Cycling help please!

[BeanAnimal]

no disease plan, wing it? still read the disease forum. fish losses in early 2025 will not be due to a parameter you can test, it'll be the need for fallow and qt.

I have seen you repeat over and over that you don't use "scare tactics" to promote your ideas... telling every new reef keeper that all their fish are going to die certainly feels like a scare tactic. I am not sure that is needed to get the point across that QT is an important topic.

old school cycling does not discuss or even consider fish disease, that's why it's dangerous.

"cycling" and "QT" are two different things. Relabeling them and combining them does not change the advice.

Quarantine and preventing disease transfer have been a topic for as long as I have owned fish, fresh or salt.... and that pre-dates you by a decade or two, at least. The point being that I think that your continued use of language like this is more confusing to people than it is helpful. There is no "old school" vs "new school" in this sense. QT is and always was important and cycling still works the same way it always did.

Note: Posted edited to be clearer

 

[BeanAnimal]

I've had nothing but luck with 3-5 chromis. Never had have issues with them picking on eachother.

They are insanely terrible fish for new reef keepers, and in general.

1 - they extremely disease prone

2 - They are high energy fish with tiny stomachs that must be fed numerous times a day. Most starve, but people are blissfully unaware. If they are aware, the last thing a new aquarist needs to be doing is dumping piles of food into a new tank.

No issues, then yes you are lucky

 

[Sdoutreefer]

They are insanely terrible fish for new reef keepers, and in general.

1 - they extremely disease prone

2 - They are high energy fish with tiny stomachs that must be fed numerous times a day. Most starve, but people are blissfully unaware. If they are aware, the last thing a new aquarist needs to be doing is dumping piles of food into a new tank.

No issues, then yes you are lucky

I never have had any disease when I've had chromis in the past. Yes, they like to eat a lot. I've found using coral food (reef blizzard or Reef Chilli) is best for the chromis because they have so much energy, they like to bob and swim around eating the tiny pieces of whatever is in that stuff

 

[BeanAnimal]

I never have had any disease when I've had chromis in the past.

This is not opinion or conjecture - Chromis are highly susceptible to Uronema Marinum.

Yes, they like to eat a lot. I've found using coral food (reef blizzard or Reef Chilli) is best for the chromis because they have so much energy, they like to bob and swim around eating the tiny pieces of whatever is in that stuff

Right, but most new reef keepers are not prepared to feed a "school" of 5-7 fish 5 to 7 times a day to keep them alive.

Glad that you enjoy them and have had good luck, but the context here is suitable fish for new reef tank owners. Adding almost certainly doomed chromis, that have a high chance of coming with Uronema and infecting the rest of the tank is not my idea of getting off to a good start.

 

[Sdoutreefer]

This is not opinion or conjecture - Chromis are highly susceptible to Uronema Marinum.


Right, but most new reef keepers are not prepared to feed a "school" of 5-7 fish 5 to 7 times a day to keep them alive.

Glad that you enjoy them and have had good luck, but the context here is suitable fish for new reef tank owners. Adding almost certainly doomed chromis, that have a high chance of coming with Uronema and infecting the rest of the tank is not my idea of getting off to a good start.

I’m glad to know you have strong opinions and apparently facts. Best of luck to you. I’m not going to argue with someone who’s a keyboard warrior. Best of luck.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I’m glad to know you have strong opinions and apparently facts. Best of luck to you. I’m not going to argue with someone who’s a keyboard warrior. Best of luck.

You indicated that you thought chromis were a good fish for beginners and I explained why I feel that they are not. Instead of just providing my opinion, I offered a few facts to back up my reasoning.

This is a forum and a place for conversation about such things. There is no need to get bent out of shape and be insulting because somebody has a different take, knowledge or experience.

 

[PharmrJohn]

In terms of stocking, now is a good time to review goals for the tank and come up with what you want in your tank. Get a list going of what you expect to see in your tank a year down the road. Do research on each fish as to their diet, their strengths and weaknesses, and consider if you'd like to stock your tank with utilitarian fish. Utilitarian fish can be a major asset. They can play a big part of your CUC. Once you have a list, create a thread and get opinions. Not only will you get information on suitability, but you'll gain insight as to the order your fish will go in. My list has gone though two iterations thus far. There were pieces of information that I had not considered as well as info I was just ignorant of. Just my 2 cents......

 

[BeanAnimal]

I have kept fish for 40 years and still learn every day. My best advice is the same as that given above. Research everything you put into the tank. Plenty of people have made plenty of poor choices so that you don't have to follow in their footsteps

 

[BeanAnimal]

Again, best of luck to you.

I am sorry that you feel offended or the need to be insulting over a simple cordial conversation. I am not sure the aim of your last response other than to be further flip or dismissive, which is also unfortunate.

Conversations, both in agreement and in disagreement are how information is acquired and transferred from one person in this hobby to another. It is the entire basis of this medium.

In this case, the OP and others following along have learned that you have had good luck with Chromis and really like them, but have also learned that they can be problematic for various reasons. You may not care, but I am sure the OP and others are happy to get more than one perspectives so that they can further their knowledge and opinions as well.

In any case, you attempted to insult me by calling me a keyboard warrior. I have participated in keeping fish for over 40 years. The bulk of my public participation in this hobby, be it here, or running a local club, or publishing content and calculators or giving talks, is aimed at sharing what I have learned over that 40 years in the hopes that it can benefit other people.

As for luck, I try not to rely on it and instead attempt to educate myself to improve my chances for success.

 

[get-salty]

Hello,

I would appreciate some help please!

I have a 400 ltr tank (this is my first one), which I've been using Dr. Tims one and only to cycle, added ammonia as instructed.
I'm 2 and a half weeks in and I've had 0 ammonia for the last 5 days, but my nitrites have been reading 1 (using RedSea test kit) for the last week with no change.
Nitrates have been reading between 2 and 10 depending on the day for the last week.

I did a 25% water change at the two week mark.

How can I reduce the nitrites? It just doesn't seem to be coming down at all.

Thanks in advance!

Guys.. dont over complicate things.
ZERO ammonia = fish in tank (2 clowns) !
After a month, your tank should be ready for corals.

You think long. You think wrong. Good luck and Happy Reefing !

 

[Reefing Madness]

Enough.
How bout we help the OP, and stop the bickering

 

[ac1108]

Enough.
How bout we help the OP, and stop the bickering

Thank you, this was very overwhelming. Is there a way to remove a post haha?

 

[get-salty]

Thank you, this was very overwhelming. Is there a way to remove a post haha?

REEFING AINT EASY BUD !

CHEERS AND HAPPY REEFING !

 

[splunty]

Thank you, this was very overwhelming. Is there a way to remove a post haha?

Sometimes people forget the anxiety we feel when getting started reefing! I'm pretty new myself but here's some thoughts:

As others have said, once ammonia is being consumed within a few hours, your tank is well on its way to cycling and is safe to SLOWLY start adding livestock. Keep measuring nitrates and Phosphates and implement water changes to keep them where you need them. You'll likely find mysterious spikes early on as your tank begins to mature.

Some goby and blenny species may do better once you get some algae for them to nibble on. Have you considered one of the less territorial damsels? They are hardy and super easy to start with.

 

[keithmeseroll]

Hello,

I would appreciate some help please!

I have a 400 ltr tank (this is my first one), which I've been using Dr. Tims one and only to cycle, added ammonia as instructed.
I'm 2 and a half weeks in and I've had 0 ammonia for the last 5 days, but my nitrites have been reading 1 (using RedSea test kit) for the last week with no change.
Nitrates have been reading between 2 and 10 depending on the day for the last week.

I did a 25% water change at the two week mark.

How can I reduce the nitrites? It just doesn't seem to be coming down at all.

Thanks in advance!

My first tank top 6 weeks to cycle fully. Give it time and don't rush into it. This isn't a hobby to rush. Even when changing your water parameters with additives take it slow and raise if over days or weeks. Everything is patience and testing with small changes. Good luck