What to put in first

[rambo1224]

My 6ft, 150 gallon cylinder aquarium just got filled today. Has an artificial reef going down center and Carribsee argonite live sand on the bottom. Filters to a live Fiji Rock box underneath. Going to let it run for a day to cycle, but want to get something in the tank. What are some good things to start with (I prefer more critters than fish).

thanks

 

[BallinCrew10]

Cycling takes MUCH more than a day, usually somewhere around a month. I wouldn't add any fish/inverts until then.

 

[SwimsWithFish]

Yep, do you have a test kit? Go onto YouTube and go to "newyorksteelo". It's a channel, he has a great video on cycling.

 

[rambo1224]

Cycling takes MUCH more than a day, usually somewhere around a month. I wouldn't add any fish/inverts until then.

Thanks. I thought for the cycle period 2 complete, you needed to add a couple of fish etc. Maybe some damsel fish etc. Is that not true? I need to wait a month before putting anything in?

 

[Gti_Leo]

no you don't need to put fish, most of us actually agree not to. we think its better to add an ammonia source and cycle it liek that. its more humain

 

[SwimsWithFish]

no you don't need to put fish, most of us actually agree not to. we think its better to add an ammonia source and cycle it liek that. its more humain

+1 and a good source is either pure unsented or a dead shrimp.

 

[rambo1224]

+1 and a good source is either pure unsented or a dead shrimp.

Thanks. Can it be a dead shrimp that you buy from the food stores (ready to eat)? Do I put that in my filter box that has the live rock in it?

 

[carey]

You can put it in a small piece of pantyhose and just drop it in, place it on the ricks or on the sand. The panty hose is for when it breaks down and makes a mess, this way you can just pull it all out at once.

 

[joy13]

Please do a lot of research before adding a fish because in a tank that size it will be nearly impossible to get out. Unless I was going to have an aggressive tank I wouldn't put a damsel in it. While your tank is cycling figure out the fish list and what order would be best to put them in. Set up a qt tank as well you don't want to introduce any disease in your tank if you can help it. A lot of the other critters like anemone, clams,and sea stars have special needs like light, food and a well established tank.