Too Soon?

[jl-sullivan]

I finally got my aquarium cycled and 2 weeks ago added an ocellaris clown. He is doing well and I was considering adding a couple more fish this weekend. I tested my water and everything looks safe (will have the pet store test as well to be sure). Is it too soon to add a couple more fish? I was thinking a goby and a royal gramma. Also, when would I be able to add a couple shrimp, snails and/or crabs? Any suggestions on types of inverts? My setup is 29 gallons w/ 18 lb live rock.

[jojo22]

Should be okay, if you are worried add one at a time!!

[SuperScro]

Give us some parameters anyway. I would add just the goby first, then wait about 2 weeks to add the Gramma. You don't want to risk a spike and lose 3 fish from tank not being able to catch up with bio-load so quick.

You can add snails and hermits now if you please, provide some food for them to eat if there isn't much in the tank since it is new.

Shrimp are usually hardy but are sensitive to nitrates. I would add them after you get the fish.

[jl-sullivan]

Sounds good-I will add only the goby and maybe a crab. As far as I can tell ammonia, nitrates, and nitrite are all at 0--but I have trouble figuring out the shades of colors which is why I bring the water to the store and have them test it too. I also have tons of some weird hairy algae--I took most of it out yesterday, but it is really long and has white flaky stuff in it. Is this normal?

[Magpen]

Sounds like you might have some hair algae. Some astrea or turbo snails should take care of that in short order. You can add those now too. Hair algae is usually caused by excess phosphates in the water. What are you using for your source water?

[jl-sullivan]

I used treated tap water to start but after that for water changes I'm using jugs of water. I got the goby today and I'll probably go get some snails. Has anybody heard of bumblebee snails? Are they good for anything?

[Riverserver]

Bumblebee snails are pretty good at eating anything that's on your sand. They wont take care of your algae though. You will want some turbo snails to help with the algae. And the white flakey things are probably copepods.

[skippy2]

Bumblebee snails are predators and should not be in your tank. Their stomaches are not made to digest any type of algae.

[jl-sullivan]

Copepods are good, aren't they? I will get turbo snails. I also have some tiny little bug-like things. They are maybe 1/32 to 1/16 inch long and are white. They walk around on the live rock. Does anybody know what those are? Thanks for everyone's input so far!

[Reefscape]

Copepods are good yes, and what your also asking/describing sound like pods too....

Niko

[SuperScro]

Hair algae isn't bad compared to what you can get. Just get a variety of snails and hermits, the larger the variety the more types of algae that will be eaten.

[5xevy]

I'd add the inverts at any time followed by the goby and the royal gramma last. Do you plan on keeping one clown or adding another one later on?

[jl-sullivan]

Okay-I got the goby (yellow clown--he hasn't eaten yet...) and some snails and 2 hermit crabs. The snails are very active. I hadn't decided about whether or not to put in another clown. I've heard a lot of different things--keep only one, keep a pair and keep them only in odd numbers. Also, since I only have 30 gallons I sort of wanted as much color variety as I could get. Aside from the gramma, I was thinking of a damsel at some point (blue or blue and yellow or black and white striped-I don't know what their actual names are). Any advice?

[Reefscape]

i would not go with a damsel fish, not in a small tank, if it all..They can get very territorial and nasty towards other fish, which then leads onto stress...

[5xevy]

Okay-I got the goby (yellow clown--he hasn't eaten yet...) and some snails and 2 hermit crabs. The snails are very active. I hadn't decided about whether or not to put in another clown. I've heard a lot of different things--keep only one, keep a pair and keep them only in odd numbers. Also, since I only have 30 gallons I sort of wanted as much color variety as I could get. Aside from the gramma, I was thinking of a damsel at some point (blue or blue and yellow or black and white striped-I don't know what their actual names are). Any advice?

Nice- I like the clown gobies a lot. Strange you've heard so many different things with the clownfish. They are usually found/recommended in pairs. Can't remember if I just wrote this on one of your threads or not but I recommend the more peaceful chromis. :)

[jl-sullivan]

If I go with chromis do I have to get at least 3? And could I still do a gramma?