Cycled?? Whats next?

Lovge · Mar 22, 2014

Hi all. So ammonia is reading 0ppm as well as nitrites and nitrates. My shrimp has been in the water since Feb 25 and hasnt decayed away. It has gotten pretty ugly but its still there.

I was planning to give this another 2-3 weeks and then add my CUC and possibly a fish. Am i on the right mindframe on this?

Also im looking for suggestions for CUC and first fish addition. I have considered a jawfish and i am trying to avoid the cliche clown fish right out of the gate. Here is a pic of tank as is. Hoping soon to add the beginning of my zoa garden. Let me know your thoughts and ty for all the help so far

ImageUploadedByREEF2REEF1395498312.910613.jpg

Tahoe61 · Mar 22, 2014

Sounds like you're doing all the right things.

You might re-consider the Jaw fish in such a young tank. What type of Jaw fish?

For a cuc a couple Certh, Astraea and some smaller hermit crab types. You do not need an over abundance of snails and hermits initially, I always add them as the need arises rather then dump a ton in. There is a limited of food and algae in a new system, especially a small system.

Lovge · Mar 22, 2014

So prior to adding any life to this tank i should do a beefy water change?? Like i said ima let the shrimp just go for a few more weeks. However since. Im using a 29bc as a tank a 10g change should be plenty right. Then let everything settle down and add the CUC? Also is it ok to add a single fish at this time as well?

Tahoe61 · Mar 22, 2014

The % of water change depends on where your nitrate level ends up after the cycle. Typically I do a 10% water change, but a lot of people do not even do a water change. Since you'll be 6 weeks out with no detectable ammonia or nitrites it should be fine to add a single fish at that time.

Lovge · Mar 22, 2014

Cool ty. What im wondering if its odd is i got a very slight increase in nitrate but then it was 0 a week later

Pete polyp · Mar 22, 2014

Lovge said:
Cool ty. What im wondering if its odd is i got a very slight increase in nitrate but then it was 0 a week later

No, the tank metabolized it

MrDJeep123 · Mar 24, 2014

I wouldn't add a CUC just yet. There isn't much of anything for them to munch on and boy will they. I like to think that algae and diatom growth are part of the cycle. So in my mind, you aren't done yet.

Lovge · Mar 24, 2014

MrDJeep123 said:
I wouldn't add a CUC just yet. There isn't much of anything for them to munch on and boy will they. I like to think that algae and diatom growth are part of the cycle. So in my mind, you aren't done yet.

Yeah i haven seen ANY algae growth what so ever

Jonsie · Mar 24, 2014

YEA ! BC29 !
I Love mine ( Started Feb 3)

I read ~ Read and read some more.... I waited till I needed to add CUC and was confused to what to add ~ I think it is almost a personal choice as to what you add to where you want your tank to go ! I decided I wasnt going to add any hermit crabs....
I added 2 Astra Snails 3 Cert snails when I had enought of looking at the diatom bloom and I was getting the green algea starting...
I added a figting Conch ( just under 1 inch ) a few weeks later when the algea was getting out of control on the subtrate ~ The other guys were not quite keeping up ( THe figting conch is a beast eater! )

I just added a pepermint shrimp today because I seen a aiptasia growing on a mushroom rock I purchased and there is lots of snail poo

I seen a few Bubble algea - 3 bubble.... so I guess my next addition will be a Emerald crab probably next week or the week after....
I still havnt added fish
but I have added 2 chunks of rock with mushrooms ~ 2 chunks of rock with starburst polyps a sun polyp

I find it absolutely amazing watching a tank develop!

CastAway · Mar 24, 2014

Following along....

Jonsie · Mar 27, 2014

where are you at with your tank NoW?

Lovge · Mar 27, 2014

Ill check my params tomorrow and let ya know

Lovge · Apr 30, 2014

Ok its been a while since i was able to really post anything due to work load but heres where im at. I have no live stock still and my shrimp is still hanging on lol.
Any suggestions to what i should be doing next?? Add live stock or keep waiting?? Lots of green growth. If you could plz help me identify whats growing here.