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Advice? What can be a tank's first inhabitant?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by IneptHero7, Jun 27, 2015.

  1. Jun 27, 2015 #1
    IneptHero7 Iowa City

    IneptHero7

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    As I read many articles, blog posts and books before setting up my first saltwater tank, it seems that most people tend to start off with a fish as a tank's first inhabitant after all the cycling. I was just wondering if there is really any reason that you couldn't start with an invert or even a coral. I understand that some inverts and corals need a more mature tank to survive but it also seems to me that many species of inverts and corals are robust enough to be the the first one in the pool, so to speak. Just wondering what other people have done and any thoughts.
     
  2. Jun 27, 2015 #2
    Armydog

    Armydog Expert Reefkeeper

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    You could start out with an invert or a coral if you want. There are several corals that are pretty tough same as inverts.

    How long has your tank been set up?
     
  3. Jun 27, 2015 #3
    IneptHero7 Iowa City

    IneptHero7

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    I am actually still in the building process. I have been a long time lurker and am finely pulling the trigger. I am currently waiting for some acrylic sheeting that I ordered and then plan on maybe trying to do a build thread. I'm going for an all-in-on nano system using a 29 gallon glass tank as my base and using the acrylic to section off one end. But I'm getting off track. Just trying to ask some questions about things that haven't always been clear to me during my research.
     
  4. Jun 28, 2015 #4
    xroads La Porte City, IA

    xroads Veteran Reefkeeper Vendor

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    Honestly, the best thing you can do is add plankton. Copepods, Isopods, Mysid shrimp. Then feed them and let their population explode.

    Then when you do add fish, they have a ready, natural food source. You will also have a built in clean up crew that eats waste.
     
  5. Jun 28, 2015 #5
    mpivit Dubuque

    mpivit Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    Anybody who has a tank would probably agree that if they were to start over, this would be a best practice. It would however take an enormous amount of patience, more than I had when I setup my first tank.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Oct 24, 2015
  6. Jun 29, 2015 #6
    IneptHero7 Iowa City

    IneptHero7

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    Ok, so let us say that I do have the patience to do this with my first tank; I've got a couple of questions.

    1.) Which vendors do you trust that you buy your plankton, copepods, isopods and mysid shrimp? I mean, a quick google search gets me places like http://www.aquaculturenurseryfarms.com/ but what are the places you trust?

    2.) I don't see how any of these guys could really be put into a QT so what are the odds that they will be possibly carrying the Ich cyst or any other disease? I have really been reading up on QT, coral dipping, hyper salinity, etc to avoid putting unwanted stuff/parasites into my tank.

    3.) And since these guys are usually the 'food', what food do you feed the 'food?' And that is just a weird sounding sentence out loud.

    Sorry if these questions are actually easy ones that are being cause by me just not seeing the forest for the trees but just trying to get as much of a grasp on this before starting. Thanks
     
  7. Jun 29, 2015 #7
    xroads La Porte City, IA

    xroads Veteran Reefkeeper Vendor

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    1.) Which vendors do you trust that you buy your plankton, copepods, isopods and mysid shrimp? I mean, a quick google search gets me places like http://www.aquaculturenurseryfarms.com/ but what are the places you trust?

    Most professional places are fine. The two best are algagen and Reef Nutrition. There are many many others though.

    2.) I don't see how any of these guys could really be put into a QT so what are the odds that they will be possibly carrying the Ich cyst or any other disease? I have really been reading up on QT, coral dipping, hyper salinity, etc to avoid putting unwanted stuff/parasites into my tank.


    This is the one time when I dont qt, you really cant. Now as long as you dont buy wild plankton, there is zero chance of anything else coming in.




    3.) And since these guys are usually the 'food', what food do you feed the 'food?' And that is just a weird sounding sentence out loud.


    You can feed them a variety. Flake food, or green water, or both. This will cycle your tank, and make it really healthy before you add your first fish. So many people add a fish as the first inhabitant, but nothing to eat the uneaten food or fish poop. Plankton does both.


    Sorry if these questions are actually easy ones that are being cause by me just not seeing the forest for the trees but just trying to get as much of a grasp on this before starting. Thanks[/QUOTE]
     

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