Saltwater noob with some problems

[Htubild1]

Hi all,
My tank is 3-4 weeks old. I'm (I think) just about ready to put in my first fish but I have some issues.
First of all, I put in a live rock and had no idea that I was supposed to cure it. Should I take it out and cure it now? My water levels all look good, but the ph was high before I did a water change and now I have red slime algae.
Not only did I put in the live rock but I'm also cycling with Dr. Tims- where you start with "healthy" bacteria and then add ammonia. Total overkill with the bacteria I know now.
Should I stop adding ammonia and forget the doctor tim's cycle, or will ammonia help cut down on nutrients to get rid of red slime?
One more thing. I don't think my heater works. I have 100watts on a 30 gal tank and it is hovering around 69 degrees.

 

[Jekyl]

Couple things
Was the live rock wet from another tank?
Get a heater controller

 

[WirelessMike]

Agreed with above question and recommendation. The second would be have you tested your parameters?

 

[Crustaceon]

First off, your rock will cure in the tank on its own. Secondly, get a heater controller and make sure your tank stays at 77-80 degree. Lastly, wait another month before adding fish. It’s not ready yet.

 

[Htubild1]

Couple things
Was the live rock wet from another tank?
Get a heater controller

Yes, it was straight out of a tank. She scraped it off a bit and the rock doesn't smell bad.

 

[Htubild1]

First off, your rock will cure in the tank on its own. Secondly, get a heater controller and make sure your tank stays at 77-80 degree. Lastly, wait another month before adding fish. It’s not ready yet.

Really not ready? According to the instructions that came with the Dr tim's stuff, the tank is supposed to be ready for a couple of fish on Monday. How do I know when it's ready if the water has already been testing fine for a while?
Also, any advice about getting rid of the red slime algae?

 

[Rmckoy]

Patients .
but sounds like you’re on your way .
there are so many ways to cycle your new aquarium . And I’m sure things have changed in terms of efficient and effective ways how to since I started .

To cure the rocks isn’t necessary as you are going to end up cycling them anyways .

pick up a few test kits , a refractometer , and research .

you have started the patients waiting game .
welcome to r2r

 

[William Morris]

Really not ready? According to the instructions that came with the Dr tim's stuff, the tank is supposed to be ready for a couple of fish on Monday. How do I know when it's ready if the water has already been testing fine for a while?
Also, any advice about getting rid of the red slime algae?

Email Dr. Tim and see what he has to say.

 

[Jekyl]

If you put a live rock in there the tank is ready for your first fish. Stop dosing ammonia and take it slow

 

[BaysEndReef]

Welcome to R2R!!

 

[Jekyl]

After you get your temperature under control of course

 

[dbowman5]

one quick point. ready for fish means operationally stable. if you are having equipment issues you are not ready for livestock even if the tank has cycled

 

[Crustaceon]

Really not ready? According to the instructions that came with the Dr tim's stuff, the tank is supposed to be ready for a couple of fish on Monday. How do I know when it's ready if the water has already been testing fine for a while?
Also, any advice about getting rid of the red slime algae?

I would be worried about the rate of progress the tank has made especially with the heater issue causing the lower temperature. This slows down biological processes and could have actually killed off beneficial bacteria if they were shocked by the change. I say wait a month partly because of this and party because of the cyano bacteria you’re seeing. When the beneficial bacteria in your tank becomes established, typically when nitrates and phosphates raise enough for bacteria to take advantage of it (this can be too low to be detected on hobby grade kits), cyano will typically disappear. I always look at reefing as keeping bacteria first and foremost. You’re at the stage where you can give the beneficial bacteria in your tank the leg up. Adding livestock right now is going to work against that.

 

[kitpoon0315]

Agreed with everyone here, the greatest skill you'll learn in saltwater is patience and planning. Impulse buying, impulse adding, or anything that was done outside of a plan that is thought out in advance is what usually gets you into trouble. Giving a tank a few more weeks to stabilize is always a good thing.

 

[Htubild1]

Couple things
Was the live rock wet from another tank?
Get a heater controller

Yes it was. She scraped it a little bit and here's an update- my nitrite level went up from 0 to about .5-1.0. Should I do a water change or just leave it alone with no fish and let it continue to cycle

 

[Htubild1]

Couple things
Was the live rock wet from another tank?
Get a heater controller

Yes it was. And she scraped it a little. Heather

 

[DeniseAndy]

Get your parameters stable (mainly temp from the sounds of it) and then add the fish. Carefully. Make sure you qt the fish if you want to avoid pests or disease.