First Reef Tank - Please Help

[packisbak1]

I posted this on the main forum but I thought I would post it here as well in case you guys are more inclined to help a local.

I setup my first reef tank, a 12 gallon JBJ DX with 10 pounds of Fiji LR and 1.5 inches of live sand, about 2 weeks ago. My water parameters are as follows:

Nitrites: 0
Nitrates: 0
Ammonia: 0
PH: 8.4


I started getting an algae bloom after my first week. Particularly, I got a lot of algae on the glass, sand and filter that looks like small clumps of green grass. Basically, each group has about 5-10 strands that come out of a central circle that anchors it down or sticks to the glass. Each one is currently very small. I am not good at taking pictures but I wanted to know if anyone could identify and/or provide thoughts on how to get rid of it.

My long-term plan is to add two small clownfish and several easy to keep soft corals. I added 6 cerith snails after week 1 and they have done a good job at cleaning off debris from the LR. Please provide adivce on the following:

1) When should I perform my first water change?
2) When should I add my first coral/fish?
3) What should I add first, coral or fish?

Thank you in advance for your help.

 

[Illuminati]

I would start with weekly water changes now and get into that habit.

Make sure your using RO/DI water, it will help cut down on algae.

I would do a waterchange, test and watch the tank for a week then think about adding your clowns.

How do you have your back chambers setup?

 

[packisbak1]

The back chamber has the sponges in the first chamber and the heater in the second chamber. I took out all of the charcoal and rings that came in the second chamber.

When doing the water change, should I put the siphon in the sand?

 

[Tremolo]

I would not disturb the sand at all. It helps with filtration and after it has been established you can run into problems when mixing it up. I belive that people have had tanks crash losing almost everything from mixing up sandbeds.