clean up crew or more live rock?

[procomp]

Okay my 55g is at the ending its cycle but reading thought the posts here I think I dont have enought live rock. I think I read 1lb for every gal of water? is this right? also can or should I add a clean up crew now or wait till I put more live rock in. this is what I have now.
55g
75lb LS
15lb LV
1-Yellow tail Damsel
1-Green Cromis Damsel
2-pwr heads
basic lights, and filter that come with a new tank. Here is a picture. This is my sons Christmas present, We put LR/LS in on the Dec 26th. Fish the next day. What is our best next step?? We plan on doing a FO tank until we learn more. Any help would be great.
One more thing can some one spell out all the abreveations SP? for all the Newbies. like
LR=Live Rock
LS= " Sand and so on.
Thanks again. :joy:

 

[wax32]

Welcome to your new hobby!
You rushed it a little putting fish in there already, but they are hardy ones and will probably be alright. You have a test kit I hope? Do a 5 gallon water change whenever you see your ammonia or nitrites above 1 part per million (ppm). This will help you to not only keep your fish alive during the cycle, but make them more comfortable too. Ammonia and nitrites are poison to fish and burn their gills... It's like breathing urine fumes all day...
Also, see the black plastic ridge around the top of the tank? That's where you want your water level.
I'd get some more LR before worrying about clean up crew. You don't really have to do it all at once if you are on a budget, but since you are in the middle of your cycle I would go ahead and get a bunch if I were you. At the very least pick up 4 or 5 more about the size of the big one in the middle.

 

[procomp]

I was doing what the LFS told me to do, I did lose a Domino Damsel during the cycle, If I would have known that it may kill the fish even though they are cheap I would have not used them.
Okay on the like rock I will do that today. Here are what my Levels were last night.
SP=1.023
PH= 8.0
Nitrite= 0
Ammonia= 0
Nitrate= 13
Should I bring the water level up to the black frame during the cycle? Als adding more live rock will that start the cycle again? and should I have stuff growing out of this rock now. Iam soory I have lots of questions. This is something I have always wanted to do and is fun getting my son involved.

 

[wax32]

Yes, keep it at that level. Once you have filled it with saltwater, you will need to top off maybe daily with fresh water to keep your salinity at the proper value (salt doesn't evaporate out of the tank). Add the rock before adding more water though... you will actually have to take some out once you add rocks or you will overflow.

Adding LR might cause you to spike again, be ready with water already made up to do changes. Try to get stuff that's been at the LFS a while and they call "cured"... you want the least smelly stuff you can find. Stinky rock will for sure make your ammonia cycle spike again.
You may or may not have stuff growing by now, depending on your rock.
Questions are why this board is here! Have fun!

 

[procomp]

Okay so when should I do a water change and vacume the sand? there seems to be a lot of silt on top of the sand. Does that need to be cleaned out.

 

[wax32]

During your cycle (like when you add these new rocks) do a water change whenever your ammonia get to 1.0 ppm. After the cycle do a 5 gallon water change weekly. Never vaccuum the sand. That's for big gravel only. The silt is most likely diatom algae, normal. Liverock also tends to shed some silt... The hermits and snails you eventually add will get rid of that.

 

[procomp]

Thanks Wax but how much of a water change during cycle?
PS just saw your new Blenny or is it a Gobi on pic of your fish post, very neat.. also can you tell me if tangs, damsels, clowns, and your new fish are compatable together.

 

[procomp]

anybody......

 

[wax32]

Sorry I went to the store. Do 5 gallons during the cycle too. Just more often (if needed). It's a blenny. Had a bit of a scare, he disappeared yesterday, I found him in my overflow this afternoon, along with a mandarin that went missing over a month ago.
They are pretty compatible depending on species. Damsels can get a little territorial, some more than others. No tang should be in a 55 gallon tank though, not enough swimming room.