Feeding a nano, pH and snail poop

[slam308]

I got home last night from the LFS with a new test kit and two cerith snails. Someone suggested not putting nassarius in until I start feeding.
I also have pods!! I assume that what all the little white bugs are that are crawling all over the glass and back.
I'm also getting some tiny white spirals on the back.
I'm at work, so I've got to be brief...more later.

 

[slam308]

Ok, finally did the water test with the AP kits.
Ca 500 ppm
KH 179 ppm
PO showed the ranges in green, mine was yellow, so I have no idea. Did the test twice, same result. Any clues?
NO 0.0 ppm
pH 8.2

Like that pH a heck of a lot better than the test strip (which still shows 7.8)
So, I think I'm on the right track? Your opinions? Should I do anything, or just let it be?
I'm going away this weekend, so I'll probably get those clowns next weekend.

 

[jamynsdad]

leave it be...

 

[dendro982]

I compared their Ca test results with Seachem, they show slightly higher values ~500 ppm = 420 ppm by other test.
PO4 yellow =0 ppm
KH - excellent
You should be OK.

 

[mahalamata]

in my experience diatoms thive on trates/trites but also on phosphate and sillicates in the water.in a brand new setup like yours i would wait till they die off before adding any more bio load to the system.they key thing is patience(not easy i know with all the cool stuff one sees at their LFS),so waiting for the tank to cycle properly and for the water to mautre is a must.i have kept maroon clows and common clows in the past,if you cant get hold of an already mated pair its hard to get them to get along....also clowns of different species will IMO fight...i.e. you mentioned a common and a skunk...i wouldnt put them in the same tank if i where you!also,i dont know what the water is like in the US but here in the UK it is totally unacceptable for marine tanks,TDS is way high not to mention all the other horrible things in it(as far as you tank inhabitants are concerned anyway)so i would exclusivly use RO and even better RO/DI water for you tank.SeaChem do a very good range of marine additives at good prices and superb quality....maybe check them out

 

[slam308]

Dendro, thanks for the comparison. I'm so glad I got the better tests.

Mahalamata,
The diatoms are rapidly decreasing. Tonight I changed the filter floss and used the turkey baster to blow everything off. I waited about an hour and did it again. Whatever is on the rocks is coming off easily and the sand isn't nearly as bad.
I don't know if I need better mechanical filtration, or I just have to do this a couple nights in a row, but by the evening, there's a bunch of fine particles floating around in the water. Mostly tiny white stuff. I figures it's the snails and hermits kicking up dust. That's what gave me the turkey baster idea. Will this eventually go away?