Debating fish (BioCube)...

So, I want to run some water tests tonight to see how the cycling is going in the BioCube. I picked up about 20 pounds worth of live rock from my LFS. Importantly, this rock was the live rock in their tanks and fuge, and thus had been established for some time. I was thinking that because I transported this rock right from the LFS to the tank that my cycle time might be a bit faster.

I know we want to get a pair of clownfish, and the LFS got in about 6 small (1.5"?) tank raised Perculas about a week ago. Being that these fish are small, would it be ok to add them if the ammonia/nitrite levels are low or would they be too much bio load?

Also, we were hoping to get the clowns to pair, so we had planning on getting them together. Will it matter if they are purchased at the same time, transported together, and acclimated to the tank together (had assumed this would keep one from defining a territory) or if one is purchased and a week or two later another is purchased? We want the best chance of them pairing up as possible.

 

Don't put fish in with ANY ammonia/nitrite. I got a pair of OS clowns at the lfs. They have been bonded since I brought them home.

 

Did you buy them as a pair and introduce them as a pair, or were they introduced at different times? I'm trying to decide if introduction at the same time is important to the success or likelihood of their pairing.

 

The LFS actually had them paired. I bought them as a pair and they have been bonded since. The best chance to have a bonded pair is to get them the same age and get them at the same time.

 

how mch for the pair? my LFS has an onyx true percula pair for $80...

 

That's what I thought. They have 6 of them that are pretty playful with each other. Is it ok to add 2 fish after the initial cycle is over or will I over load the system?

 

You can introduce both at the same time as long as you have 0 values for ammonia and nitrites consistently.

There also little downfall to introducing young clowns one at a time as long as you do not try to introduce a dominate female to a tank already containing a dominate female.

Breeders change up males and introduce them all the time to new females to enhance the gene pool and promote breeding with males that maybe eating eggs or not participating efficiently in caring for the eggs.

 

I got my pair of OC clowns for 48 at LFS

 

My cycle finished then I added my CUC a few days after it did then I waited a week before I adding my clowns. They were added both at once and are doing great. They are very active, playful, plump and healthy.

 

Try adding some fish food to the tank to see how well the biological filter handles it. If you do not see a spike in 3 days you can probably add the pair without difficulty. When adding fish the size of the tank has a direct effect. Introduction of two clowns in a 75 gal tank is going to impact a 29 gal differently.