like, the shrimp method, is real good, especially for someone who does not want lr, it is much less stressful for the fish, and if you do not intend to keep the damsel it is also less of a pain to remove
HTH
either way you are making a good decision using lr, it not only ehlps to cycle the tank but also adds food for the fish and shetler and filtration benefits
 
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