fish or inverts first?

[Pallen81]

Once the tank is cycled and ready to roll -----

Is it best to start with fish or inverts (shrimp, snails, and what not) ??? What's been your experience?

Thanks again for your help everyone.

[spinx]

Inverts are a alot more sensitive to water parameters, i would say put a hardy fish like a common clown or a damsel in there for a month or so. Once you build convidence on how to control parameters then go for a cleanup crew like turbo snails and try some mushroom anemones or leathers. The best way to start out is to do it the right way mate, forget about tangs, angelfish, anemones and other premium pets. Do lots of research and once your convidence is up there, then tackle the exotics and slightly more complex species. Good luck:)

[mikelush78]

You will need to start with a cleanup crew. A clean up crew for a 30 gallon tank to start would be...
2 smaller turbo snails
4 nasarious snails
6 scarlet hermits

I would start with that and go from there...
Once your tank is cycled you can add anything you want to but you do not want algea to get out of control and that is why I say start with your cleanup crew first. You can do both at the same time also...

[Reefscape]

i would start putting some inverts in about half way through the cyle like crabs and snails to help with the algae bloom if it appears..Get cleaners in and your first fish when the cycle has completed...

Niko

[spinx]

Atnixon's on the button there mate.:)

[Germanman]

Atnixon's on the button there mate.:)

ill 2nd that

[rockethippo]

So get complete clean up crew half way through cycle, when you get a algae bloom? Or have then and half after cycle? I have the exact same problem :) Starting to get qutie a bit of brown algae or something like that on my subtrate, LR, and glass

[Germanman]

So get complete clean up crew half way through cycle, when you get a algae bloom? Or have then and half after cycle? I have the exact same problem :) Starting to get qutie a bit of brown algae or something like that on my subtrate, LR, and glass

you should really start your own threads rather than stealing other peoples threads..also the answer to your question was stated above alredy. algae blooms are natural and clean up crews will help.

[Pallen81]

UPDATE

6 days into my cycle:
pH - 8.3
salinity - 1.0025
ammonia - nearing 0 (didn't really fit any of the colors on the chart)
nitrite - 0.5ppm
NitrAte 20 ppm

Should I start looking into a clean up crew??? Are my nitrates too high?

[Reefscape]

Wait unitll you nitrATES are down to about 10ppm then start deploying a crew...

Niko

[Pallen81]

Wait unitll you nitrATES are down to about 10ppm then start deploying a crew...

Niko

Gotcha!

[jojo22]

Just don't add to many of one type of cleaner at first, keep it nice and rounded with a few species, then add as you need to.

[Pallen81]

A clean up crew for a 30 gallon tank to start would be...
2 smaller turbo snails
4 nasarious snails
6 scarlet hermits


I think the Nasarious snails are a good idea as well as red/blue scarlet hermits. Any other suggestions or advice?

[jojo22]

I like serpent stars, but it is a prefrence.

[Germanman]

I think the Nasarious snails are a good idea as well as red/blue scarlet hermits. Any other suggestions or advice?
nassas will attack sick/stressed fish and kill them....just food for thought....they are mostly carrion feeders not algae and detritus.
and i love my serpent star as well!

[Pallen81]

nassas snails

lfs didn't have nassas. so i got two smaller turbo snails to start it off. I also found a hitchhiker snail with a half shell on his body. i'll get some new shells soon. I'm finding new animals everyday now. the rocks HAVE COME ALLIIIIIIVVVVVVVVE.

[Germanman]

half a shell? like dead or alive? if it was alive its probally a stomatella snail.

[Pallen81]

half a shell? like dead or alive? if it was alive its probally a stomatella snail.

well, its definitely a snail. its not that big at all. like 1 or 1 1/2 cms. you can see the whole body and it crawls around eating. It has a half shell covering it so he does have some cover. He def came on my live rocks.

yeah, I think you are right Germanman. It is a Stomatella. That's exactly what it is. Bingo. Thanks man!

[Germanman]

well, its definitely a snail. its not that big at all. like 1 or 1 1/2 cms. you can see the whole body and it crawls around eating. It has a half shell covering it so he does have some cover. He def came on my live rocks.

yeah, I think you are right Germanman. It is a Stomatella. That's exactly what it is. Bingo. Thanks man!
np! they are great they breed in my aquarium they are excellent algae eaters.

[Subliminal]

Pallen,

I need to get rid of a few of my turbo snails. I think I have 17 or so, the smallest about 1 inch in diameter, the biggest probably around 2. If you ever want a few, lmk. I'm thinking I could just give you like 6 or so.

I'm not too far away. ;)

I even have a little 'frag' of the first coral someone gave me that you can try.

It's the pink Anthelia (the wavy one) on the top right of this picture. Supposed to be hardy as heck.
http://lh6.google.com/image/damontmorris/RiU2-PhUYfI/AAAAAAAABK8/ZezZnzz4vlg/s800/IMG_2549.jpg

Anyway, no rush, but lmk if you want it.

[Pallen81]

I need to get rid of a few of my turbo snails. I think I have 17 or so, the smallest about 1 inch in diameter, the biggest probably around 2. If you ever want a few, lmk. I'm thinking I could just give you like 6 or so. I even have a little 'frag' of the first coral someone gave me that you can try. It's the pink Anthelia (the wavy one) on the top right of this picture. Supposed to be hardy as heck.

Thanks for the offer. thats really cool. i like your tank too btw.

hmmm... so far there isn't enough algae (only had a light on for 3 days) in my tank to require more snails but I'm expecting an algae bloom pretty soon i guess. If that ends up being the case I would take 1-3 off you or something.

Also I have a Standard Bulb 25W light. I don't know if thats enough light to sustain an Anthelia. If it is and you're offering it free. :) :) I may take a chance on it. I didn't intend on having any corals at this point, but hey who knows. I just don't know if my light is good enough. I would guess not though.

Why are you getting rid of snails and corals?

[Subliminal]

You're right, that isn't enough light for a coral.

The snails, like I said, I just got too darn many. They knock everything in my tank over, and often times they slime around with 2 others on their back. Just too darn many, really.

As to the coral, I was just being nice...figured I'd help get you started. :)

[Pallen81]

You're right, that isn't enough light for a coral.

The snails, like I said, I just got too darn many. They knock everything in my tank over, and often times they slime around with 2 others on their back. Just too darn many, really.

As to the coral, I was just being nice...figured I'd help get you started. :)

Ah, too bad about the coral. I got a little excited reading about it online. i figured the light wouldn't be enough though.

well, once I get some algae going I'll let you know about the snails for sure.

thanks again!

[Subliminal]

You'll get lights eventually. :Angel: I planned on being fish only, but...well, there's just too much other fun stuff, and lots of people in NJ willing to help.

You should check out www.njreefers.org (http://www.njreefers.org) sometime. ;)