Just bought my first two clownfish

[sommergurl]

I have a 60 gallon reef tank. It has finished cycling and today I bought my first fish, two clownfish. How long should I wait before purchasing my next fish? I would like to get a mandarin or a tang.
How often should I be testing my tank now that there is fish in there? I have been doing it weekly.

 

[bluephi115]

Im a newbie too.....everyone I have talked to says anywhere from 1 week to a month. Also just about everyone in here says you need 90g plus for a tang....I say try it if you can get a small one but it will grow and you will have to take it back eventually or get a bigger tank.

 

[irish rage]

Well your not gonna like this answer, but you really shouldn't put a tang in a 60 gallon (especially a tank that just finished cycling) and also shouldn't put a mandarin in such a young tank. The tang will most likely stress out b/c of lack of room and probably develop some sort of illness eventually leading to it's death.
The mandarin on the other hand needs an ample food supply that such a young tank cannot produce at this point. It will eventually starve to death over several weeks/months.
I would wait about 3-4 weeks and add something like a goby and a clean up crew. Both are fun to watch and add some cool activity to your tank.

 

[hot883]

Originally Posted by sommergurl
I have a 60 gallon reef tank. It has finished cycling and today I bought my first fish, two clownfish. How long should I wait before purchasing my next fish? I would like to get a mandarin or a tang.
How often should I be testing my tank now that there is fish in there? I have been doing it weekly.
No to both the Tang and Mandarin. Tangs need atleast 6' of swimming room and the Mandarin only eats Pods from a WELL seasoned tank.
Adding fish depends on how fast your bio load can be supported by the tank. Usually the rule of thumb is roughly 2-4 weeks between adding any fish and in doing so, 1 at a time. Unless you add a pair as you and I both did today. Congrats. by the way

 

[bluephi115]

sommer...be patient...I just added $90 worth of a cleaning crew i ordered from the site..I put them in last night and it has been a blast watching everything!!!
CC Starfish
Anemone Crab
Decorator Crab
Hermit Crabs - Assorted - Group of 14
Coral Banded Shrimp
Peppermint Shrimp
Sally Lightfoot Crab
Emerald Crab

 

[bccajun]

bluephi115 this is what I added to my 5 week old tank and even the kids get a kick watching them. I just added 20 snails with 5 margaritas snails. They are fun to watch also they all stayed on the same rock and by the next day they had the algae cleaned off making the base rock looking like ivory

 

[mikeyjer]

The tank is a bit young yet to put something like a mandarin. I would wait just a bit longer to put more fish in there, especially it just got done being cycled. I would personally get a Tang (small) myself cause it would give it time to grow. But eventually it does need a larger tank to go in. I personally have two small tangs in both of my tanks, a Yellow Tang in the 46 bow front and a Naso Tang in the 55....It's just something we started with and once they do well in both tanks, we're getting a 125+ gal tank in the spring to move the tangs into. We're just gonna check into the paper to see the best deal, missed a deal for a 180 gal tank with all setups, canopy lighting, and LR + 8 fish for $1000 Won't have money for the tank til spring...The Yellow Tang is growing pretty big so can't wait til spring for a larger tank to move her in...Whatever you decide to do would be fine, but think of their future too, it's just my personal opinion...Good Luck!!!

 

[lradlbeck]

I have a tang question... if you bought a small one - say 1-2 inches wouldn't it only grow as large as it's environment would support?

 

[bluephi115]

no that is a big big myth.
for example..even in fresh water that is the myth. I bought a 1 inch tester goldfish for a 45g aquarium..he is now 10 inches long and still growing.

 

[hot883]

Originally Posted by lRadlbeck
I have a tang question... if you bought a small one - say 1-2 inches wouldn't it only grow as large as it's environment would support?
The real problems with Tangs in small tanks are: They simply do not have enough swimming room. 6' recommended, and when they can't swim like they need to they tend to get stressed out easily which leads to an ICH breakout.
Sommergurl, since you started this thread, whats the names of your clowns?

 

[mikeyjer]

Originally Posted by hot883
The real problems with Tangs in small tanks are: They simply do not have enough swimming room. 6' recommended, and when they can't swim like they need to they tend to get stressed out easily which leads to an ICH breakout.
Sommergurl, since you started this thread, whats the names of your clowns?
That depends on the tang you get....Yes it does need more room to swim, no questions about it...But a small tang is fine for the time being until you can afford a larger tank...I don't have any problems with my tangs being stressed, they seem quite happy and eat whatever I give them...We are getting a 125+ tank in the spring though for them to live in since they grow so fast...It's a individual preference and individual fish personality...Just my opinion though!

 

[sw65galma]

Originally Posted by lRadlbeck
I have a tang question... if you bought a small one - say 1-2 inches wouldn't it only grow as large as it's environment would support?
Big myth...
It's not in thier genes..
You ever seen a small ocean they would have to stop growing for?

 

[sommergurl]

The name of the clown fish are Fric and Frac. Real creative aren't we?