TANK CYCLED NOW WHAT???

ok Ladies and gents...my 45 has cycled been about 6 weeks i think..... maybe 5.....we want to add 2 clowns and a anemone...thinking about doing it tomorrow?2 much to soon or what? I got 4 damsels and 4 turbos now...by the way they don't eat as much diatom alage as the lfs said....we are thinking of a snow flake moary and a dwarf lion as the last fish....does that sound good to all of you? :rolleyes:
 

ckkihei

Member
I've had a 55ga since December and the best advice is to GO SLOW, test daily, and expect several mini-cycles even after you think the tank has cycled.
55ga
LS
10 lbs LR
Emporer 400 Dual Bio-wheel
UV sterilizer
Prizm protein skimmer
banded shrimp
tomato clown
Royal gramma
blue damsel
blue fin chromis
3 scallops
feather duster
2 sand stars
2 mini horseshoe crabs
 
Yea we are gonna go sloww...that's why I was asking if the clowns and anemone would be alright to do now.....the other fish would be much later
 

tyrfing

Member
You're going to be overstocked with that mix. A dwarf lion can get to 5-6 inches, that and the clowns are going to put you right on the limit, that's if you get rid of the current inhabitants.
Most people reccommend anenomes for an established tank. I can tell you that I put in two anenomes in about the same time frame as you have and my water quality went way down. Most people agree that anenomes need an established tank.
Even though your cycle is complete, it's not necessarily time to add fish. Your H2O readings are "good" but that doesn't mean the tank is stable. Let it sit for a while (at least 2-3 weeks) to let the bacteria colony stabilize and establish itself. The problem is, if you add new fish, you're going to start a mini-cycle all over again.
I'm speaking from experience, because I added things too quickly and lost everything to an ich outbreak. I had to let the tank sit for 21 days and over the past 6 weeks have added two firefish and a lawnmower blenny.
Each time you add a fish, it's waste places demands on the bioload. If the tank is established, the environment will quickly adapt to the additional waste from the fish. But if you add too quickly, it's harder for the tank to adapt. Think of your cycle as a rubberband. During the ammonia spike and nitrate/trite processing, the rubber band is continually stretching until it reaches it's limit and the environment is quite unhospitable for fish. Once you complete the cycle, the rubberband stops stretching and the stress stops building. That's exactly where you are now. Let the tank stabilize and mature a bit more.
Also, Lions and eels are very messy eaters and give off a lot of waste. The food they don't eat or the scraps they leave behding plus the comparative amount of waste they produce creates alot of ammonia in the environment. If your tank just went through it's cycle, it may be hard to accomodate these types of eaters right away.
Again, I speak from experience. I had two beautiful lions and their skin just peeled off, rays were sticking out and I lost them. It's tough to wait right now. But if you're not careful, you will have to wait anyway and you'll have to deal with the heartbreak of losing fish.
Be patient, enjoy the sights of what you have now, carefully select your inhabitants and move slowly. That's the way you can get the maximum enjoyment from the seascape you eventually create.
Good Luck!
 
Thanks for the advice....... I was wondering if I should give it a couple more weeks...i think that is what we are gonna do.maybe I could add a couple more lbs of live rock..I only have about 6 pounds in there now.as far as the fish go I hav'nt really made any final plans on which ones we want,we enjoy going to the lfs and looking....makes me want to buy 100 tanks so I could have them all......lol :p
 

tyrfing

Member
Hey Dave, I think adding the LR is a good idea. It's tough to get too much. The great thing about it is it provides the basis for all of the visible growth in your tank. Each day there is something new on mine, it's pretty cool. Make sure it's cured, or you could end up getting tossed into a cycle again. Good Luck!
 
I wish I could order some on-line...but my wallet won't let me...we have 1 lfs that sells it for $6 a lb but it does'nt have much on it...the other lfs wants 14 a lb but it has all kinds of stuff all over...really beautiful rock...i can't afford 14 a lb especially since I only get a pound or 2 every week.....win the lottery??? Now that would work!!! lol <img src="graemlins//urrr.gif" border="0" alt="[urrr]" />
 

ocellaris_keeper

Active Member
Five weeks - add teh clowns!! but not the anemone. first off if you add two clowns they will become a mated pair. If you then add the anemone one of them will br4eak off and create a relationship with the anemone and the other will be lonely.
Remove your damsels and add the clowns. they are real hardy and if you want you could add three clowns. Two for a mated pair and one the same time you add the anemone (different type of clown preferably, this one will create the relationship with the anemone and the other two will have little ones.
 
I always heard to not mix clowns? I have also heard most clowns you purchase will be females and one may change to a male if the right situation exits. Saltwaterdave I would purchase a couple pieces of the really nice LR and a buch of the cheaper. The creatures on the nice rock will make it over to your bare LR. Lastly, as all have said, take it really slow and enjoy :)
 

ckkihei

Member
I agree that most clowns DO NOT MIX. As for anemones....they require near perfect water conditions. I waited 3 months to add mine and it seems to be doing just fine. I'm not sure I agree with buying just cured LR.....the LR I bought was not cured. It did result in a VERY small mini-cycle (nitrite spiked to .2) but that only lasted about a day. A dose of BioBoost helps control the mini-cycle.
 

kris

Member
I think you're planning too much, not just too soon but too much all together. I don't think a snowflake belings in a 45 at all really. I think your clowns and or damsels may become food for your dwarf eventually. As far as the anenome idea, well they do infact require perfect water which you will not be able to provide with all those fish.
As far as when to add, I too would give it maybe 2 more weeks, then add either the dwarf or whatever. Then remember to wait a good long time between each addition. (I usually go about 2 months, although some say I am overly cautious)
While you may want to rethink your livestock plans, you are definately on the right track.
Good Luck
 
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