Cycling Live Rock with fish Yes or No?

[BrentW]

Hello,
I have my live rock cycling, My water looks good, Skimmer's skimming. So I have several more weeks to watch my Figi rock and I was woundering could I put a Damsel or 2 in the tank? Just to see something move? I know they may not make it but they are cheap at LFS.

So would you do this, I seem to get different answers at the different LFS.

Thanks,
Brent W

54 gal corner all-glass toverflow tank
wet/dry filter, Skimmer in the sump.
Rio 1700 tank sump main tank
Rio 2100 for the skimmer
Power heads comming very soon.

[VWD]

Just let the cycle happen and don't add the fish, No need to , You can add some shrmp or fish food. Once You put the damsels in You won't get them out without tearing the rock out. and even cheap fish don't need to suffer.

[BrentW]

Thanks for the reply,

I was thinking of since I was going to have a couple of fish in the tank with corals, after cycling maybe it would be better. So are fish suffering when you break in a salt fish tank? I was not going looking to tourture the fish, just wondering what people thought. Valid point on the stress on the fish just did not know if there was a differance.

Brent W

Originally Posted by VWD

Just let the cycle happen and don't add the fish, No need to , You can add some shrmp or fish food. Once You put the damsels in You won't get them out without tearing the rock out. and even cheap fish don't need to suffer.

[VWD]

Well alot of times it don't get all that bad for them, but other time depending hot hot the rock is it can, and also damsels are not the best reef fish as they grow. and You will find that you wish you did'nt put them in when they pick on other fish in the future and you have to pull out your rock to remove them.

[BrentW]

What of the Shrimp your were mentioning, that sounds cool. I have seen them at LFS are they friendly or easy to catch when you add coral?

Originally Posted by VWD

Well alot of times it don't get all that bad for them, but other time depending hot hot the rock is it can, and also damsels are not the best reef fish as they grow. and You will find that you wish you did'nt put them in when they pick on other fish in the future and you have to pull out your rock to remove them.

[110galreef]

The main key is the PITA getting them back out! Since most damsels you won't want long run. The water parameters are usually OK for them to survive though.

I think you can use some chromis though, like (blue/green ones) as these will be nice fish long run. Others may chime in on these though as I'm not positive.

[BrentW]

Thanks for the input. I will probably just wait. The cool thing is it looks like my rook is comming to life. It was flown in just got to the LFS just when I walken in, I got to pick through the boxes! and ther is some cool stuff on it and it looks like it is responding to the lights! I will try to get some pics up soon.

[wtrguy]

No damsels / i was in the same boat,was watching the rock night after night. A friend was dumping his 20 gallon he gave me 4 blue damsels and two white and black damsels, they where cool for two mnths, in a 125 it looked nice and they poked at each other and chased all around the tank. Then started to add fish and they where like mad men, they chased the wrasses all over. tried to trap them / tried to make the smallest hook out of guitar wire, there mouth is to small / out came all the rock and corals that was after 2 hrs of different nets / they are in a 20 down stairs in the dart room. It is a nice little tank and they are happy. my oldest calles it fish pergatory. Just watch the rock and wait.
wtrguy

[Loverotties]

Some Chromis wouldn't be bad!

[seshapir]

Originally Posted by BrentW

What of the Shrimp your were mentioning, that sounds cool. I have seen them at LFS are they friendly or easy to catch when you add coral?

I think he was talking about adding some raw shrimp from the grocery store to help the cyle. When the shrimp breaks down it'll help push you into the amonia spike and add bacteria from what I understand.

The cleaner shrimp at your LFS are very and fun to watch but should probably added after the cycle!

[wanareef]

The shrimp is nice but why add phosphates to the tank. Some sand and a water change (the dirty water) from a friend will get your tank kick started as well.

But as everyone mentioned - those damsels are a pITA to get out if you don't want them later on.