Is my tank established?

[krazykarel]

Hey guys, the 55g tank that i now have was a previously owned tank...i kept the old bio balls in during the cycle and now im getting great readings...Ammonia=0, Nitrites=0, Nitrates=5
I also have about 30lbs of live rock and 3-4" of sand (wet/dry filter w/a berlin protein skimmer)
Do these readings tell me that this new tank (for me) is an established tank?
Would I be nuts to put in a dwarf angel fish in here (the tank for me is only about 2 months old)?

 

[mr . salty]

Let's see,The tank is two months old....The readings look good.....Would you be crazy to add a dwarf angel,,,,NO. Is the tank established,,,,I DOUBT IT...Your tank wont be "Established" for a few more months. Established means that the bio system is stable. Your tank will probably show a slight fluctuation in the readings when you add fish.But if you go slow and add only one fish at a time,two or three weeks apart,you will be OK.

 

[jimi]

I agree with Salty you could add the dwarf and should not have a problem. Establishing a tank can go from a week to years depending on what materials or life are used.

 

[b_ball12_99]

I also agree. The common time frame for an established tanks is 6-12 months but that does vary.

 

[krazykarel]

Guys thank you for the explanations and your quick responses.
Mr. Salty: I've read your advice for the last 3 mos. or so...what you have said ive seen it backed up by other people's experience so i certainly value you opinion.
So the flame angel is good to go...what are this fish's draw backs? Is there another angel i should consider?
Thanks again!

 

[tangs_in_pacifica]

Karel,
What's in the tank right now? What are you planning on adding? Will you have corals? Clams? Anything aggressive?
[ June 05, 2001: Message edited by: tangs_in_pacifica ]
[ June 05, 2001: Message edited by: tangs_in_pacifica ]

 

[mr . salty]

A flame is a perfect fish.I have had one in my tank for awhile now,and never had any problems with it. But it is a rather expensive fish to add to a new tank.You may want to consider a cheaper one till your tank is a bit more mature.It would be a shame to hear you lost such a beautiful fish. The coral beauties are also quite nice,and quite a bit cheaper....

 

[justchillin]

krazykarel:
while i certainly agree with the above posts i think it is important for you to decide what you will be adding to your tank later...
alot of people are so anxious to get there first fish that they foret to think about there future additions...i read in the aggressive forum that you were also interested in a eel and lion (by the way i just replied to that post). if you haven't decided yet, no is the time to do so. compatibilty is a big issue and shouldn't be overlooked.
hth,
mike

 

[krazykarel]

Again thanks for the quick responses...ive pitched the lion and trigger idea, for now at least...i have to be realistic with a 55g tank so i have decided to go with the smaller "less agressive" species of fish.
Mr. Salty I ended up getting a Flame Angel today...(actually two, but ill have to tell that story some other time...don't worry there is only one in my tank!) This was a risk i might end up regretting...hopefully i won't. I will not do that again, I felt that i had enough info maybe i didn't. Should I stop for a month or two and help the water quality by decreasing the bio load?
Mike: Im not planning on corals or clams at this point. Staying away from the more agressive fish and going for more of a community tank. Thus far I have a Gold Strip Maroon Clown and the Flame Angel I had been thinking of a Mexican Rock Wrasse but I have recently heard that they don't do well in tanks...im doing research on them right now (not much info out there on these incredible looking fish).