how soon to add stuff?

[sarahh]

hey all, so i set up my tank on november 24, did a first water test on the 26th.

i do a water test every week, and a PWC usually every week (although last week i did a mini change... take out 3 gallons and put in 5.. it was evaporating)

so that leaves me at 23 days with the tank running. It was setup and running beforehand for 6 months, and the 3 of the 4 fish have survived ( all damsels, the domino killed the yellowtail)

i have added a frogspawn to the tank, last week and want to start thinking about adding more corals. I hear everywhere "DO NOT RUSH IT" but my question is... what exactly is rushing it? can i add something new every month? every few months? can i add 2 corals at a time?

and another question. if i upgrade to a 125, can i keep damsels in it, or will they kill stuf? is there a stocking calculator for SW?
TIA
S

 

[crewdawg1981]

Too soon...

We need to know a lot more about your tank.

Is it setup and running with live sand and live rock? or was it dry sand and rock (dead/base)?

How big is the tank?

Are you running a protien skimmer?

Have you tested the water? What are your parameters (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, specific gravity/salinity being the most important for a new tank)?

Back to my original answer, it probably hasnt been long enough. You dont need to do any water changes if there arent any fish in the tank. In fact, I'd argue that leaving the water in the tank is better for it at this point. ALSO... dont replace evaporated water with salt water. The salt doesnt evaporate, so you simply replace it with purified water.

Damsels will be mean in any tank, regardless of size...

As for adding to the tank, that will depend on the size of the tank, but in general you should let your tank parameters be your guide. If after you add a fish, a few days later the tank tests well, you should be good to go.

Though... from your questions I'd say you've got a lot of reading and researching to do. Go on ReefCentral.com. They've got a thread in the "new to the hobby" forum that was invaluable to me when i started. Do Et!!

 

[superclown]

Trust me I know your eager to start adding things as I was when I started in this hobby a year ago Just wait. It will save you a lot of headache in the long run. What is everythig at. One problem with a new tank is that it can be unstable and vuze not built up the capacity to handle the biolad yet so any additions should be added slowly once the tank has been going for another couple months or so with no trouble. Then you can start adding things here and there. There are a few on here that can confess to the problems I had starting up and it was because my lack of paitence now everything has gotten a lot easier but only because I know have somewhat of a clue if what im doing

 

[sarahh]

oh, eep.. sorry, i just assume people know what i am on about. my bad.
ok, tanks specifics.
40 gallon breeder, established for 6 months before i bought it home, and then set up here. it's ben here since nov 24.
contained 45lb live rock,
about 2 inches depth live sand.
it had with it 4 damsel fish. a 3 spot domino, 4 stripe, yellow tail and blue. The domino is a big fella about 2 1/2 -3 inches across. he killed the yellow tail. i think he was a fairly new addition because he was quite small.

there are 2 powerheads in the tank. both jvp one a 3000l/h and the other one much smaller
there is a HOB filter with a bio wheel, no skimmer, no uv sterilizer.

i have a UV sterilizer,not a skimmer.
the plan is to add a sump, but the only one i have is a 55 sump/ fuge combo, and it's disgusting. there are quite a few projects to do, as i went to get a tank and stand and ended up walking away with about 6 tanks, 2 stands and a bunch more freebies.

i don't want to add fish any time soon, just pretty up the reef
tank parameters are as follows

friday 26 nov Monday 29 nov Tuesday 8 dec Tuesday 14 dec
calcuim 400 420 440 440
kH 89.5 125.3 125.3 143.2
Phosphate .25 0.0 -0.25 0 0
Nitrate 80 0-5 40 40
salinity 1.024 1.026 1.026 1.027

(after wc and 1 hour, it was 1.025)

i was thinking the nitrates would settle a little higher because of the bio wheel, but when we set up the sump i gues it will settle out lower

 

[sarahh]

sorry, that looked much neater when i typed it

 

[jaredloo]

My experience with Damsels.

Damsels are no good if they are the first fish added to the tank. Never, I mean Never, add damsels first. They are highly aggresive toward newcomers. They are not so good after either. But if you want them, it's better to add them last.

 

[jaredloo]

Regarding When to add stuff. Rule of thumb is to wait 28 days (length of 2 nitrogen cycles). This allows for sufficient bacteria to build up to remove ammonia, then nitrite, then nitrate.

It can be more though. Last check, should be 2 weeks worth of good readings on Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate. Make sure other things are stable too, but the nutrients are the concern since adding livestock adds to the nutrient levels.

 

[sarahh]

that's a good one to follow
thanks so much for the input..
i think i may just take the damsels to a LFS and see if they can care for them. If the fish tank hadn't been such and awesome deal, i think i would have started smaller first

 

[jaredloo]

Yeah that's what I would do. Damsels last. That goes for clown fish too. Course, I never add clowns unless I have an anemone.

 

[jase75]

sarahh;591335 wrote: If the fish tank hadn't been such and awesome deal, i think i would have started smaller first

No, I think you got it backwards. You will wish for a bigger tank. And soon!

 

[sarahh]

lol.. i kinda wanna set up my 125 long :blush:

 

[superclown]

I know the feeling I can't wait till I set up my 75g