Damsels Or cleaner Crew

WEISER · 02-12-2005, 07:15 PM

New tank up and running for about a week now with 125 pounds live rock. whats next do I get a couple of damsels or do I get a cleaner crew or is it still to soon.

Tarasco · 02-12-2005, 07:48 PM

What are your water readings? That's really the most important thing to find out before adding livestock or clean up crew to the tank. Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph, and stable temp readings.

Travis · 02-12-2005, 10:59 PM

Yup. Karma to Tarasco for the good advice.

Check out the "Tank cycling" section of the knowledgebase here...

http://www.reefsanctuary.com/knowled...inks.php?c=108

Also, I wouldn't recommend adding damsels once the tank has cycled unless you're keen on ripping apart the entire tank to get them out of there. Most people like them until they get really mean to most other fish... then they're just no funt at all.

T

Woodstock · 02-12-2005, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travis

Also, I wouldn't recommend adding damsels once the tank has cycled unless you're keen on ripping apart the entire tank to get them out of there. Most people like them until they get really mean to most other fish... then they're just no funt at all.

T

Soooo true!

Craig Manoukian · 02-13-2005, 01:42 AM

WELCOME Weiser!

Had a Yellow tail damsel that killed seven fish, about $150 worth of lost livestock. Be positive you want one, and if you do, it should go in last as it is one of the most aggressive fish in the sea (no kidding).

Make sure you get a high enough ammonia reading to ensure your tank cycles. Make sure there is enough food, algea for your clean-up crew or they will starve. Also your nitrites need to be zero for the inverts that will make up your cleaner crew as nitrites are very toxic to them.

It is generally good to wait 6 to 8 weeks before adding any livestock. This will give time for your tank to produce algea as the beginning stage of your tanks maturation process. You want your ammonia and nitrites at zero, nitrates at 10 PPM or less, and your Ph at 8.3. Your salinity can vary with the type of tank you want, reef vs fish only. Give us some more information on your set-up and we can make better diagnoses/suggestions. Do you have a skimmer, live sand, tank size, etc?

Gina · 02-13-2005, 08:34 AM

Good advice Craig!
With your tank only running for a week, your not ready yet. Patience!!!! We all know how hard that is! LOL
Read the link that Travis gave you, there is alot of valuable information. You can also help to cycle your tank by adding a piece of shrimp.
Any more information you can give us about your set up?

WEISER · 02-13-2005, 03:18 PM

Refugium ,RO/DI water have not purchased a lighting setup yet I ordered the Salifert test kit online and I am still waiting for it to arive.

Tarasco · 02-13-2005, 10:38 PM

Cool, let us know that the numbers are when you get the test kit and start testing the water.

Craig Manoukian · 02-13-2005, 10:43 PM

What size tank? Live sand? TIA!

jhnrb · 02-14-2005, 12:11 AM

I knew there was a reason I joined the community. great advise from all. my thought is too soon, patience, patience. start log if not already and test. you may very well get more than one spike from the live rock in the short term (4-8 wks.) good luck

WEISER · 02-15-2005, 01:55 AM

What if I use Blue Reef chromis I was told they arent agressive.

Craig Manoukian · 02-15-2005, 02:35 AM

Chromis are hit and miss.

Can you please provide a description of your set-up? Thanks in advance!

marinelover · 02-15-2005, 10:51 AM

Chromis's are harder to keep and to keep fed so i dont recommend them b/c they could die from it being a new setup or from not proper care and then you will be stuck asking yourself which one it was?????

WEISER · 02-16-2005, 06:33 PM

OK I got my test kit and here are the results.

Amonia = 0.25
Nitrate = 100
Nitrite = 4.0
PH = 8.0

So what do you think?

Tarasco · 02-16-2005, 07:28 PM

Well, you can't add anything until the ammonia is 0, for sure. You should also wait until your nitrite is 0 as well. Your nitrate seems really high. I think that a water change would be helpful. Basically it seems like your tank is still cycling.

You also need to bring your PH up to about 8.2 if you can, although I know that people can get away with a PH of 8.

02-12-2005, 07:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
WEISER Tubeworm Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 36 View Gallery Karma Komment	Damsels Or cleaner Crew New tank up and running for about a week now with 125 pounds live rock. whats next do I get a couple of damsels or do I get a cleaner crew or is it still to soon.

02-12-2005, 07:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tarasco Plate Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 724 View Gallery Karma Komment	What are your water readings? That's really the most important thing to find out before adding livestock or clean up crew to the tank. Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, ph, and stable temp readings. __________________ Mike "I saw what the governor makes. That's like four hands of blackjack." -- Charles Barkley on why he wasn't seriously considering becoming the Governor of Alabama

02-13-2005, 01:42 AM	#5 (permalink)
Craig Manoukian Regular Guy Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marina Del Ray, CA Posts: 19,012 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	WELCOME Weiser! Had a Yellow tail damsel that killed seven fish, about $150 worth of lost livestock. Be positive you want one, and if you do, it should go in last as it is one of the most aggressive fish in the sea (no kidding). Make sure you get a high enough ammonia reading to ensure your tank cycles. Make sure there is enough food, algea for your clean-up crew or they will starve. Also your nitrites need to be zero for the inverts that will make up your cleaner crew as nitrites are very toxic to them. It is generally good to wait 6 to 8 weeks before adding any livestock. This will give time for your tank to produce algea as the beginning stage of your tanks maturation process. You want your ammonia and nitrites at zero, nitrates at 10 PPM or less, and your Ph at 8.3. Your salinity can vary with the type of tank you want, reef vs fish only. Give us some more information on your set-up and we can make better diagnoses/suggestions. Do you have a skimmer, live sand, tank size, etc? __________________ Currently tankless. 20 Gallon mini reef with mated pair of Maroon Clowns given to Rougiem! 80 gallon reef given to Rougiem/Wooster HS.

02-13-2005, 08:34 AM	#6 (permalink)
Gina Moderator Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,842 View Gallery Karma Komment	Good advice Craig! With your tank only running for a week, your not ready yet. Patience!!!! We all know how hard that is! LOL Read the link that Travis gave you, there is alot of valuable information. You can also help to cycle your tank by adding a piece of shrimp. Any more information you can give us about your set up? __________________ Gina and Mark's 75 Visit Our Sponsors Gina's Cube Gina

02-13-2005, 10:38 PM	#8 (permalink)
Tarasco Plate Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 724 View Gallery Karma Komment	Cool, let us know that the numbers are when you get the test kit and start testing the water. __________________ Mike "I saw what the governor makes. That's like four hands of blackjack." -- Charles Barkley on why he wasn't seriously considering becoming the Governor of Alabama

02-12-2005, 10:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
Travis Smilie Bartender Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 6,890 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Yup. Karma to Tarasco for the good advice. Check out the "Tank cycling" section of the knowledgebase here... http://www.reefsanctuary.com/knowled...inks.php?c=108 Also, I wouldn't recommend adding damsels once the tank has cycled unless you're keen on ripping apart the entire tank to get them out of there. Most people like them until they get really mean to most other fish... then they're just no funt at all. T

02-13-2005, 03:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
WEISER Tubeworm Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 36 View Gallery Karma Komment	Refugium ,RO/DI water have not purchased a lighting setup yet I ordered the Salifert test kit online and I am still waiting for it to arive.

02-13-2005, 10:43 PM	#9 (permalink)
Craig Manoukian Regular Guy Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marina Del Ray, CA Posts: 19,012 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	What size tank? Live sand? TIA! __________________ Currently tankless. 20 Gallon mini reef with mated pair of Maroon Clowns given to Rougiem! 80 gallon reef given to Rougiem/Wooster HS.

02-14-2005, 12:11 AM	#10 (permalink)
jhnrb Scopas Tang Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Eureka, CALIF. Posts: 496 View Gallery Karma Komment	I knew there was a reason I joined the community. great advise from all. my thought is too soon, patience, patience. start log if not already and test. you may very well get more than one spike from the live rock in the short term (4-8 wks.) good luck Last edited by jhnrb : 02-14-2005 at 12:13 AM. Reason: misspell

02-15-2005, 01:55 AM	#11 (permalink)
WEISER Tubeworm Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 36 View Gallery Karma Komment	What if I use Blue Reef chromis I was told they arent agressive.

02-15-2005, 02:35 AM	#12 (permalink)
Craig Manoukian Regular Guy Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marina Del Ray, CA Posts: 19,012 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Chromis are hit and miss. Can you please provide a description of your set-up? Thanks in advance! __________________ Currently tankless. 20 Gallon mini reef with mated pair of Maroon Clowns given to Rougiem! 80 gallon reef given to Rougiem/Wooster HS.

02-15-2005, 10:51 AM	#13 (permalink)
marinelover Serpent Star Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 238 View Gallery Karma Komment	Chromis's are harder to keep and to keep fed so i dont recommend them b/c they could die from it being a new setup or from not proper care and then you will be stuck asking yourself which one it was?????

02-16-2005, 06:33 PM	#14 (permalink)
WEISER Tubeworm Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 36 View Gallery Karma Komment	OK I got my test kit and here are the results. Amonia = 0.25 Nitrate = 100 Nitrite = 4.0 PH = 8.0 So what do you think?

02-16-2005, 07:28 PM	#15 (permalink)
Tarasco Plate Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 724 View Gallery Karma Komment	Well, you can't add anything until the ammonia is 0, for sure. You should also wait until your nitrite is 0 as well. Your nitrate seems really high. I think that a water change would be helpful. Basically it seems like your tank is still cycling. You also need to bring your PH up to about 8.2 if you can, although I know that people can get away with a PH of 8. __________________ Mike "I saw what the governor makes. That's like four hands of blackjack." -- Charles Barkley on why he wasn't seriously considering becoming the Governor of Alabama

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