What should I add first?

[Secondgen]

I just set up a new 20 gallon setup. I added live sand, and live rock. I checked my water parameters about one week after everything was up and running and they were all at 0 ppm except  for nitrate it was at 5 ppm. So being I did not go through a cycle I am ready to start adding livestock. My question is should I buy fish, or a cleanup crew first? The only reason I am asking is because there is no visible algae present, and I don't want to starve the crew. The tank has had a light on it for only two days now. As far a cleanup crew, suggestions would be appreciated with diversity in mind. Thank you all, and God bless.

[Kenn]

I would add a hardy fish or 2... IMO This tank WILL cycle. once you add a bio load the cycle will start up. Your existing bacteria population will not be able to meet the needs at first, so they will produce a bigger population to handle the new load from the fish . So I think it would be unwise to add a Clean Up Crew which is sensitive ( it will kill them ) to the compounds produced during the cycle.

Not to mention ... There is nothing for a clean up crew to clean up  yet ( I've always though some people rush into buying a CUC for a new setup)

Good Luck with the new build !!

[Secondgen]

Thats what I am trying to do with this setup. Take it slow and do it the right way.

[micki]

I would add a hardy fish or 2... IMO This tank WILL cycle. once you add a bio load the cycle will start up. Your existing bacteria population will not be able to meet the needs at first, so they will produce a bigger population to handle the new load from the fish . So I think it would be unwise to add a Clean Up Crew which is sensitive ( it will kill them ) to the compounds produced during the cycle.

Not to mention ... There is nothing for a clean up crew to clean up  yet ( I've always though some people rush into buying a CUC for a new setup)

Good Luck with the new build !!

+1

[kattz]

I agree with Ken on all but one item.  If you used cured live rock and live sand for your build, there's a significant probability that your tank may NEVER cycle.  As for fish, I'd put two blue green chromis' in it.  Hardy, friendly, and fun to watch.  When you get tired of them and you're certain of your water quality, you can always trade them in at an LFS for something else if you so choose.  Otherwise, they like schools of 5 or more long-term.

[Kenn]

I agree with Ken on all but one item.  If you used cured live rock and live sand for your build, there's a significant probability that your tank may NEVER cycle.  As for fish, I'd put two blue green chromis' in it.  Hardy, friendly, and fun to watch.  When you get tired of them and you're certain of your water quality, you can always trade them in at an LFS for something else if you so choose.  Otherwise, they like schools of 5 or more long-term.

My concern is since there is no bio load, any excess bacteria that came with the live rock\sand will have died off, as there is nothing for them to consume. The bacteria load will equal itself out to whats available to eat.

So when you add livestock, the new fish start to produce more ammonia than the tanks current level of bacteria can handle... So you will usually get a small cycle as things start to balance out. Granted it can be really small in some tanks, but usually it is enough to kill inverts and sensitive fish.

As for the chromis... I am going to be pulling two small ones from my tank real soon, so if your in need just let me know 

[Secondgen]

Thanks for the offer Kenn, but I decided to buy a small chromis, 3 tiny blue hermits, 2 nass, 2 cerith, and 2 astrea snails. This should get things going. I still think I will have little to no cycle. I do appreciate all the comments. It may have sounded like a pretty basic question for as long as I have been in the hobby, but I really have never done things the way that they say they should be done. This tank is going to be different as I will be doing regular testing, and I have a better water source this time around. My ro/di is producing water with a final tds reading of 13. A huge difference from my 475 tds I get from my tap. I have always used treated tap in the past with decent results, but I have always battled algae. I am looking forward to seeing how differently this setup goes.

[Kenn]

No problem 

Watch those Blue hermits ... Those little buggers can get mean    I bought them when I first started and they would chase down other crabs and snails and eat them ! Kinda sucked because they have a real cool color.

[kattz]

My 90g never cycled.  I finally just gave up. It's been going on a year now, and with all of the inverts and 9 fish, you'd think something would've cycled...Just go slow and you should be fine.