First time cycling tank questions, water test results (pics)

[javajaws]

I'd wait just a little until you start to get a diatom bloom or other stuff growing in the tank. If you put a cleanup crew in there with pristine rock they'll likely starve. Once you've got something for them to eat, I'd suggest some trochus, cerith, and nassarius snails. Also some scarlet hermits, micro blue legged hermits and a couple serpent/bristle stars. I got all mine from reeftopia.com...very good prices and free overnight shipping with orders ($120 minimum I think).

 

[Brent Thomann]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6574992#post6574992 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sindjin
It looks great!

I would add a bunch of Astraea Snails, Mexican Turbo Snails, and Ceriths (snails). If you like Hermit crabs...add some of those too...Scarlets and Blue legs are nice and dont bother anything.
Maybe add 25 of each if possible.

KeysCritters.com has some great deals on higher volume purchases...you can save a ton.

Keep those pics coming!
What kind of backdrop are you doing?

sorry on the delay, didn't have "email replys selected".

WOW! Really 25 of each! There's going to be critters everywhere!

I think I'm going to do as "javajaws" recommended and wait a little while. By looking at things, don't think there will be anything for them to eat/clean. Tank is really clean yet. What do you think a couple weeks/months? Should I put any critters in the refuge or is that a whole nother thing I'm not ready to get into yet. I have patience, just please keep helping me out. Its greatly Appreciated. I'll keep posting pic's for you.

I had a decorative background up but I didn't like it and took it down. The back side of it is all blue, was going to give it a try. What would you suggest for a background?

How long should I run the lights a day or should I wait a little longer? Won't the lights help with algae grow? I'am noticing a little growth on the rocks. More so where the current is greater, looks like grass almost or even hair?

Guess what guys, after testing the water again with the same results I ended taking a trip to the LFS and got 3 Small Blue Damsels. Been in for almost 24 hrs now with no problems. Crazy if my tank cycled in just 3 or 4 days. I know you guys said to wait but I was driving me crazy. Feel SOO much better now! Thanks again and sorry for all the questions. I'll owe yah!

 

[stevedola]

java might have a point because you did start with clean rock.

 

[javajaws]

Point? Me?

Here's what I did on my tank, to give some perspective:

- I cooked my rock for 3/4 months in-tank without lights
- Then started the lights on a 8 hr schedule (2x250 MH on a 4x2x2 tank roughly)
- The diatom bloom started up in a week or two...
- About the fourth week into running the lights I ordered the cleanup crew...I had just started to get some hair algae patches on a couple rocks (mostly ones that were high up in the tank).
- Within 2 days of adding the cleanup crew, my tank looked like it had been scoured clean...no algae, no diatoms, glass and HDPE bottom looked sparkly clean. I promptly sold off about 1/4 of the snails I ordered (I had to make a minimum order from reeftopia to get free shipping...I knew I'd have too many in the long run).

That was a couple weeks ago. I think I still probably have too many snails in there for the amount of food I have for them. I'm going to wait a couple weeks before reducing the count even further though.

 

[Brent Thomann]

I must of cooked my rock for 3 months too? I take it cooked is a good thing?

Anyways from my last post- How long should I run the lights a day or should I wait a little longer? Been about a week now. Won't the lights help with algae growth, which I want? I'am noticing a little growth of something on the rocks, almost looks like grass or even hair?

I did notice some other stuff growing on the rocks. Do you know what it is? Is it unfriendly?

Also, you can't really make it out from the poor photo (below) but I'm noticing quite of few little tiny dark worm looking things popping out on the rock. Are they good or bad. If bad what should I do?

GREATLY APPRECIATED,
Brent

 

[Cutiewitbooty]

The worms are probally just bristle worms, they are good for your tank, helping to clean up uneaten food and poo I'm not to sure about the green thing though.....

 

[Brent Thomann]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6595115#post6595115 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Cutiewitbooty
The worms are probally just bristle worms, they are good for your tank, helping to clean up uneaten food and poo I'm not to sure about the green thing though.....

In the first 2 images those things are actually yellowish not green, bad photo. What the heck is it? Its aprearing on several rocks.