Newbie - Advise needed....

Hello everyone.* This is the first time I have posted after several weeks of reading thru pages and gathering info.** I currently have the following which is 7 weeks steady now.
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54 Gallon Corner
2 x 65w Power Compact
Ecosystem refugium w/ Calearpa in Miracle mud
50 lbs live rock
Live Sand
2 plate corals
1 bubble coral
2 LPS corals
6 very small Chromies
3 very small Ocellaris Clowns
(less than 1 inch in length)
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I just did my first 5% water change Monday as I was getting hit hard with Diatoms.* Since then my sand is alot cleaner but rocks still show alot of brown algea.** My trates/trites = 0, Calcium is 450 ppm, PH is around 8.3 - 8.4 and AK is in the normal range.
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My question is basically what next??* Iyou were in my position what would you do as your next step.* Love to add Xenias to the top of rocks and add more inverts. Would it be ok to add a cleaner shrimp and/or a friendly Goby?Advise is truely appreciated as I take pride in my new hobby.
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Thanks!
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Miguel

 

When you say 7 weeks steady, do you mean the tank has been up for seven weeks or that its 7 weeks steady after the tank cycled? If its only been up 7 weeks its sounds like your tank hasn't cycled through the stages yet. Your putting a heck of a lot of a bio load on your tank. As everyone likes to say "Go slow, let it grow". I would definitley hold off on any more additions to your tank until the cycle is complete. That being said if your tank has cycled through then I would check your phosphate levels. I know in the area I live in this time of year is terrible if you are using tap water for top off. The local water company keeps the phosphates high here this time of year to balance out the ph levels. Just my 2 cents.

 

Its been 7 weeks since it cycled. I use RO water to replace evap'd water. What I have alot of is diatoms thus did a water change Monday. Should I increase the cleaning crew I have and maybe add a goby / shrimp also?

 

i really wouldnt...the diatoms are just a stage in development, adding more critters might just add to the bioload and not really help...

I would just wait a while untill you get past the algae/diatom spikes to add more fish...do you have all the supplements for the corals? calcium iodine such...imo you might want to wait until your tank is more mature to add anymore corals

 

do you have plenty of water movement in the tank?.....but dont have too much over the mud as this will soon make a mess of the main tank...to combat this i put an inch of sand over mine

if all parameters stay stabil you could add a few hermit crabs and nassarius snails (these i realy like)

levi

 

you are maxed out on fish unless you plan on trading them when they are bigger-especially with a corner tank. I have some green chromis that are over 3in length and a female clown about the same size. Do you have a skimmer? You will need one no matter what that ecosystem claims. Good luck just wait for the diatoms to go away

 

Here are a few pics of my setup and tank how it looks right now. Notice how much brown algea I have. This is after 5% water change this past Monday. Advise.. lol ;D

 

just relax it will go away! get a turbo or two and they will clean it up in no time. you have a very very very young system and you will go through many cycles. if i were you i would get a good skimmer. jmho! i tried the eco thing and it was a bust-good luck

 

oh and after you are up a few more months replace the bio balls with lr-do a a search on about it-you could also use about another 50lbs of lr-good luck

 

Nice tank!! It's coming along as expected. Brown Algae is not too bad, as it will go away, just give it some time, cleaners and LOTS of live rock like the "Geoxman" said.
Now the red cyno stuff.. If you go through that phase, It's hair pulling time. Yuck, I hate red algae, But it went away also. Enjoy it

Jim