cycle on 10 & 12 gallon almost done

[libmo]

I guess I must be luckier than some. Or didn't have as many sponges die off as others have. But I only did four 20% water changes in each tank. My amonia level never got above 1. Today is the 12th day my sand and rock have been in. My readings last night were:

Amonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20-40 Depending on which test kit I used

I will test it again when I get home from work. But I think I am almost ready for my second shipment.

I found a decorator crab last night. I have heard they are not reef safe. Is that only because they take things to cover themselves with?

I got a 25 gallon package. And yes I did cycle half of it in a 12 gallon tank, and the other half in a 10 gallon tank. My original plan was after the cycle was finished, take some out of the 10 and put it in a 2 1/2 gallon. I also don't have a protein skimmer on either tank.

 

[Dexter1334]

I have two decorator crabs. They haven't done any damage I am aware of yet. They have been in the tank 4 months. One is white and has glued a piece of shell to his back. The other has a coat of red hair algae all over him, so I can only see him when he moves. He looks like he is wearing a red fur coat. Both have very small claws.

 

[libmo]

The one I found in my tank is about the size of a penny. I would have never noticed him he has so much stuff stuck on him. I thought he was a pile of sand that wasn't there before. While I was looking at the pile of sand he started to move.

 

[libmo]

The one I found in my tank is about the size of a penny. I would have never noticed him he has so much stuff stuck on him. I thought he was a pile of sand that wasn't there before. While I was looking at the pile of sand he started to move.