Patience is a virtue

I have about 15# LR and 15# base now, but the live rock seems pretty dull. I have a bit of coralline spotting here and there, and one tiny feather duster hitchhiker, but otherwise it it looks just like base rock. I'm feeling a little ripped off and very impatient-

1) should I add more live?
2) If so, where to get it? (not the same LFS obviously)
3) Will the green and red cyano kill the coralline? I'm having a little outbreak after the recent Mysterious Tank Murders

 

like you said patience, what are you parameters? pick out the red slime algae for now. wait

 

Def add more LR, you ideally want 29LBs for 29G. Vacuum off the slime, cut back on lights and feedings. New tank...gotta work out the kinks

 

It is not the visible life that is important in your LR, but the invisible...

There is life there, but you just see it yet...bacteria from the LR will soon populate the base.

Other small creatures are there which you will see evidence of over time.


Again, be patient...

 

Last param check was Saturday. I don't have a mag/phosphate kit yet:

Temp: 78F
Spec Grav: 1.026
pH: 8.1
NH3: 0
NO2: 0
NO3: 0
Alk: 4.5 MEq/L

I reduced lighting by 4 hours a day (12 -> 8) and tried to feed less, but Insane Crab has been attacking everything that doesn't move fast enough since I feed less. I also had to turn off the skimmer two nights in a row as there was, er, someone visiting that didn't like the noise.

 

Ca, Mg?

 

your safe to add' 1 pound "per gallon" so add more if you wish' BUT cycling time wiill begin all over again , if the live rock is real rank'

and your not being totaly ripped off' it just takes time to get it all cycled ' if you have "coraline" appearing thats a good thing' and that feather duster' thats a good sign ' that somthing of formidible size (life) is surrviving in there.
it shoudlint be to much longer now' your on the home stretch now !!

less you add more'.. fresh barely uncured live rock.

As well' it's NOT what you see' thats important'.. its what you dont see' or havint looked closely to the rock'..... look real close' at the rock' ' youll see all kinds of neat thing's . and maybe' if your lucky' you'll get some real nice things such as a soft coral ' or perhaps some plate that survived.
and if you wsh to help speed up the process' add some "purple-up" it works well

and keep a close eye on the "unwanted" nows the time to watch !

And do a 10/20 percent water change every week to pull off the bad ( after you siphon or stir up that red algea )

 

No kit yet- saving up for a Saifert and decent refractometer, but it's Tax Time

 

the Ca, Mg, salinity are very important, if the parameters are correct life will be good in the tank. if you add more LR the "cycling" process will spike, imop i would wait until the parameters are where they should be. then slowly add "live things". a good clean up crew with good flow will also help

 

clean up crew is 6 astreas, 2 peppermints and a killer hermit. I can't get the stuff (red or green) off with the vacuum, turkey baster or soft brush. Should I drop in more snails, like half a dozen turbos or just wait?