Stocking Instructions

[millie3]

Good Monring!
I am looking for instructions for stocking my new tank. I mean what goes in 1st, 2nd, etc and how long to wait between additions.
Right now I have what is listed below and I am anxious to add soft coral and maybe macro algae. I need more color!
I have heard that fish are the lastt to go in. is this true?
Thanks!!

[LittlePuff]

Get all your plants/inverts in first. Algae, snails, shrimp, crabs, fish, then corals. You could add the first four a couple of weeks apart. The fish same as above, least aggressive to most. After everything is stable, then start adding corals.

[DarthFred6996]

I am doing the opposite sort of. I have been stocking "as needed". I put my clean up crew in first, then a pulsing xenia, then I had flatworms so I got a 6 line wrasse to take care of that. I had more algae than my snails could handle so I got 4 more turbos, and two more hermits. I'll put in some zoas next and then the final add will be a mated pair of percs. I like the idea of corals first because if you can keep them going you should have no problem with fish.

That is just me, and I am new so take it for what it is worth.

[Reefscape]

Even though your new DarthFred, your input is always welcome as people always do thing differently and your input is always valuable and welcome..

Niko

[Germanman]

best thing is find some stuff u like and ask us if they work together. blennies, grammas, gobies, wrasse, dwarf angels...etc are some nice fish.

[millie3]

So nice to hear that as usual, there are no hard and fast rules!
I have a big clean up crew with snails shrimp and crabs. On Saturday I added two clowns and a mushroom. My LFS said to wait at least a month before adding any soft corals. I am waiting impatiently to add a pusing xenia.
One more question though...I have four large turbo snails that seem to have disappeared! Where could they be? Do they go into the sand?

[Germanman]

So nice to hear that as usual, there are no hard and fast rules!
I have a big clean up crew with snails shrimp and crabs. On Saturday I added two clowns and a mushroom. My LFS said to wait at least a month before adding any soft corals. I am waiting impatiently to add a pusing xenia.
One more question though...I have four large turbo snails that seem to have disappeared! Where could they be? Do they go into the sand?
im afraid they sometimes get stuck on their backs and die if they cant be hiding in the rocks it may be that. check ur water they can foul it bad.

[LittlePuff]

another note...don't depend on your LFS for accurate info. Always research!

[5xevy]

Yeah your snails could be dead or just 'hiding.' There are so many times I'm staring at my live rock without even noticing that there was a snail on it the entire time- sometimes they just blend in, and almost look like part of the rock! They could be hanging upside down within your LR too. Who knows...they may just appear one day or you may never see them again. :D

[Germanman]

another note...don't depend on your LFS for accurate info. Always research!
amen:D