new tank algae questions

[the dewd]

I have a 55 gallon clear for life acrylic tank with a 15 gallon sump, 200 watt stealth heater, venturi skimmer. I am using a bio-bag on the return to the sump.

In the tank there is 50 pounds of LR and 40 pound of LS, and a seio M620 super flow powerhead.

Lighting is a 36 inch Coralife Aqualight Pro w / 150 watt MH and 2 65 watt actinic compact flourescents.




I have been trying to cycle the tank for a week now however all readings have been about 0 w/ 8.2 ph and 1.024 salinity. My LFS said to force the cycle so I got 2 blue gree chromises and a tellow tail blue damsel.


My question is about the diatome or whatever algae that is in my tank now. Do i leave this alone and let things grow?


This is my first reef so any thoughts would be much apperciated.

 

[Anonymous]

My suggestion is that this is a new cycling tank. Everything looks normal to me so far. Get some clean-up crew in there and let it ride. Get some turbos, some asterinas, a few narcissus snails, and later on, an emerald green crab (as little as you can find).

Hermits: My new opinion is that hermits belong in FO tanks only where they can clean up the leftover food scraps. In a reef tank, they just kill snails and they don't do much in the way of cleanup that I can see. This is only my opinion though. (psst! THEY ARE WORTHLESS! :wink: lol!) All mine are banished to the sump. You might add one or two if you have more fish than corals in your tanks though. They DO go after the food scraps pretty well.

That's a sweet setup you got there!

 

[Anonymous]

that is gonna be really nice looking!

i agree that what oyu got in there is normal... ride it out.

 

[the dewd]

Thats good news.. How long should I wait to get the clean up crew?

My rock was so beautiful...

 

[Anonymous]

Throw in a cleanup crew now! Nice tank! While some people hate hermits.. I kinda like them, but this is YOUR tank. Put a few in, if they become destructive, then take them out. I've got a bunch in my reef tank, and they are really good at chomping on algae. If they do take on a snail... I just add more snails. (Some people don't like this approach, so do what you need to do.)

~wings~

 

[the dewd]

Yesterday I got 15 hermit crabs a turbo snail and a starfish. Already seeing the difference. Thanx...

 

[Anonymous]

Cool!
~wings~