New 20 gallon IM

[codygarner08]

Hello,
I started a 20 gallon a month and three days ago. I am beginning to see growth within the tank. I am wondering if this growth is healthy and if I should leave it alone. Please let me know if you guys need better pictures.
Thank you.

 

[James M]

The growth looks like algae growing. You are entering the ugly stage .

 

[codygarner08]

Excellent, so I should leave it alone and allow it to grow?
When should I get critters? Also, when should I start looking for additions to the tank? I was thinking in about 3-5 months from now.

 

[James M]

Excellent, so I should leave it alone and allow it to grow?
When should I get critters? Also, when should I start looking for additions to the tank? I was thinking in about 3-5 months from now.

I would leave it but start getting snail and hermits there more algae . By new additions do you mean fish ?

 

[vetteguy53081]

This is diatoms and similar associated with a new tank and often caused by use of tap water, pre-algae stage and silicates. You can decrease intensity of whites which will help a little and also gently blast surface film away with a turkey baster. A cleanup crew consisting of turbo snail, nassurus snail , nerite, margarita and Trocus

 

[grassy_noel]

Time for some basic cleanup crew. Maybe a few snails (and a couple little hermit crabs if you like them) to chew on that algae...

 

[Daniel91]

Good sign for tank, bad sign for looks.

Get a smaller CUC - don’t over do it, you don’t want them to starve. With prober maintenance and stable parameters that algae will slowly fade

 

[codygarner08]

The additions I was thinking of was a cleanup crew; I don't plan on adding any other fish. I was going to wait six months before adding any corals. Are there enough algae in the tank for the cleanup crew to live happily though? I don't want them to struggle.

 

[codygarner08]

SW - Scarlet Reef Hermit Crab (10)

SW - Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit Crab (15)

SW - Astraea Turbo Snail (15)

SW - Nassarius Snail (10)

Would this bee too much or just right? This was a package on http://liveaquaria.com/

 

[codygarner08]

SW - Scarlet Reef Hermit Crab (10)
SW - Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit Crab (15)
SW - Astraea Turbo Snail (15)
SW - Nassarius Snail (10)
Would this be too much or just right?
This was a package offered on LiveAquaria.com

 

[Justfebreezeit]

SW - Scarlet Reef Hermit Crab (10)
SW - Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit Crab (15)
SW - Astraea Turbo Snail (15)
SW - Nassarius Snail (10)
Would this be too much or just right?
This was a package offered on LiveAquaria.com

imo way to much even for an established tank

I'd start with: 2 nassarius
2 hermits
2 trochus
1 turbo
1 cerith

Even my suggestion might be a little much for the early stages.

I have a nuvo 20 and my current clean up crew after a year is. 8 trochus (started with 4, one spawned and 4 made it so far)
2 Astrea
2 hermits
1 Blue tuxedo urchin

I just lost 2 ceriths to the hermits who needed new shells. Will replace these 2 when I get around to it

This way you can add as needed and not lose some to starvation in the future.

 

[codygarner08]

Ended up getting these guys, should be here this Saturday.
SW - Scarlet Reef Hermit Crab 2

SW - Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit Crab (4 tiny)

SW - Astraea Turbo Snail 2

SW - Nassarius Snail 2

 

[grassy_noel]

Yep, that seems like a good amount to start.

 

[codygarner08]

So, after adding these guys, the grow went mac 5! lol so glad I got them when I did. also the ammonia levels went up from zero to 0.02-0.04. Is it typical for levels of ammonia to go up once you add critters/fish? I figured it was, but wanted to make sure. I also added some ceramic spheres 1 1/2 to the back chambers. Would that have caused the level to increase?

 

[codygarner08]

here is what it looks like now.