Good Afternoon,
In the article referred to above (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-01/eb/index.htm), there is a slide titled "How about this" in which Mr. Borneman presents an idea for a good, solid long-term "cycle." Well, it turns out that I'm pretty influenced by this and I'm proceeding this way.
I have a 24 gallon Nanocube that I started 4 months ago. It has 30lbs LR, 20lbs LS, and so far just 1 Strombus and 1 Trochus snail, 1 Emerald crab, and 1 Scarlet and 1 Blue-legged Hermit crab. I have a small amount of brown algae and a bit of green hair algae, and just yesterday I noticed the appearance of copepods.
I've been contemplating getting a larger cleanup crew with various critters to help sift the sand, control the algae, eat future leftover food, etc, but in trying to follow the advice on the slide, a question arises regarding the timing of the crew addition.
The slide reads, "Let algae bloom and take up waste, helping 'cycle.'" The next line reads "Add a variety of herbivores..." Question #1: How long should I allow this brown and green hair algae bloom before I add more cleanup crew? I've been monitering water quality and there is no doubt that the algae blooms, although somewhat unsightly, have helped me maintain better water condition than when they weren't there. After the blooms started, my pH went up (it had been low), and now I have the pods, and the water is so beautifully clear.
The additional crew would be obtained from IPSF.com and would consist of a variety of Trocus, Nerite, and Strombus snails; some more hermits (what IPSF calls "microhermits"); some tiny stars, bristleworms, and other beneficial worms; tiny sandbed clams; and amphipods. Question #2: Is this cleanup crew about right?
Here is a link to a thread that has pictures: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=596080
Any help would be appreciated.
Tim
In the article referred to above (http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-01/eb/index.htm), there is a slide titled "How about this" in which Mr. Borneman presents an idea for a good, solid long-term "cycle." Well, it turns out that I'm pretty influenced by this and I'm proceeding this way.
I have a 24 gallon Nanocube that I started 4 months ago. It has 30lbs LR, 20lbs LS, and so far just 1 Strombus and 1 Trochus snail, 1 Emerald crab, and 1 Scarlet and 1 Blue-legged Hermit crab. I have a small amount of brown algae and a bit of green hair algae, and just yesterday I noticed the appearance of copepods.
I've been contemplating getting a larger cleanup crew with various critters to help sift the sand, control the algae, eat future leftover food, etc, but in trying to follow the advice on the slide, a question arises regarding the timing of the crew addition.
The slide reads, "Let algae bloom and take up waste, helping 'cycle.'" The next line reads "Add a variety of herbivores..." Question #1: How long should I allow this brown and green hair algae bloom before I add more cleanup crew? I've been monitering water quality and there is no doubt that the algae blooms, although somewhat unsightly, have helped me maintain better water condition than when they weren't there. After the blooms started, my pH went up (it had been low), and now I have the pods, and the water is so beautifully clear.
The additional crew would be obtained from IPSF.com and would consist of a variety of Trocus, Nerite, and Strombus snails; some more hermits (what IPSF calls "microhermits"); some tiny stars, bristleworms, and other beneficial worms; tiny sandbed clams; and amphipods. Question #2: Is this cleanup crew about right?
Here is a link to a thread that has pictures: http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=596080
Any help would be appreciated.
Tim
