Can i put a damsel in?

hey i whent to petco and bought some "natures ocean bio-active aragonite sand". I bought 2 20 pound bags for my 20 gallon high tank its got about a 2 and a half inch sand bed and i was wondering if you guys think i can add a damsel or clown fish in there without him dieing also got a 35 gallon fluval sponge filter.

 

How long has the tank been set up macabe?
was it set up with live rock or base rock?
what are your current Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate reading?

whilst it is possible that a damsel may survive the process of a cycling tank ( I have done it, but never in a tank of less than 50 gallons) these days there is no actual need to do that, you can cycle the tank with a shrimp or prawn from the fishmongers , allow ammonia and nitrite to peak and then zero out, and then after that has occured add the Damsel safe in the knowledge you have increased the odds of its survival and not put it through any discomfort in the process

Steve

 

You'll need to cycle the tank with a dead shrimp before adding fish. And trust me, you don't want a damsel there very aggressive. Do you have any live rock in the tank?

 

no rock yet just sand, filter and lights im useing raw shrimp right now and my nitrates where up but after i added the sand everything zerod out so i thought if it can keep a raw rotting shrimp down it could probably handle a fish and also i hate damsels i will not be keeping them i have cycled a 55 gallon long before with 4 damsels without a problem but i also had 100 pounds of live sand and alot of cured premium live rock

 

As saltwater aquarists we are basically here for the skill and patience of learning to stabilize safe and livable marine water conditions.Getting to have fish and corals is just the added bonus. Why add a fish you don't want.If you are going to put a fish through that process at least let it be something you want so u don't have to tear apart the tank later to get it out.I would say use a couple of chromis if you are going to be harsh on fish due to your lack of impatience.So just get a raw shrimp and some live rock throw it in for a few days while checking your levels and you'll be ready to add fish in no time.If you dont add the rock now your levels will spike again when you do add it causing another cycle.Sorry to be harsh but it seems you don't mind harshness.

Oh also 40lbs of sand in a 20g seems like a bit too much that's just mho.

 

well ill go ahead and wait and if i was being impatient i wouldnt bother asking you guys for your opinion also im not adding live rock because i dont want to put any harmfull things in my tank ill be puting in dead rock