Tank cycling

[modom1207]

I recently set up a 32.5 gallon tank. I currently have 16 lbs of live rock, live sand, about 30 gallons of salt water, a few ounces of used salt water from a stable and cycled tank at the LFS, an old filter from a cycled tank at the LFS with plenty of beneficial bacteria, and two clown fish. The tank was set up about five days ago. I added the fish 24 hours after setting up the tank with the go-ahead of my local shop. They tested the water for me before sending me home with the fish, and the parameters were great.

I have been feeding the clown fish according to their instructions: once a day, only a couple pellets at a time until they eat it all and are done. However, the smaller male fish eats like it’s his last meal, hogging every pellet before the female clown can get to it. The female clown manages to eat like two pellets of food, which I feel is not enough, but that’s not my main concern as I am sure they’re still adjusting. When I offer her more pellets, thinking that the male clown will grab the food if she doesn’t, she becomes uninterested if her companion fish is no longer chasing the food, so a few pellets will sink to the bottom, and I can’t get them out. It’s like the competition is what drives them to eat, and once the male clown fish is uninterested, they both are uninterested. This has happened for two days now, so there are about 6-8 pellets somewhere uneaten in the tank.

My main concerns: Will around 6-8 pellets of food cause a massive ammonia spike over the course of two days? Do I need to add a third fish/crustacean to eat the excess food off the floor of the tank since the clowns no longer want the food once it touches the bottom? Or will the addition of another smaller bottom dwelling fish or crustacean be too detrimental to the tank’s cycle? I guess what I’m wondering is if it would be more beneficial to add a “clean up” fish/crustacean to eat the leftover food or will that be more detrimental than the leftover food? Any suggestions?

 

[Dan_P]

I recently set up a 32.5 gallon tank. I currently have 16 lbs of live rock, live sand, about 30 gallons of salt water, a few ounces of used salt water from a stable and cycled tank at the LFS, an old filter from a cycled tank at the LFS with plenty of beneficial bacteria, and two clown fish. The tank was set up about five days ago. I added the fish 24 hours after setting up the tank with the go-ahead of my local shop. They tested the water for me before sending me home with the fish, and the parameters were great.

I have been feeding the clown fish according to their instructions: once a day, only a couple pellets at a time until they eat it all and are done. However, the smaller male fish eats like it’s his last meal, hogging every pellet before the female clown can get to it. The female clown manages to eat like two pellets of food, which I feel is not enough, but that’s not my main concern as I am sure they’re still adjusting. When I offer her more pellets, thinking that the male clown will grab the food if she doesn’t, she becomes uninterested if her companion fish is no longer chasing the food, so a few pellets will sink to the bottom, and I can’t get them out. It’s like the competition is what drives them to eat, and once the male clown fish is uninterested, they both are uninterested. This has happened for two days now, so there are about 6-8 pellets somewhere uneaten in the tank.

My main concerns: Will around 6-8 pellets of food cause a massive ammonia spike over the course of two days? Do I need to add a third fish/crustacean to eat the excess food off the floor of the tank since the clowns no longer want the food once it touches the bottom? Or will the addition of another smaller bottom dwelling fish or crustacean be too detrimental to the tank’s cycle? I guess what I’m wondering is if it would be more beneficial to add a “clean up” fish/crustacean to eat the leftover food or will that be more detrimental than the leftover food? Any suggestions?

Not a problem. Bacteria will colonize and consume the fish pellets. Any excess ammonia will be dealt with by the live rock and sand you put into the aquarium.

You could add another creature to eat uneaten food. The problem is what does this clean up creature eat when the fish eat all the food. Let the bacteria and worms be your clean up crew.

 

[Cali Reef Life]

Go slow once you get to a couple months the bacteria will convert any ammonia to nitrates which are safer. In a week or so get a couple snails and a couple hermit crabs.

 

[PharmrJohn]

My advice for you moving forward is, as stated already, to go slow. Don't add any more fish until your tank is fully cycled. Right now, the tank is trying to catch up with your present bioload and the feeding that goes along with it. In your position, if you havent already, I'd work up a plan for your tank and set goals you want to achieve. If you want to keep corals, for instance. That will dictate which fish you can introduce. To give you an example, I am setting up a 200g tank next spring. I already have a week by week plan on my cycling. A month by month on what fish I'm adding and in what order. A list of corals I am interested and what their needs are. You cannot lose with planning and goal setting.