Cycling tank w/ raw shrimp-adding live bioload

[pghflame]

Hi guys/gals:

As you may have figured out from my previous posts I am setting up a new reef tank. I have one currently running, but I set it up the conventional way...i.e. the damned damsel. Now that I have about 3 years under my belt and am setting up a new tank, I'm trying to incorporate all i've learned (patience being the greatest lesson). I have been cycling a 55 gal tank for about a month now using raw shrimp as the source for decaying material. I've watched the tank go through all the spikes and am just waiting for the NO3 to go down now. Being that I've put about 1 whole shrimp in every week-week 1/2 (and removed what was left of the old one), I was wondering what kind of bio-load I can start out with right off the bat. The way I figure it, I have the bacteria built up to a point higher than what I plan on putting in. But what I want to do is transfer 2 of the fish I already have (clown and hippo) along with the addition of 2 new ones (to be named at a later date) AT THE SAME TIME as to avoid any possible territory battles. In addition I want to add 1 cleaner and about 20 snails and MAYBE just 5-6 scarlet hermits. Now the fish I'm adding aren't all that big, and the ones I plan to purchase won't be much bigger (1.5 inches tops). I think the tank can handle it all at once since it's been processing an entire shrimp once a week. And yes, i'll be ready with a large water change and watch the other levels (NH4, NO2, NO3) closely also for possible spikes.

So, has anyone done it this way before? Regardless of if you have or haven't, i'm always open for suggestions/opinions.

Thanks!

 

[JohnD]

[ April 23, 2002: Message edited by: JohnD ]</p>

 

[JohnD]

IMHO you are probably okay to add all of the fish at once. I understand that you want to avoid turf wars. One of my tanks has a pair of damsels (used to cycle the tank more than a dozen years ago), a hippo and a tomato clown. I've been there.

With that said, I would be more inclined to add the fish slowly. For example, both the clown and the hippo at the same time. Add the other fish, either singly or the pair, at a future time. You didn't say what fish you had in mind.

There are a few ways to avoid these turf wars. This is what I do:
1. Feed the current inhabitants first.
2. Turn off the tank lights
3. Rearrange the rocks, PVC tubes, etc. make sure there are plenty of places for everyone to hide.
4. Acclimate and add the new fish.
5. Keep the tank lights out for a day.
6. Turn on the tank lights and watch.
7. Finally, it is dinner time. Make sure the new arrival gets to eat. Watch for any strange behavior.

HTH,

JohnD

 

[pghflame]

Thanks. I wanted to avoid having to move the rocks and rearrange my aquascape if possible. We'll see how it goes.

Any other opinions by anyone?