Should I wait?

As most of you have seen or read at one time or another, I have been having some issues with algae and phosphate/nitrate levels in my tank. Well, after several water changes, cleaning off as much algae as I could, getting some more snails and hermits, using a phosphate sponge and keeping lights to a minimum, I seem to have got things under control. Still some algae, but doesn't seem to be growing, phosphates are back down to 0 and nitrates are around 10 ppm. Has held for about 5 days now. I had planned on some adding some green chromis (3 of them). In everyone's opinion, is this too soon - should I wait a while longer to make sure that things have "stabalized" or you think it's safe to go ahead?

 

I'd wait. Chromis wouldn't be the best choice. They seem to require a lot of food. You start dumping a lot of food in.. say 'hello algae!'

 

[quote author=Mr._Bond link=board=General;num=1111118994;start=0#0 date=03/17/05 at 23:09:54]I had planned on some adding some green chromis (3 of them).  [/quote]
As a side note, green chromis do not do well in small schools. One will become dominant and kill/kick out the other two. I know of several people, myself included, that this has happened to. I'm not sure how large the school has to be to keep this from happening though.

 

Wait. Be careul not to add to much to your bioload at once. It can cause spikes in your tank. Also I noticed that you have 35 lbs. of LR. If possible work on increasing the amount. It is normally recommended, about 1 to 1 1/2 lbs. per gallon. Since I did my profile, I have added about 15 lbs. Now I have about 100 lbs. and the biological filtration in my tank is awesome.

 

im starting a 245 gal reef, and for a first fish i was thinking of a school of chromis...only because they r cheaper and they r reef safe and will not mess with other fish...i got damsels in my 55 gal first and they killed many fish...so thats why...do u think in such a large tank the extra food will cause such a an algae bloom?

 

Thanks everyone for the advice. I am contemplating getting some more base rock that the existing live rock can "seed". Also thought about Cardinal Fish since most folks have said the Green Chromis isn't the best choice.. Anyone have any thoughts about them?

 

Cardinal fish are beautiful but, because they're nocturnal, they won't do much more than "hover" in the water column while the lights are on. Also, they tend to only eat frozen or live food. That being said, it's not unheard of to get them to eat flake. It took me a few months to get my pajama cardinal to eat flakes but now it gobbles them down like nobody's business No more than one cardinal per tank unless you have a mated pair. Two or more males will fight as will two or more females.

 

I have two chromis they seem to get along with other tank mates.

 

Does base rock turn into live rock with time?

 

Absolutely. All it takes is time in a proper environment.
J