excited_newby
Aquarium Advice Activist
Well after much pain and waiting and then more waiting the time has finally come. The tank is pretty much cycled (no ammo or 'trites and a low and dropping 'trates), the shrimp thing worked well and I dumped in some of that bacteria "snake oil" 
that seemed to make it go faster but maybe that was my imagination. I think that I will probably go through another mini cycle as I have not added the canister filter yet, and so there was not a massive amount of stuff for the bacteria to take hold on.
Well I went by the LFS for the umteenth time to check out their clowns to look at health over the long term, and from what I have learned they look very good with no disease. I am going with a true percula pair to start, and am wondering what the best pair choice to make. There are probably 15 or twenty clown in one of the tanks along with other varieties of fish (but it isnt crapped they are quite large tanks). I am wondering if it is best to get a large one and a smaller one so there is less problems with dominance, or to get two large or two small and let them work it out.
Oh I am so excited. I must have spent an hour and a half in the lab at lunck and after school getting everything adjusted, taking readings, added a new heater to the other end of the tank so the temp stays more even. I think the tanks looks great. I have bio after lunch so I will not be hurried with the acclimatization, and I am sure that I will have about and hour to slowly adjust them to tank conditions. Here is how I am going to add them, tell me if I am out to lunch:
1) 15 minutes submerge the closed bag in the water to adjust for temp.
2) scoop out a little water from the bag and replace with tank water. Dipose of the removed bag water.
3) Continue step 3 repeatedly every five minute for roughly 45 minutes
4) Pour bag water out into bucket through net to catch fish.
5) Put net in water and release fish.
6) Smile and enjoy!
Does that sound good?
I have another question about fish to add after the clowns have settled and the tank has matured a little. Say next October (so the tank has had time to become settled) what would some nice flashy fish be to add to it. I recognize that I don't want to overstock and the like but I don't really want another type of damsel, chromis, or gobie in it. If I get some nice algae growing on my rock would I be able to keep a smaller yellow tang? My tank is a longer tank not one of the taller ones so there is some horiz. distance to swim. I like them but if it is destined to die for sure than I couldn't do that. Also there were some butterflies that were no bigger than a silver dollar, are there any that stay small enough to live in a 30 gal. or is it a losing cause. There were also tiny little (maybe 2") picasso triggers. Is that a possibility?
I won't tire you eyes anymore
TIA
that seemed to make it go faster but maybe that was my imagination. I think that I will probably go through another mini cycle as I have not added the canister filter yet, and so there was not a massive amount of stuff for the bacteria to take hold on. Well I went by the LFS for the umteenth time to check out their clowns to look at health over the long term, and from what I have learned they look very good with no disease. I am going with a true percula pair to start, and am wondering what the best pair choice to make. There are probably 15 or twenty clown in one of the tanks along with other varieties of fish (but it isnt crapped they are quite large tanks). I am wondering if it is best to get a large one and a smaller one so there is less problems with dominance, or to get two large or two small and let them work it out.
Oh I am so excited. I must have spent an hour and a half in the lab at lunck and after school getting everything adjusted, taking readings, added a new heater to the other end of the tank so the temp stays more even. I think the tanks looks great. I have bio after lunch so I will not be hurried with the acclimatization, and I am sure that I will have about and hour to slowly adjust them to tank conditions. Here is how I am going to add them, tell me if I am out to lunch:
1) 15 minutes submerge the closed bag in the water to adjust for temp.
2) scoop out a little water from the bag and replace with tank water. Dipose of the removed bag water.
3) Continue step 3 repeatedly every five minute for roughly 45 minutes
4) Pour bag water out into bucket through net to catch fish.
5) Put net in water and release fish.
6) Smile and enjoy!
Does that sound good?
I have another question about fish to add after the clowns have settled and the tank has matured a little. Say next October (so the tank has had time to become settled) what would some nice flashy fish be to add to it. I recognize that I don't want to overstock and the like but I don't really want another type of damsel, chromis, or gobie in it. If I get some nice algae growing on my rock would I be able to keep a smaller yellow tang? My tank is a longer tank not one of the taller ones so there is some horiz. distance to swim. I like them but if it is destined to die for sure than I couldn't do that. Also there were some butterflies that were no bigger than a silver dollar, are there any that stay small enough to live in a 30 gal. or is it a losing cause. There were also tiny little (maybe 2") picasso triggers. Is that a possibility?
I won't tire you eyes anymore
TIA
Just because they are the first fish does not mean this very important step should be skipped. You cannot treat them any more or less effectively than any future additions.
