What to add/do next?

[A/c mech]

So I’ve had my RedSea 170 set up for a month now. Just added a refugium and I think I just hit my “cycle”
Saturday it got real cloudy (it read it was a “biological bloom”) it’s clearing up on it’s own.
My Parameters have been good except ammonia, it was hovering around 0.15-0.25 and yesterday it FINALLY dropped down to 0.0.
I have only 2 clowns that seem pretty happy. Everything seem ok. It is going thru the “ugly tank” stage with the long hair and brown algae now.
I have a shipment of copapods coming from Algae Barn coming today or tomorrow.
My question is what should I get/do next? Coral; SPS,LPS,anemone,clean up crew...more fish...or wait...?
I’m getting impatient !!!
Thanks

 

[Ron Reefman]

I'd recommend an inexpensive zoa or LPS. They are pretty hearty and can be good inhabitants in a mixed reef. Go slow when adding fish as they have a bigger effect on the bacteria load and could cause a mini-cycle.

One last thing. I know you are impatient, so here is the montra you need to repeat over and over and over:
NOTHING good happens quickly in a saltwater aquarium!

 

[cristata.reef]

Agreed with @Ron Reefman. The only things that happen overnight in this hobby are bad things. I'd say get your hands on some cheap frags from your LFS and see how they do. Maybe add a nassarius snail or two to help stir the sand but wait on the other members of the CUC until there's algae growth (don't want to put em in a tank where they'll starve). For corals stick with softies for now (GSP, zoas, palys, etc).

One of my biggest regrets is I didn't dose when I started so it limited what I could get for a while. Start adding calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium and test for their levels. That way once your tank is clean you can go right into SPS if you feel you're capable.

And take time to research right now while you're waiting. Research the pros and cons of different corals, fish and inverts. Look for the best equipment. Find out how to do the little things like how to glue corals and doing water changes, because it will pay off in the end. Feel free to ask questions here or message me I'm open to help. And finally, good luck!

 

[Cjud7982]

Sounds like your doing great!! I would agree with everything above. Something that gets into the sand is always a good thing. I have good luck with conch snails and nassarius snails. Maybe just a couple for now. Your rock has great color btw, did you buy it like that? Honestly, I would take a little time out of your day and make a trip to a good lfs. Look at the corals, inverts and fish. Take a notepad, write down what you like. DO NOT BUY IT YET lol, go home have a refreshing drink (small batch bourbon, or wine for you winows, assuming your of age, if not maybe just a fresca) and research all the things you liked. If what you liked at the lfs is within what you are comfortable handling, then give it a shot I would deffinitly be getting some simple corals, mushrooms, zoas (even though i cant keep one to save my life), gsp on its own little island away from the main rockwork. Something to give you tanks some color and motion. Remember, go slow, and enjoy it. So many people get into reefing, get too excited, go to fast, spend too much money, hit a hard patch and cant get through it, give up, and sell people like me all the equipment at a discounted used price. lol. Let us know what you decide to get

 

[cristata.reef]

Also if you need coral recommendations I gotchu. I'm helping with the coral section of a reef encyclopedia app and I have some background knowledge of corals in a biological sense so I think I know my stuff haha