Get fish or coral at first?

[strager]

I just setup my first salty tank one month ago. I am planing add fish and coral. Should I get fish or coral at first? My tank is about 40g. I want to have two clown fish, one royal gramma and one yellow tang and other small stuff, such snails and inverts. Can somebody recommend some entry level coral I can add to my tank, which are easy to care and look nice in color?
Thanks.

 

[imurnamine]

I'd get the fish first.
You want your water nice with age and stability before you try to introduce corals and whatnot.
Great stater fish are blue and green Chromis and Clowns.

 

[jacksonpt]

Fish first, then corals. Though some hardier beginner corals can be ok, general rule is to go with fish first until your water matures.

 

[shogun323]

I agree with ImUrNamine, Clowns and Chromis are great fish to start with.
I would scratch the Yellow Tang from your list. A 40 Gallon tank is too small for him.
As far as as beginner corals, first make sure you have sufficient light to support corals. I reccommend at least Power Compacts. Then I would go with Mushrooms and Zoanthids. They are easy and add alot to your tank.
Good Luck to ya!!

 

[cjworkman]

Before adding anything... how are your chemicals??
Nitrates
Nitrites
Ammonia
Calcium
PH
Alkalinity
This are the most important to start off. Once you get these at the correct levels and stable, then I would suggest adding a fish first. Something small and inexpensive and see how he does for 2/3 weeks.
Then you may slowly begin to add more expensive/difficult things to take care of. I suggest no more than 1 thing a month.
In a reef tank... levels that should be maintained;
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0.. (but some people keep low levels of Nitrate and do o.k.) but anything over 5 ppm should be considered a problem
Calcium 400-480 (keeping calcium at these levels will stimulate growth of coralline aglae and keep other corals healthy)
PH ... absolutely needs to be steady at 8.1-8.3
Alk ... should be 2.9-4 meql for a reef tank(milliequivalnts per liter)
Alk is important with calcium levels 400+ because if it dips too low.. the calcium can percipitate in the water... basically looks like it's snowing in your tank. So these must be kept in tandem,.. mostly by putting buffers in the water.
Once all these things are in check.. then i would consider adding a fish and see how he does and move from there. Also make sure you have a good protein skimmer before adding fish as well.

 

[ice4ice]

Make sure all your water parameters are stable once your tank is cycled for a couple of weeks. I, too am planning on starting a SW tank and I've decided to add the corals first ! Why ? Let them settle in for a few weeks then add your fishes. Good beginner corals are mushrooms, polyps / zoas, xenias. Also it all depends on what type of lighting you have before. Those beginner corals do well with PC lighting.

 

[imurnamine]

Oh yeah, I didn't even see the Yellow Tang.
DEFINATELY no Yellow Tang for your tank size.
Hehe, you should add a pair of Clarkii Clowns to your list! They're SO full of character.

 

[strager]

Currently I have compact lighting. I am planing buy a 150w metal halide with lunar light. Very sad to hear yellow tang is too big for my tank. :notsure: What is a good alternate for an algae eater?

:happyfish :happyfish :happyfish :happyfish

 

[puffer32]

Maybe a small angel instead if you have alot of live rock with algae on it. I would add that last, once you tank has been set up afew months.