coral or fish?

what is best to start with, corals or fish? meaning my tank is currently empty and cycling. should i start out with some corals or a few hardy fish?

 

The hardy fish. Go with something like a chromis, damsel, or clown. Chromis are the most peaceful of the three.

 

It's good to start with fish first. Can't go wrong with a pair of clowns. Corals need something in the tank to make a small amount of waste too.

 

Fish! and I agree with the selection in the previous posts for fish.

 

I started with a fish the coral shortly after.

 

Clean up crew for me 1st
fish second but not always up to tank capacity
then I add corals

fish create a much larger bioload on average so any parameter spikes will normally occur as a result of fish introductions rather than from coral introductions
so getting fish in 1st means bacteria populations increase faster

Steve

 

I would go fish first but would pass on the damsel.

 

I would pass on the chromis just because they are not hardy as they are built up to be. I lost quite a few of those cheap little guys in the beginning because they are not that hardy and now the two that I have left are growing super fast and seem to despise all other chromis, but nothing else.

 

Hello, welcome. Well here you go! I hope this will be a pleasant experience for you. Here is my mini essay that I have written for those just starting out. I hope it guides you and if you have any questions I/we are here to help.
There are some who would tell you that once "the numbers" are all good the cycle is over and you are ready to go, I am not one of those. What many beginner (even some advanced) aquarium keepers are not (fully) aware of is that the full cycle takes at least 6-8 months. The reason being, mainly, is this is the time required to fully cultivate a total beneficial bacterial base and achieve a saturation of such. Also, allowing the tank to "season" and go through the inevitable mini-cycles and diatom blooms and get fully established is the key to a healthy and stable tank in the future. After you have added one or two fish, let the tank get established by light feeding and going through a moderate light cycle (6-8 hours) for the next 3 weeks. After that, add a few clean up critters (crabs and/or snails) and allow the tank to "catch up" to the added load (you may at this time add some live bacteria to help in this process) and give it another 2 weeks doing all your tests on a regular (weekly) basis and determine if the tank is stable.
Too many don't exercise the proper patience and discipline at this early stage of getting their tank going only to have problems and head aches down the road. Once the tank has gone through the initial phase of the cycle period and the tank is stable, (about 2 mos.) then and only then, should you do your first water change. I always employed a
bit of advice I got when I was starting out to add bacteria after each water change for the first and subsequent next 4-5 changes. After the first water change then and only then add to the tank and minimally at that. Another good tactic I learned is to add (whatever you are adding) a couple days after a water change. This gives the new creature fresh minerals and trace elements and a good 3-4 weeks (I adhere to 4-5 week
intervals between changes) to adjust to the new water parameters, light, temp etc. before disrupting the tank for the next water change.

Corals realy need a very stable and properly lit aquarium. After the 6-8 month full cycle you can then consider coral. You may keep a couple leathers or mushrooms at the 3-4 month period but I would be sure the tank is stable with all the critical elimental parameters and chemistry.

 

hmm very interesting. i was always told to add corals after the 3 month mark. all my corals are fine and i got them around that time. i dont think you have to wait 6-8 months for corals, anemones yes, but not coral. i have frogspawn, ricordea shrums and a leather coral and they are just fine still. good luck and keep us posted!