Cycle wrapping up need info before it does

[lazuruskfp]

Hey again all,
Once again you guys have helped a great deal in this startup process, and now I'm nearing completion... well relatively it'll still be about a week i'm figuring.
ammonia: 0-.25
nitrite: .25-.5 (down from the reading of 2 yesterday)
natrate: 10 (water changes to lower ammonia levels have kept it pretty low)
ph: 8.1
calcium: 350
alk: 9.8
As of this morning a brown bloom has begun on my sand I can only assume it is a diatom bloom that I have been reading about. It is localized right now but it seems to be spreading fast. My question is... when this cycle wraps up and this bloom is in full swing do I do water changes till it dissappears then add a clean up crew, or add a clean up crew to aid in the elimination of the bloom? :notsure:
Also after adding the clean up crew whatever time that might be... should I also add a fish at the same time? :notsure: and if the answer is no.. how much food do you end up feeding snails/crabs ect while no fishes are there to complete the ecosystem so to speak? :notsure:
sorry alot of questions as always... but you guys have been great at answering my wall of text posts thus far I'd hate to dissappoint with a short post now

thanks again

 

[nereef]

i would, like you said, do a couple of water changes (30% or so) after the cycle is complete. then add a cleanup crew and skimmer, then add fish a couple of weeks later. as for feeding the cleanup crew, a little dab will do ya.

 

[fish-man-t]

#2 Today, 05:16 PM
NEreef
Yellow Tang Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 1,041
i would, like you said, do a couple of water changes (30% or so) after the cycle is complete. then add a cleanup crew and skimmer, then add fish a couple of weeks later. as for feeding the cleanup crew, a little dab will do ya.
i could not agree more