biocube 29 coralife cycling help

I have biocube 29 stock as of now (I have ordered the steves led kit and intank media basket, with a hydor skim slim) my tank has been currently cycling for 3 weeks with stock bioballs I have 22lbs of dried rock and 6lbs of cured live rock. I have yet to get a algee blom and the live rock is lossig the coraline. My water was tested at LFS with 5 nitrate, 0 nitrites, .5 ammonia, water temp stedy at 81, spec gravity 1.024. The same readings I got all last week. Should I put a small piece of raw shrimp in the tank to give it boost or should I get purple tech and add a little. If I add the shrimp should I shut the pump down for a couple days.

Thank you,
V/r Mike

 

Yes, you should add a shrimp or ghost feed with fish food. The bacteria needs a food source to survive and grow. And no, you don't need to turn off your pump.

As for the coralline, it is sensitive to changes in light and chemistry the same as corals. It's not uncommon to experience some bleaching or die-off when it's moved into a different tank, or even when lighting is upgraded.

Personally, I strongly recommend against using miracle snake oil products such as purple tech or purple-up. You don't even know exactly what's in it, and you should never dose anything for which you are not testing; you'll only end up fudging your chemistry.

 

^ Excellent advice received.

As a personal preference I would use fish food tiny amounts to keep the nitrogen cycle going.

 

Sorry it took so long to respond. Well the day I wrote about tank not cycling it happen while I was at work. Came home to find the tank in true bloom. On sept 05 I got three small snails to start cleaning. They look happy eating away. The coralline has showed up on the cured rock but the dried rock its just covered in brown algae with spots of florescent pink and green and red spots little bit bigger then a pen tip. Is this the coralline spreading? Also should I add a few more snails? My spec gravity 1.026 nitrite 0 ammonia 0 nitrates 0 water temp hold between 80 to 81 Ph 8.0 . My lights are on for about 3hrs a day. Please keep in mind tank is still stock my protein Skimmer and media basket is not installed yet.