Just another newbie hello :)

[eddthompson]

Yes, ive been looking at the nano reefs, very cool. But its going to be fish only for now.

Whats the best way to clean the coral sand, a siphon vacuum thingy?

thanks for all the help guys.

edd

 

[mogurnda]

A siphon vacuum thingy will work well.

If you want to live on the wild side, you can also just wait and see what happens. If the CC gets colonized by enough detritivores (like the amphipod in your photo), you may just want to leave it alone.

 

[eddthompson]

one last question, should i run the protein skimmer during the cycle?

Ive noticed growth already on my lava rock, seems very fast.

Ammonia was up alitte today, like 0.5 or so. 0 nitrite, 0 nitrate.

edd

 

[mogurnda]

Skimming will help reduce the ammonia and nitrite spikes, and reduce stress on the critters on and in the rock. I say yes.

 

[eddthompson]

Just a little update.

been doing water tests every 2 days, the ammnia peaked 2 days ago at 1.0 and was back down to 0.3 ish today, with nitrites making an appearence for the first time at 0.2-0.25.
No sign of nitrates yet. I went to the lfs to get them to do the same tests and the matched up nicely.

Its been less than week since i put in the live rock so i was quite pleased to see the amonia drop.

The plan is, when the nitries drop to 0 put a clean up crew in, some red legged hermits and some turbo snails (thats all i can find in the local places, cant get any online here in the uk).

Wait for the ammonia to settle again and a pair of common clowns.

Question is, when should i add more live rock? How many hermits and snails? (tank is 30 gallon)

Thanks again

edd