Questions at the 12 day mark

Well i have been running approx 12 days now. Currently my ammonia went up and then went back to zero...Nitrites did the same.... Now the nitrates are approx 30..This is a 55 gallon bow front with 20lbs of reef rock and 21 lbs of live rock. I used carbi-sea live sand.


1) I thought i was seeing some algae but i guess not....?? I am even leaving the light on for 6 - 8 hours a day??
2) I am really not seeing any growth.?
3) Should i add some more deli shrimp??
4) Is this typical??


Sorry for all the questions but was thinking i would see some type of algae growth by now....
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55 Gallon Bow Front
Started Tank on 9/6/8
21lbs of Live Rock
20lbs of Reef Rock
Still Cycling

 

Not always by now, but now that your nitrates have gone up, it might start.
While the tank is still cycling, have you given any serious thought to adding more sand and rock?

 

My tank after about a month had a huge brown algae bloom, it came out of no where and I freaked out but it is normal. 12 days isn't very long to have it running (I know it feels like forever!) I'm not sure if you want to add any more shrimp or not. I added 2 blue damsels at two weeks and they survived, but I don't suggest that unless you want to keep them in there forever cause they suck when you try to get them out. I had to rip the whole tank apart to get them, and then I just started another cycle that killed my other fish. Take it from me I lost $200 worth of fish just in the first 2-3 months. Be patient as hard as it is and it will pay off.
P.S. Questions are a good thing! It means you care about your tank and livestock

 

The only extra load you should put in there would be a damsel, but like mentioned above make sure you want to keep it forever! Be patient, you are on day 12 and cycles can last 12 weeks!

 

Yeah....I will echo the above....just go with it. If you want to add one damsel, I don't see a problem there. The yellow tails are pretty tough. But no more than that. You will see your diatom phase in a few weeks so get ready for that. It will be brown and ugly. Let it go. Your clean up crew that you eventually purchase will take care of it in short order.

 

the algae will come, I wouldn't be so eager to get, it comes and goes, but when it is in the tank, you want nothing but to get rid of it.
also, PackLeader is right, you should probably think about adding some more sand and rock, you don't have to, but it will look nicer, give your fish more room to hide and feel comfortable and if you are going to get corals, a place to put them. Plus, it will allow you to keep more animals, as more bacteria can grow *generally

 

The diatoms more then likely will come and go a few times during the early cycling process. I have that experience in all of my tanks...not too worry, 12 days is very early...