Scuba,
Meadedhd answered most of your questions very well..:yes:
I would NOT put in ANYTHING (fish or inverts)untill your cycle is finished no matter how much your dying to, cuz they will die too...oh, unless your using damsels to cycle, then throw them in. HaHa.. BUT, Let me say in advance your gonna be STEAMING mad trying to get them out to add your fish w/o removing all your pretty rock work. =( Those suckers are FAST and furious! LOLOL
I Specially wouldn't add a flame scallop, they are very sensative to h2o conditons.
As for the rock, if your having a HUGE ammonia spike, I'd say its OK to put in the rock BUT you take the chance of killing off anything growing or living on or in that rock. BUt then again, more LR is good for your tank.. so you way the pro's and con's for you/
:thinking:
as for feeding your fish, I will say this. Alot of people will tell you to ask what the LFS if feeding them. First, I really think that there are several different theories here.
First, How long has the fish been at THAT LFS? If he has only been there a day or two, well then chances are he is in a new environment and may still be acting strangly. If they tell you they are feeding him flake and he is doing well with that, well maybe they just threw in flake and walked away and they never saw him eat it, OR he may have taken a swat at it to see what it is. That fish was raised elsewhere or caught elsewhere BEFORE making it to the LFS, so what he is eating is up to you to figure out what works for you. YOu can use them as a guide.
Secondly, if the fish has been there for sometime and hes acclimated, happy and eating good, the LFS will know more of what his diet has been. If he looks healthy go ahead and pick up what they were feeding him. Read books and see what their diet "should" consist of and try adding that in their diet.
I always try to feed a number of different foods for variety and health for ALL the inhabitants in my tank. Some may be detrivous and some may be herbivors (sp)? There are some great frozen foods out there that are "cubes of variety"
1. Marine Cuisine
2. Angel formula
and there are others but are escaping me right now. also, you can add frozen mysis and the brine if you wish. I would add some ZOE to the brine because it's nutritional value is nothing. This gives the food a boost of nutrition.
3. Seaweed sheets in a clip in the tank too.
As for the water change, well I didnt exactally measure mine, I "eyed" it. But I do agree as long as the cycle has completely finished, i'd do a 10-15% change. I agree you dont want to do a BIG one... All that good bacteria just built up and you dont want to wash it away. =)
The best piece of advice you will get here is PATIENCE, PATIENCE... If you rush it, in the long run your gonna be waiting AGAIN! People who pop in fish too soon end up with a tank full of "ICH"... and THAT hurts.. =(
Sounds like your doing great.. Keep itup!
Sorry this ended up so long but i just started typing and off I went. Hope this helps.
Thanking you kindly, Kim
:hilarious
