Need advise on Stocking Livestocks

[mastatee]

I'm now on 6th weeks of cycling my tank (48*18*18). I like to ask for some advise on stocking my livestock. Thinking of going
1 yellow tang
4-5 anthias (still don't know what kind)
pair of clowns
I'm stuck right here. I like to know what else can I add to the tank and how far apart should I wait before introducing new livestock to tank to prevent stress and such. Which fishes should I introduce to the tank first and which is last. Please help. Thanks a bunch

 

[db366]

If everything is testing well I'd start with a decent clean up crew. Most of the fish you want will eventually get large. Just try to get the smallest fish you can find. Anthias are hard to keep, you might want to add them after you have some experience keeping easier fish.

As long as you start with small fish you should be able to do one more, maybe a sand sifting goby or something.

Start with two small tank bred clowns. They are much hardier, although they do take some time to grow out.

 

[rdnelson]

What size tank do you have?

 

[mastatee]

db366;769665 wrote: If everything is testing well I'd start with a decent clean up crew. Most of the fish you want will eventually get large. Just try to get the smallest fish you can find. Anthias are hard to keep, you might want to add them after you have some experience keeping easier fish.

As long as you start with small fish you should be able to do one more, maybe a sand sifting goby or something.

Start with two small tank bred clowns. They are much hardier, although they do take some time to grow out.

I have have about two dozen of snails and crabs (mix). So your advise is to start with hardy fishes first and add Anthias later when I get more experience?

rdnelson99;769667 wrote: What size tank do you have?

67 Gals (48x18x18)

 

[jef4y]

I'd add the clowns first as well since you have some cleanup crew in there already. Clowns are super easy. The biggest pitfall/hurdle is learning not to overfeed.

Give the clowns a month and then pick up the tang.

 

[mastatee]

JeF4y;769675 wrote: I'd add the clowns first as well since you have some cleanup crew in there already. Clowns are super easy. The biggest pitfall/hurdle is learning not to overfeed.

Give the clowns a month and then pick up the tang.

Thanks. I will add the fishes in the order that you suggested.

 

[jef4y]

You won't be disappointed. The clowns bring a lot of life to a tank. If you get bored with them, add a scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp (just DRIP acclimate it over 2 or so hours).

 

[mastatee]

JeF4y;769675 wrote: I'd add the clowns first as well since you have some cleanup crew in there already. Clowns are super easy. The biggest pitfall/hurdle is learning not to overfeed.

Give the clowns a month and then pick up the tang.

JeF4y;769679 wrote: You won't be disappointed. The clowns bring a lot of life to a tank. If you get bored with them, add a scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp (just DRIP acclimate it over 2 or so hours).

so how long should I acclimate the clowns? on the side note, should I go high end clowns or the average kind? I'm still debating between that also.

 

[db366]

That's a personal choice. They are all about the same as far as hardyness.

 

[jef4y]

mastatee;769682 wrote: so how long should I acclimate the clowns? on the side note, should I go high end clowns or the average kind? I'm still debating between that also.

Go with the cheap clowns. A pair of tank bred false-perc's are like $25-$30. They're dirt cheap and will be much easier to stomach than if you drop $300 a piece on designer clowns. Just my opinion.

And for what it's worth, I see more people have high end clowns kick off than those with the run-of-the-mill clowns.

As for acclimating, don't rush it. Spend an hour or so. Take 15 min to get them up to temp, drain off some of the bag water then slowly add tank water to the bag (like 1/4c every 10 min) and do that until the water doubles.

Test for salinity, net & toss in!

 

[rdnelson]

Or, use an air line and start a siphon. Put a air valve on the end of the air line and just get a good steady drip every second or two. Leave that for an hour and you are good to go as far as the clowns are concerned. If the bucket starts to get too full you can drain some off. You are just trying to slowly bring the water in the bucket to the same parameters as that in your tank.

 

[mastatee]

db366;769683 wrote: That's a personal choice. They are all about the same as far as hardyness.

Personally I like the high-end but worry about if something happen. Just in case

JeF4y;769684 wrote: Go with the cheap clowns. A pair of tank bred false-perc's are like $25-$30. They're dirt cheap and will be much easier to stomach than if you drop $300 a piece on designer clowns. Just my opinion.

And for what it's worth, I see more people have high end clowns kick off than those with the run-of-the-mill clowns.

As for acclimating, don't rush it. Spend an hour or so. Take 15 min to get them up to temp, drain off some of the bag water then slowly add tank water to the bag (like 1/4c every 10 min) and do that until the water doubles.

Test for salinity, net & toss in!

Thanks for the advised.

rdnelson99;769685 wrote: Or, use an air line and start a siphon. Put a air valve on the end of the air line and just get a good steady drip every second or two. Leave that for an hour and you are good to go as far as the clowns are concerned. If the bucket starts to get too full you can drain some off. You are just trying to slowly bring the water in the bucket to the same parameters as that in your tank.

I think I have an acclimate air line and i will use your method and will test and matches the parameter before I let them in the DT.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[mastatee]

I'm sorry for not totally honest. I did not mentioned that my DT had Marine Velvet and all the fishes in there was killed. I was to aggressive of adding the livestock to the DT and causing the Marine Velvet. That's is the reason why I have to wait for 8 weeks of doing COWLR before I can add any thing in. Again I'm sorry for failed to mentioned my situation.

Thanks

 

[jef4y]

I have no experience with Velvet, so someone else may have better advice for you in regards to timing or other precaution.

 

[edulover]

I don't know about marine velvet but if you plan on adding other tangs I would wait to add the yellow tang last.

 

[mastatee]

Edulover;769954 wrote: I don't know about marine velvet but if you plan on adding other tangs I would wait to add the yellow tang last.

Thanks for a head up. I will do yellow last, but still don't know which tang as of now. Any advise would be appreciated.