Tank's almost cycled...what do I need now?

Ok, my tank's in the final state of cycling....now, what's next? at the moment I can only see diatoms, no other form of life.

1. Do I need a cleaning crew? and if so, what test kits should I purchase to make sure they survive? Water parameters?

2. When will I see other forms of life besides the Diatoms?

3. Basically, what test kits should I get as of now?

4. What supplements? any brands?

5. When do I add fish and how many?

6. Should I add inverts first or fish?

Thanks for the help guys, I know I'm a pain in the butt, but I want to do this the RIGHT way from the get go and so I need expert/experienced advice. Thanks again!

 

Make sure that the cycle is totally complete before jumping the gun so to speak!
I would go with less instaed of more regarding clean up crew. Maybe a few snails and hermits. Hold off on shrimp and crabs for the time being since your tank is so new.
I would do a water change as well after the cycle has been terminated.
Test kits...calcium, iodine, pH, nitrates, alkalinity are the main ones, IMO!
Salifert and Seachem are good test kits.
you should expect to see cyanobacteria as well as hair algae as your tank matures along with bubble algae!
Keep nutrients down to help!
Start by adding one or two fish. See how that works before adding any more a few weeks down the road!
Best of luck!

 

Thanks coral reefer! I must ask you though...in order to keep nutrients down...what's the best way to do this? Also, the cyanobacteria/hair/bubble...how far after the cycly should I expect to see them? and should I add the snails when these algaes appear or do I add them so they can start working on the diatoms?....About the water change...20% ok? I have a 46 Gal. tank.

My tank's needs about a week or so, I'm guessing, to finish its cycle...but I'll make sure the water parameters are ok first....what fish do you recommend to start with? besides damsels that is lol. Thanks again.

 

Ditto - be patient and let tank completely cycle. Your water param tests will let you know when that takes place...

Then fun begins! ;D

Add some cleaners & couple of fish only. Over time you can add more...keep an eye on water conditions.

Good Luck.

 

hey clownfish we must have started our tanks at the same time, because for the past 3 weeks every time a question has come up and i decide to post you beat me too it. i got a 44g. did u add any thing like cycle? im asking because we started at the same time with very similar setups, i added cycle, so if you didnt then the product obviously dosent work. im goin on 4 weeks this saturday oct. 20, and my ammonia dropped too zero a few days ago, and i had a diatom outbreak all of a sudden. just waiting on the nitrite now. how much live rock do you have?

can anyone describe what cyanobacteria looks like?
i have some spots on my live rock were purple coraline was and now its like a blue green color. isnt this stuff bad?

 

Hey BluePhish, I hope you mean't Nitrate not Nitrite You want Nitrite = 0, Ammonia = 0 and then Nitrate near 0 before you have finished the cycle.

 

dosent the ammonia rise, then nitrite starts to rise as the ammoina drops, then the nitrite drops, and nitrate goes up. my ammonia is at 0, and my nitrite is starting to drop, im still waiting for nitirte to get to 0. i have this correct right. or am i confused.

 

Best way to keep nutrient level down=decrease feeding and carry out water changes weekly(5-10%)!
Everyones tank is different based on size, livestock, filtration and how much, lighting scheme etc. so to give you an honest answer as to how much and/or when you will see cyano/nuisance algae, would be very difficult. I would say however that probably somewhere within the first month or so after the tank cycle you should see these appear.
You could add a couple snails and hermits to help with the cleaning process without adversely affecting them through starvation by adding too many cleaning crew inhabitants with limited amounts of food.
Good starter fish for a reef tank would be one of the many Flasher/fairy wrasses, Clownfish, Yellow Tang or one of the other Zebrasoma species. Certain types of gobies and blennies, Chromis', Cardinalfish or Basslets.

 

It goes Nitrite, Ammonia, Nitrate. When your Nitrate (not Nitrite) goes down to near 0 your tank has usually cycled.

 

1st thing to add is a clean up crew,snails and hermits,no stars or shrimp yet unless maybe a cheap peppermint shrimp to eat any small aiptasia that may be on the new live rock.in a 44 gallon tank you may never have to add a suppliment if you do regular water changes.