Am I ready for CUC

[Oleshp]

Hello all,

After a recent tank crash (Thanksgiving time), I have started over. My tank has been cycling since the first week of December. The last time I set the tank up I did not cycle properly because I followed the advice of a local retailer. My question is, how do I know when I am ready for a clean up crew? My tank has gone through what I believe to be a complete cycle (ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate have all dropped back to 0) and my tank is growing some kind of brown stuff. I dont know if it is diatoms or not because I havent seen a tank properly be cycled in the past.

thanks in advance for any help

for reference, it is all white sand

 

[The-Russ]

How long has your tank been cycling?

I have done this a couple times and I am cycling a new tank now. It looks NASTY, but it is normal. In the past I waited a while until I saw green Algae then got a clean up crew. If all your levels are 0 then you could be done cycling, but I would give it a few days. There is nothing wrong with waiting, although it sux, but nothing good happens fast in a reef tank.

 

[vic67]

If you tested and saw the ammonia and nitrites spike and then fall back to 0 I believe your tank is cycled. I do a WC at that point and start adding livestock slowly. You can add a CUC at this time. Nassarius snails will help turnover the sand so it doesn't look so nasty. You can also add a fish or two if that's the direction you're heading.