View Full Version : How often to add fish?
gsiegel
03/07/2013, 11:43 AM
I currently have a 280g FOWLR.
What do you guys suggest as to how often to add fish? I understand not too quickly so that the bioload cannot keep up, but have also been told that you do not want to wait too long (couple fish every couple of weeks?) as the fish in the tank become more territorial and more resistant to new additions.
Is there a "bright line rule" you suggest?
Thanks
Reef Frog
03/07/2013, 01:46 PM
No direct answer for you, but vigilant testing & more frequent or larger water changes while bacteria multiply & stabilize should keep things under control. Wet skimming may be helpful too if you think you're pushing the limits.
Also what size fish are you adding? Several small or juvenile fish added at the same time should make little difference to biolad if the tank is mature, not overstocked & all parameters are good. Especially for a 280g.
Territory issues & aggression are a different issue. Lots of hiding places & adding small peaceful fish first, followed by those with tougher reputations is wise. If you've covered these bases you can probably add fish fairly rapidly to a mature (not newly cycled) tank but keep an eye on things.
Squidmotron
03/07/2013, 01:57 PM
Generally? Add 1 or 2 every couple of weeks.
There are exceptions if your tank is pretty mature, but that's a good general guidline.
You may eventually have the desire to add a small school or add a couple of fish at the same time to avoid aggression.
But generally just go safe and enjoy the process.
gsiegel
03/07/2013, 02:31 PM
Thanks -I was going to sit for a month or so w/o additions but don't want the fish to get territorial w/o any changes for awhile
here is my current stock list and future plans
CURRENT
-3 blue/green chromis
-mated pair of black/white oscellarus
-gold headed sleeper goby
-magnificent fox face
-blond naso
-mimic tang
-flame angel
-xmas wrasse
-exquisite wrasse
-labout's wrasse (seeing some aggression issues w/him)
-lineatus wrasse
planned possible additions in order I am thinking:
-possibly other wrasses I am considering (of course not all):
- orange-back fairy
- pink margin fairy
- carpenter
- radiant
- mccosker's
- linespot flasher wrasse
-mated pair of bellus angels (or wattanaba)
-pair of blue jaw triggers
-aussie harlequin tusk
-toby puffer (but questionable as I dont want nipping at others' fins)
-blue face or $cribbled angel
wooden_reefer
03/07/2013, 03:25 PM
I currently have a 280g FOWLR.
What do you guys suggest as to how often to add fish? I understand not too quickly so that the bioload cannot keep up, but have also been told that you do not want to wait too long (couple fish every couple of weeks?) as the fish in the tank become more territorial and more resistant to new additions.
Is there a "bright line rule" you suggest?
Thanks
I suggest that you reject the stale concept of bacteria catching up with bioload.
There should not be any catching up; the bacteria population should already be up, in great excess, before you add any livestock to any tank, DT or QT.
It is very easy to cycle in a separate container, or to maintain high population of bacteria in a separate container.
This is a very simple idea:
Before you add any livestock, make sure that there is excess bacteria. In fact, bacteria should be in GREAT excess and gradually the excess bacteria should die due to low ammonia AFTER you have added new livestock to any tank.
I stock all at once as soon as possible because I know how to QT all fish at once; a newbie should not stock all at once because of lack of skill in disease control, NOT so that bacteria population can catch up.
Even a newbiew can cycle robustly and maintain very high bacteria population in a separate container and add to DT or QT as needed at the time of adding new livestock.
At the immediate end of a proper and robust fishless cycle, the population of bacteria will be extremely high, high enough for any realistic bioload, but without the needed ammonia source the bacteria will gradually die.
igot2gats
03/07/2013, 03:38 PM
How can you test / know if the bacteria population is in excess?
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