Got bad advice outside of 3reef now I'm worried.......

I got some bad advice outside of 3reef about cycling a tank and changing water so now I am worried about the maintenance fish I was told to purchase. :disappoin This is how it was explained to me and its on Live Rock - Tampa Bay Saltwater Aquacultured Live Rock - The Package Contents
"You can figure the amount of rock, sand and animals needed, and the cost of your package using this information. For Packages under 55 gallons figure the animals needed as if it was a 50 gallon tank. "
1 pound per gallon Live Sand.
1 Serpent or Brittle star per 50 gal.
2 pounds per gallon Live Rock.
2 Tiger Tail Cucumbers per 50 gal.
1 Blue Leg Hermits per gal.
1 Peppermint shrimp per 50 gal.
1/2 Turbo Snail per gal.

Does this sound right to some of you veterans????

 

In My opinion. Star fish of any type should not go into a new tank. Maybe 8-12 month old tanks only I feel the same way about Cucumbers

On the side bar of 3Reef there is a Calculator. I would use that to figure out the sand you want.

I would say 1lbs of LR /Gallon.

Some people do not like hermit crabs as they are opportunistic hunters sub snails instead

As for peppermint shrimp see above comment on Starfish

I think a good clean up crew should consist of a variety of snails and hermit crabs. the key being variety
. there is not need for starfish, Cucs, or shrimp.

J

 

Chit! I already over done it then...I have 94lbs of LR and 60 lbs of LS. 40 less lbs of LR would of saved a lot of money. Thanks for the advice.;D

 

Otty,

Remember that the people who are recommending this package are trying to sell you something. I HIGHLY disagree with their recommendations and wholeheartedly agree with Jason. The starfish and cukes are just going to die in a brand new tank.

 

Sorry about the craptastic advice. Is there any way you can stop the order? Did you order the critters at the same time as the LR and LS? I didn't add my clean up crew until several weeks into my cycle...

 

Clean up crew or anything alive should only be introduced to your tank once NH4 and NO2 have stabilized at 0.

To boost the cycle I have used cocktail shrimp bought at the grocery store

J

 

I have not ordered anything from them yet. I got all my live rock from LFS because it was cured and I wanted to pick my design of rock and not get what was shipped to me. Picky I guess, cost more but I don't have any hitchhickers I don't want.
Tanks is going on it's 5th week and I have redish brown alge growing on the rock and was wondering if it was time to start my maintenance crew. I currently have 1 clown and 2 peppermint shrimp in now and they are doing fine.
What did you add as a clean up crew..size tank...critter...etc

55 gal
94 lbs of Live rock
60 lbs of Live sand

Fluval 305 w/surface skimmer on pick up tube
Remora Aqua C Skimmer should be here 11-28-06 for install

1 Clown (My daughters Nemo)
2 Peppermint Shrimp

Started tank October 28, 2006

 

Like Jason said, if your ammonia and nitrites have stabilized at ZERO (not close to zero but ZERO) then IMO you could start introducing your maintenance gang, acclimate them properly prior to placing them in the tank.

On my 120 gal I introduced about 30-40 snails, and about 15 hermits over a span of 3-4 weeks after the tank had cycled.

Good luck.

 

How long do you take to acclimate them to the new water?? For my shrimp I added a 1/2 cup of my water into the bag every 20 minutes for an hour and 20 minutes. Is that long enough or should I go longer??

 

That should be fine