I have a new 75 gallon tank that I am now setting up. I have all of the equipment needed, and have a couple questions. I am buying my live rock from someone that has had a tank for years, so the rock is already cured and has algae on it. So do I still need to do any type of cycle, or will it all be done already. I also need to know when is the right time to start adding inverts, right away, or wait a couple weeks? What is needed as far as inverts for a 75 gallon tank. I want hermit crabs, starfish, and shrimp. Snails are fine, but if they are not needed then I don't want to waist the money. I read that you need 1 hermit crab per gallon, 1-2 snails per gallon, and 1 starfish per 20 gallons, is this accurate? If it is. then i was thinking of getting 75 hermit crabs, 2 brittle starfish, at least 1 cleaner shrimp, and a group of peppermint shrimp.
New Tank and inverts question.
- Thread starter sprky86
- Start date
I would think that the snails are the most important, they will eat your algae. You shouldn't actually follow the number/gallon rule, it seems a bit much. I have ordered from reef cleaners and the service is always great. You can first try a few snails and hermit crabs, then add more later on if they are needed. I would suggest you maybe get 5 nerite snails, 10 dwarf ceriths, and maybe 1 or 2 turbos at first. I'm sure others will chime in.
I personally don't like hermit crabs because they will eat my snails and steal food from corals.
I personally don't like hermit crabs because they will eat my snails and steal food from corals.
Laz
Reefing newb
You shoulf absolutely let your tank cycle. Whether you're introducing live rock that's been in a tank, it's going to be transported and added into a completely fresh new tank. You should most definitely encourage a cycle if you can, in my opinion, and it's most likely to go very quickly due to the live rock not having a lot of die off (assuming the transportation of the rocks won't be for a long duration of time).
No, my man. You don't want an army of hermit crabs. That's very inaccurate. Our much more experienced posters will give you an idea, but absolutely not. 75 crabs would probably cover the base of your tank!
No, my man. You don't want an army of hermit crabs. That's very inaccurate. Our much more experienced posters will give you an idea, but absolutely not. 75 crabs would probably cover the base of your tank!
Ted
Living one day at a time
I have hermits and snails in my clean up crew. Hermits will eat pretty much anything but snails are harder workers. Also hermits wont do much for your glass. I agree with the post above add them in slowly. 75 is way to many hermits btw. I would go with maybe 10 hermits the rest snails.
Yea, the site I read that on said 1 hermit per gallon, and 1 or 2 snails per gallon, that seemed like a lot. So for right now 10 hermits and 15-20 snails(variety)? I also want to get a starfish and some shrimp, do those need to wait until later on. my biggest worry is adding all of it together and putting to much in at once. I also want to point out that I have crushed up coral instead of sand on the bottom, I know that can make a difference for some stuff.
Ted
Living one day at a time
With crushed coral you wont be able to use any kind of sand sifter/stirrer. In order to keep crushed coral clean you will have to vacuum it when you do water changes. I have had crushed coral in systems before and always lead to bad water quality issues. I would hold off on any starfish for a while. A mix of hermits and snails will do. Go to the lfs and see what they have in stock. I would get 5 to 10 hermits, 6 turbos and see how that works. Then depending on what types of growth you see add accordingly.
The starfish that i wanted was a brittle starfish, dunno if that is something you can have with crushed coral or not. I got that because i heard from some people that it is more natural having crushed coral on the bottom. I already put enough money into it so that will have to do for right now. I want to get a cleaner shrimp and a group of peppermint shrimp. and opinion of the numbers for those for the tank? and do I need to wait a month for the tank to get established, that way they have stuff to feed on?
Ted
Living one day at a time
Starfish and shrimp are more sensitive to water parameters. I would wait until your system is more stable for them. Shrimp will compete for the food when you feed your fish and corals. So keep that in mind when you do add them.
Ok, thanks for all of the info. I am getting the live rock this weekend, so before I get it I will go into town and look at the LFS. If the have sand, and its cheap enough, maybe I will get some bags and switch it out for the coral. I didn't do my research before getting it i guess, everything i read now says that crushed coral is awful to use.
grozier
something smells fishy
Don't worry about live sand, it will happen soon enough. I had CC bed in my first tank and it was a pain in the butt. You could take some of the crushed coral out and replace it with sand or all of it. If you go with corals, I wouldn't get sugar fine sand because of the flow needed. I have the sugar sand and it moves constantly, so I'm always moving my power heads trying to find the sweet spot. watch a you tube video about aquascaping from newyorksteelo It will give you sme sort of direction with your rock placement.
RollTide15
Reefing newb
I added my entire cleanup crew before the end of week 2 but my tank started the cycle fast. I was the same as you about the snails until I saw what they can do. Turbo snails are like the street cleaners of the sea. Cerith snails are good too among a few other species. You should get as many hermits as you want, 25+, but in all honesty I wouldn't go with 1 per gallon. They just do not do the same quality job as clearing algae like snails or scavenging uneaten food like Peppermint and Pacific Cleaner Shrimp. Starfish are good but you might want to add that last since they are harder to keep than the aforementioned creatures.
Also on the number of shrimp. At first I would do one peppermint, then add your Pacific Cleaner once the cycle is more complete (Pacific Cleaners are not nearly as hardy as Peppermint and a few of my LFS say a high percentage of them die 48 hours after purchase), then add either another peppermint or cleaner depending on what you want. Personally I would do 2 peppermint and 1 Pacific Cleaner.
Also on the number of shrimp. At first I would do one peppermint, then add your Pacific Cleaner once the cycle is more complete (Pacific Cleaners are not nearly as hardy as Peppermint and a few of my LFS say a high percentage of them die 48 hours after purchase), then add either another peppermint or cleaner depending on what you want. Personally I would do 2 peppermint and 1 Pacific Cleaner.
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Ok, so i got the live rock today from the guy, was around 40-45 lbs, with about 12+ frags of what i am thinking is kenya tree coral. Some of them as tall as around 2in. Am I right in thinking that they are kenya tree? There is also some bubble stuff that looks like eggs, and 2 other pieces that I am not sure about, so anyone that has any idea let me know. I got all of this for $115, that seemed like a really good deal. The live rock is beautiful looking.
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ErinCahir
Sausage Wrangler
One, two and four are zoas.
I THINK four and six are xenia? It's hard to tell when they're out of the water.
Three looks like a skeleton.
I THINK four and six are xenia? It's hard to tell when they're out of the water.
Three looks like a skeleton.
