Safe to add detrivoire kit?

[Craig Lambert]

I recently set up a new 75G, and it's been 4 years since the last time I started a tank. My memory isn't what it used to be...anyway, I would like to add a detrivoire kit from inland aquatics along with a small clean up crew consisting of Nassarius, cerith, torchus, and a couple of turbo snails.

The tank has been up for two weeks. The rock was cured for 12 weeks before going into the tank. I had a minor amount of dieoff as the rock was shipped overnight. My Ammonia level had a minimal spike the first two days, and then went to zero. My params are now as follows:

pH 8.2
Alk 10.0dKH
Calcium 435
Mag. 1300
Ammonia 0
Nitrite .01
Nitrate 3
(All tests Salifert)

AquaC EV-180 has been running since day1.

I would like to jump start my dsb now by adding the detrivoire kit from inland aquatics. It contains lots of pods, brittle stars, some small grazers, and additional beneficial bacteria. I would also like to add a small cleanup crew consisting of some Nassarius, cerith, torchus, and a couple of turbo snails. If I recall correctly, my Nitrate level of 3 isn't going to bother any of these animals. I will not add any fish until week 10, and even then, just a couple of clownfish. No corals until month 5. Am I good to go for some snails and a detrivoire kit?

 

[jdieck]

My best recomendation will be to start slow. I would start by adding some members of the clean up crew and leave the more sensitive pods until about one or one and a half weeks when the tank has a chance to increase the bacterial population and do not hsow any signs of Nitrite either. Note that although Nitrite is not realy that toxic it indicate Ammonia activity still going on, of course you do not detect Ammonia as it is being now converted to Nitrite very fast but seems that your tank is still going trouhg the Nitrite cycle so be patient and start increasing your bioload a bit at a time. It is always fail on the too slow side than risking the too fast side.

 

[BurntOutReefer]

do you have anything for them to eat yet?

 

[Craig Lambert]

Yes, I do have a bit for them to eat. Some brown algae/dieoff on some of the rocks. I blow the rocks off twice a day with a turkey baster so there is food for the Nassarius snails on the sandbed. I understand your question though, and this is why I would only add 1/2 of my cleanup crew at this point.

 

[jdieck]

Correction to typo. I sould have said one and one and a half month for the pods, not weeks.

Sorry.

 

[Craig Lambert]

Sorry jdieck, but i disagree with your opinion. My nitrates will likely be zero within another 7 days. I know my rock source, and they were fully cured when they went into the tank. That is why there has been a minimal cycle. (I've done this before with the same rock source). There is no reason to wait another 6 weeks for a detrivoire kit if all nitrogen cycle components read zero. I was only asking because I wanted to know if a nitrate reading of 3 (which is lower than many established tanks), was a respectable enough reading to add snails and pods.

 

[jdieck]

Then good luck to you. Next time if you think you know the answer then why to ask?