20H -- starting up

Hi all. Long time lurker, first time poster. I've had so many of my random little questions and queries answered here on 3reef already, but now that my tank is finally underway I thought I'd post to check in with all of you other reefers.

As I hope you can see from my signature, I've got a 20H tank that has been up for 2 weeks now. I'm running the kick-butt Remora skimmer and the tank has 20lbs of live rock, as well as a couple Rios I had kicking around for water movement.

My nitrogen cycle seems to be wrapping up -- 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and nitrate is on it's way down to nothing. My pH has stabilized at 8.2 and I'm getting a good handle on the temp (80F). In the past few days a small diatom bloom has begun. I've read that this is to be expected and that it to shall pass in time.

Wondering if anyone had thoughts on it being time for me to bring in the cleaning crew: 10 red-legged hermit crabs and 10 cerith snails, I was thinking.

Thanks in advance for your input!

 

it should be okay to add a crew tho in my opinion its still a bit early ..i didnt add mine till about 4 weeks right about that time a had a huge algae bloom so it was time...but i dont think they will die if you put them in now. good luck and thanks for joining

 

Is that going to be enough rock?

 

The diatom bloom has really picked up today, so I think I'm going to go ahead and get the hermits and snails. Since my N cycle is just about finished I think they should fare alright.
As for the amount of live rock, I was working with 1 pound per gallon theory. Would you recommend something different? The tanks pretty darn full with the 20 lbs I already have.
Any thoughts on tops or canopies for the tank? When I ordered the lights the site suggested I buy an all-glass versa top. I've used them before with my freshwater tanks, but now that I have it about my reef I'm not sure. It seems to be trapping quite a bit of heat from the fixture. I've read a couple posts about using egg crate/light diffusers, but I need to check them again.
Cheers!

 

Happy Memorial Day, all!
Just thought I'd post a quick update...
My cleaning crew has completely cleaned up the diatom bloom...if only some of the snails hadn't become escargot along the way...
I'm still battling with rising temps. I swiched from my all-glass top to egg-crate and the A/C is now running. I'm considering ordering some mounting legs for the light fixture to raise it off the top of the tank a few inches.
Time to check the water quality and maybe do a H2O change...

 

Add a fan to help dissapate the heat give off by the bulbs. Raise the lights higher up above water line. Yeah, get rid of the all glass top and go with the egg crate as it helps with the heating of your water, also it cuts down on the light intensity to your water in your tank!
By the way... WELCOME to 3reef!!!As you can see i'm from Connecticut as well!!

 

Thanks for the tip!
Do folks usually install the fan into a full hood? I think I've read about using computer fans for this, but I don't even have a fan yet.

Coral Reefer, can you recommend any LFS in CT for me to check out? I've most of my purchasing online so far, but I'd like to select my livestock in person, when the time finally comes.
Thanks much!

 

I have a coralife pc hood and it has 3 fans built into it. I have a pfo mh/pc combo also with a fan built in.
As far as pet shops go in the area...Puppy Center in West Hartford, Fin and Feather in Groton, Pet-a-rama in Southington isn't bad. Also a pet shop in the Massachusetts area close to Springfield called Aqua Dreams in Feeding Hills Ma. One last place in Cromwell called Aquarium Conservation.
On line check out Reefermadness.com and spstoner.com!