When to add a clean up crew?

My tank was started on Dec 12th. I have tested my water a couple of times. My ammonia is up to 0.25 or a little higher, the API test kits don't really have a wide range of number measurements. I am also getting a nice algae or diatom bloom on the surface of the sand. When do I need to add a clean up crew and some cheato to my refugium? Thanks all.

 

ha nice we started our tanks close to the same time. ive already put two hermit crabs in mine even though the tanks not fully cycled. they were attached to a piece of live rock that came from the LFS. i also have two damsels in the tank to help the cycle.

i personally am waiting until the cycles over and then placing my order for a clean up crew. im new to reef keeping so dont really listen to me lol

 

Are your crabs still alive? I have a damsel in my other tank that I was going to put in my new tank to start it up but was informed I could just throw in a piece of raw shrimp to get the cycle going. I also know what a pain in the rear it is to try to catch a damsel if you don't want it in the tank after the cycle.

 

I ordered mine once the ammonia dropped to 0.0 and the nitites began to fall off, by the time they arrived the nitrites had also gone to 0.0. You can add the chateo at the same time.

I also cycled with raw shrimp so I wouldnt have to catch an unwanted damsel later.

 

these damsels i threw in there are pretty hard to catch, but i didnt have any raw shrimp or anything to use that day.

the two hermits are alive and well and its been a ~1 week now

 

sweet im ordering mine then because my ammonia is already dropped to 0.0 from 0.25 and the NO2/NO3 are dropping now....


used 25lbs of CURED live rock, 2 damsels, and 2 hitchhiker crabs with 80lbs of caribsea fiji pink live sand. saw the NH3 spike on day 2, day 3 i had NO3 starting and by day 5 i had both NO2 and NO3.

i wonder if the refugium setup will cause a mini-cycle. ill be adding in fiji mud and 25lbs of sand to the fuge next week. and my marcorocks show up next week too hopefully (not sure with the holiday). the rock itself might make it mini-cycle again.

ive got like a month before im good to go on a full CuC and livestock.

 

The fuge setup should not cause any headaches and the MarcoRock is dry, no dieoff to cause a cycle, just rinse the dust off and add it to the tank

 

you're the man. thanks

 

when you do get the CUC go to ReefCleaners.org | Clean Up Crews and Macro Algae - Home they have the best prices and best customer service out their.

 

Like stated above, I added mine after the ammonia hit zero. They are tough little guys I have learned and can live through some bad conditions.