I want you opinion

[wenhamjj]

My cycle is done. I have 0 Ammonia, 0 Nirites, and 0 Nitrate, SPG 1.024, PH 8.2 ALK is good, temp 77 (no lights, 78 w/lights) Tank has been set up now for 10 days. I never saw a Ammonia spike because my rock was fully cured. I am now seeing small bright red, light almost pastel green, and purple coraline grow on the rock. Mostly the bright red seems to be more abundant. I have brown diatom algae on the rock and a little on the sand bed. I am only running the lights 4 hrs per day now and plan on doing that till the diatom goes away. I am still going to wait another two weeks before I add anything just to make sure it stays the same. When I add my first inhabitants I plan on adding 5 snails (mix), 2 or 3 hermits (mexican), and a skunk cleaner shrimp. After that is established I plan on adding a new item about every 2 weeks (when I get paid). One question I have is should I start doing my weekly water changes or wait till I add my cleanup crew?

 

Please let me know how this looks to you and let me know about my first addition choices.

 

Thanks in advance!

[xcajx]

Basically you are doing the same things I did minus the pre cured rock. I did a 3 weekish cycle until the params were good and then did a 50% change. Then slowly over 3 weeks added some snails (just 1 at first as a test) then some hermits and more snails and then a snunk cleaner. Finally added some zoo's and a candycane and 2 ric's (not all at once). So far so good.

 

I did not add anything until the diatom bloom was over. I don't know how that affects your tank, but that's what I did for mine.

 

JBJ nano cube with 56 watts.

 

Let me know how it goes and if my strategy is of any help - I learned it all through here from many searches and questions.

 

Chris

 

 

Oh, i did add a bag of chemi-pure and saw a really drastic improvement in clarity, I recommend it. I took out 2 sponges for it and also threw in all my LR rubble.

[wenhamjj]

What kind of hermits did you get and did you have a problem with then attacking your snails?

[Dolfan0925]

What kind/size of snails u plan on? I only have 1 turbo snail in my 10g and that's all I need. If I had 2 one would more than likely starve. Unless you're getting very small not hungry snails I would suggest not getting 5 for a 12g. But that's just my opinion:)

[MillerLite]

Wenhamjj,

 

Just a suggestion, but you may wish to wait to add anything to tank for a bit longer. Although your parameters seem OK now, your tank may or may not be stabilized to a point that adding creatures wont impact water conditions. Although the rocks have been cured, I would think that it would take some tmie before you have proper bacteria growth throughout your tank in sufficient quantity to handle more life. Maybe a few hermits or crabs, but definitely not any fish or cleaner shrimps. FYI, cleaner shrimps can be pretty finicky to water conditions. Slight increases in ammonia or swings in pH which are often expected in new tanks could have very adverse effects on the shrimp. I would recomend waiting (> $20 a shrimp at LFS). The biggest mistake just about every reefer makes is starting to quickly in adding life to the tank. This could be expedited if you were able to obtain sand or gravel from an established tank. I would let it be for at least another month before adding anything. Just my two cents...Good luck!

[wenhamjj]

MillerLite,

 

2 questions,

 

1) Should I start weekly water changes?

 

2) Will I need to feed the hermits anything?

 

I'll hold off on the Shrimp.

[MillerLite]

Sorry wenhamjj, been off the computer for a bit. If your paramters are good, then I would definitely begin the weekly water changes to keep all of the levels constant in the aquarium. The coralline algae will slowly use up any calcium, strontium, etc. in the water and this will need to be replenished. I would do weekly water changes. Also, the hermits will need to eat something. You may wish to add some hard shrimp pellets, not flake food, to your tank to feed them. This way you dont overfeed your tank> You can also spot feed the crabs as well with a dropper if you woul like. The pellets are easy enough for them to find and they will be happy.

 

Good idea on holding off ont he shrimp. Just give it some time. Good luck!