some newb questions bout my AquaPod

[ProAccordV6]

I've had my tank up and running now for about 16 days now and I have some questions about its progress and what maintanence i should be scheduling. I have the 12 gal. AquaPod with 17lbs of Fiji Live rock (un cured i believe) and a 2" sand bed (not live). I started the tank with filtered drinking water from Publix. I have since bought 5gal of RO water from my lfs, and plan to use that for the first water changes.

after about a week algae had started to grow slowly....it started on the sand and glass and then onto the rock. it doesnt seem out of control, but what measures should I take to handle this. I am also noticing some coraline die off...this is normal though, correct.

right now my water paramaters seem pretty okay....nitrates were close to 40ppm while nitrites were at 0. KH was around 180ppm and pH was 7.8 .....any idea of where i am in my cycle? I would assume i havent had any kind of peak since my nitrites were at 0.....or maybe I already have had one...

I am noticing lots and lots of hitch hikers..including 4 snails, some white stars, pods, mysis shrimp (i think), lots of feather dusters. I have bought two margarita snails, a blue leg hermit and a scarlet hermit.....

so nehow, what do i do next!..when should i schedule a water change, and what do I do about this algae?? Thanks in advance!

 

[mister crabs]

dont do any water changes until your cycle is complete. algae will get worse before it gets better but your hitch hikers may actually help control it. wait two more weeks and if your mitrates zero out and your nitrites are still 0 then you should be ok to add livestock. just remember to GO SLOW and wait at least 2 weeks between additions especially with fish because everytime you add a fish your bioload changes and your tank will experience a mini cycle.

 

[ProAccordV6]

thanks. I have no problem being patient.

i turned back my lights to run only 7 hours a day...is this still too much light, or should i maybe let them run longer?

 

[noschmo]

correct on crabs post. I have several tanks going. Be patient at the start and you will have better luck later. The tank will go thru different algae stages but keep up with weekly water changes and all will work out. A 12 gallon is a nice size to work with and very easy on the water changes but watch out for your evaporation as you will be amazed at how evaporates daily even with the cover on.