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View Full Version : Is it ok to add fish and corals now?



pickle311
Mon, 19th Sep 2005, 05:04 PM
The tank has been running for about 2 weeks now.
SG - 1.025
Ammonia - 0
Nitrate - 0
Nitrite - 0
PH - 8.1
Temp - 80.7 durring the day, 79.8 at night
P04 - 0
Ca - 300
Alk - 9.0

I know Ca and Alk are low. I just got my C02 bottle filled today and have started up my Ca reactor. Ca and Alk should be dialed in pretty soon. I'm shooting for Ca = 400 - 430 and Alk = 10.0

My skimmer has started skimming but I'm having trouble getting it dialed in. It's either pouring really wet foam into the collection cup, ir the level is 6 inches down the tube. I'm slowly adjusting it to get it where I need it at.
So what do you think, can I start adding some things? I would like to go ahead and add my fish and inverts. That way they can get settled in and the anemone can find a good home before I start adding corals. I'll wait to add the corals until the Ca and Alk are in check.
One last question, I have an Aquacontroller Jr. that will be controlling my PH. What PH should I have it set at to turn the C02 on and off? I have the PH probe in a cup that the effluent is dripping into, not the tank.
TIA

::pete::
Mon, 19th Sep 2005, 05:07 PM
In my opinion if you are still dialing it in why not wait a bit more. ;)

alton
Mon, 19th Sep 2005, 05:20 PM
What kinda fish. A Niger Trigger can take almost anything, a tang or angel will not do very well in a newly set up tank. I don't like damsels. Also what are you using to cycle the tank, live rock? Please list size of tank, what you want to add, how much liverock, was it cured locally or was it shipped in?

pickle311
Mon, 19th Sep 2005, 05:36 PM
it's a 130 gallon tank, the only fish I have now are a GSM clown that I've had a year and a half and a Regal Tang I've had for about 3 months. There's about 120lbs of live rock that came from an established tank and was cooked for 2 months before adding it to the new tank.

pickle311
Mon, 19th Sep 2005, 05:37 PM
In my opinion if you are still dialing it in why not wait a bit more. ;)

I can, just getting anxious.

::pete::
Mon, 19th Sep 2005, 05:39 PM
I know the feeling!

Polkster13
Tue, 20th Sep 2005, 07:34 AM
It would actually be best if you could wait for a while. There should be lots of new critters and stuff start to come out of your LR and start growing. Sponges, polyps, worms, feather dusters (red and white), isopods, copipods, macro-algae and so forth. Let them get going and flourshing and see if there is anything that starts to grow that you don't want in there. Then start by adding the least agressive fish first.

I know it is difficult to wait, but the slower you go the more success you will have. Patience is the key to success.