zeddy

my tank is curently 33gal, with 35lbs of live sand and 10lbs of live rock and will be getting more very soon. i am wondering when i can start putting little crustations and such in it. i checked my peramitors last night and they are all perfect since there isnt that much in there. thinking about snails, crabs, shrimp, and whatever else i can find.

Jesses89

Well.... when did you START?
when was the current live rock you have put in the tank?
and is there algae growing on it?

zeddy

i started easter day, the rock has been in there for two weeks, there is algea on the rock and it is starting on the sand

Oil_Fan

The only thing I can think of that most inverts are scavengers and they won't have much to eat for a while. I'd probably start with a fish and then a couple of weeks later, add some snails. After that go with a shrimp. You'll probably find the shrimp after he's been in there for a couple of weeks will come out when you feed the fish. At least my fire shrimp does.

And don't be surprised when you get the diatoms. That'll be brownish algae that'll grow on the live sand and glass and well anything else in the tank not moving!! heh Everyone gets them. Just watch how much you feed the fish and you'll be fine.

Peterpiper

I would start by cycling the tank before adding any fish.
IMO To start stocking a uncycled tank will be cruel to the fish, take 2-3 times longer to cycle the tank, cost more due to all the water changes and drive you nuts.
ammonia & Nitrites are more toxic in salt water than in fresh.
To try and rush things now will only extend the time it takes to have your tank up and running.

GreenMan13

The live rock is cycling the tank not the fish.

What parameters are you testing? And have you been testing and seen it go through the cycle?

Allie

Get Purple up and you'll have plentyof what you need in the tank.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=12799

zeddy

my tank has been running for almost a month now it is cycled all peramiters are good i gues what im trying to do is find out when to add stuff in what order light times for coral ect..... i still have a week before i have all my rock and once i get that i would like to start a small cleanup crew with my first fish which will be a blue head chromie

Peterpiper

Hi zeddy,
After you get the last of your LR in the tank, you may want to wait a week before you start stocking the tank.
When you add LR, there could be some die off, so IMO wait a week, do a water test and if its all good then start stocking.

zeddy

thank you for the advise i forgot about that.

zeddy

ok i got all my live rock and was given a few things so instead of turning them down i put them in my tank just to see what will happen, i was given 4 snails 2 chromis and 1 damsel