question about start-up

[hermit enthusiast]

How long after you first start your tank should live rock be added? I'm getting my tank next weekend and was wondering when I should buy the live rock. Also when should i start to add a clean-up crew? Thanks for any info.

 

[b_ball12_99]

I prefer to let the water circulate for about 2-3 days before adding LR. Adding invert. should occure after the diatom bloom and when the ammo. goes down.

 

[fixitdude2001]

Hi, what are you useing for substrate? crushed coral or Live sand??I myself added rock with the water at the same time, everyone does it alittle differant. and cycle was fairly fast, did recycle tho when took out cc and added ls and more lr, had nitrate problem with cc thats why we went with deep sand bed. do you plan on adding all live rock at once, you dont have to worry about ammonia spike every time you add more rock if you do it all at once but this can be expensive, If you do it piece by piece do it slow or you could have an ammonia spike each time because you will have some die off when you get your rock..hope this helps...

 

[hermit enthusiast]

I plan on adding the live rock all at the same time and plan on using sand. The only thing that I'll probally have in there is a mantis shrimp. I've been told that left handed hermits will survive in a tank with a mantis so that's the only thing i'm using for a cleanup crew other than a sand sifting star. thanks for the info.

 

[b_ball12_99]

I've heard and read that sand shifting stars will eat most of the critters in LS. Is this true I don't know, something to check into though.

 

[hermit enthusiast]

I've been reading up about the starfish and it says that they will eat shrimp as long as u put it under the first couple of centimeters of the sand. But thanks for everyone's reply.
Peace