10-years in the hobby--newbie question!

[postie]

I've had reefs, FO, LR w/whatever for 10 years. I'm now cycling a 55-gallon. This is the first time I've started from scratch in 10 years...lol. The 55 is almost cycled, and actually may be now. I'm getting diatom algae, test readings are a little unreliable because the tank is at a place where I am moving to, but will not be living there full time for a couple more months. Therefore, I know not to add anything that needs hourly or daily care (fish, corals, etc.). It's a pretty good distance to do a daily drive. I know there is NO ammonia, tank has been up for about 6 weeks w/LR to cycle. Last nitrite reading was minimal and nitrates were zero.

Question is, what is the first thing to add to a newly cycled tank with diatoms. Obviously I can clean the glass, but I don't stir up the LR much. I have a DSB (not live yet) and 50+ lbs. of LR (will be adding another 20-30 lbs. from other tanks when I move). This week I will add a cup or so of established sand from my ongoing tanks and a couple of pieces of small LR with bristle worms....will also do a water change.

Any suggestions concerning a clean up crew? I'm in no hurry, but thought I might throw in just a couple of snails. Don't want anything to starve. Been a long time since I first learned all this...wonder where it went...lol

Any opinions will be appreciated

 

[Ben1]

I would go by and throw some food in the tank like it was full of hungrey fish. Come a few days later and check for ammonia and nitrite again, if both were zero I would go ahead with a clean up crew.

I am in the O hermits club and for your 55 I would add:

150 ceriths
75-100 astreas
1 fighting conch if you are using sand.

I wouldnt add these unitll I moved it. If I knew I wouldnt be moved in for a month or so I would throw in a shrimp from dinner or two, and I would do a large water change (75% using ro/di water) before I add live stock.

I would follow the cleaners with a fish within the week, but that is JMO.

 

[Sugar Magnolia]

I'd suggest adding some nassarius snails as well. They'll help stir the top layer of the sand bed and clean up detritus.

 

[Mihai]

I'd go with, say, 20 cerith, 5 astrea and not add nassarius until I actually start to feed the tank (they'll die of hunger otherwise). I think that if you put as many snails as Ben suggested most will starve to death. Don't believe the recommendations on the websites that actually sell those critters - they want as many as possible sold to you. I personally like the hermits, I'd add 5 blue legs and 5 red legs.

M.

 

[Ben1]

I think that if you put as many snails as Ben suggested most will starve to death.

In my 40 breeder I have 100 ceriths and 50 astreas, they dont die and the tank gets very lightly fed, it is a very nutrient poor system. Ceriths eat astrea poo, detritus, and algae and astreas eat algae they are a great combo as ceriths clean up the mess the others makes.

 

[postie]

Thanks very much for the replies...I do not have to move the tank, I already have it set up at the new place, it's just that I'm not there all the time, just a few days a week at most until I move in permanently. I'm doing a water change this weekend, and also adding a skimmer (Remora Pro). Have a canister filter with just a bit of carbon, but will not continue the canister once the tank has become about a year or so established. Just skimmer and rock. Also, maybe mentioned before, I'll add a couple small rocks also this weekend with bristleworms (from my established tanks) and about a cupfull of live sand. Slow start, but it all will multiply in time.

So, with your advice, I'll throw in a handful of snails after this weekend's work, but not too many...don't want anything starving.

Thanks again...always such great info here!

Keep the replies coming if anyone thinks of anything I've forgotten.