I got my first 2 critters!!!

[zoie2]

:joy: I had a couple alge blooms that cleared up on their own, but I started getting the hair algae. I read that hermit crabs will keep it under control, but not if it gets too long. My readings were not ideal, but they were safe, so I figured I'd better get something now.
I got a blueleg hermit and a turbo snail. I aclimated them an hour and 15 min. My reading were better today than they were yesterday and the snail and crab are eating away!!
If all goes well, I wanted to get a scarlet hermit and another snail next week. Is that too quick to add something new?

 

[kainrahl]

How long have you been cycling and what are your params? but snails n crabs really don't effect your bioload.

 

[jacksdad]

Originally Posted by zoie2
If all goes well, I wanted to get a scarlet hermit and another snail next week. Is that too quick to add something new?
As long as your cycle has finished and the parameters are ok I would say go ahead and add your clean up crew. You should have done a water change after the cycle, if you haven't I would do that before adding anything else.
Bob

 

[zoie2]

Thurs. my tank will have cycled for 2 weeks. I know it takes a lot longer (like 6 months) to be established, thats why I don't want to rush it. I haven't done a water change yet, I have topped it off because of evaporation, but not actually done a 10% change yet. I think I will do that Friday and vaccumm the bottom too. I am getting that bacteria algae stuff.(can't spell it w/o my book in front of me) Its not slimy just reddish, blueish, greenish like. Water is crystal clear. I love the filter. It does a great job.
My tests:
PH: 8
Alk: 300
trites: 3.0
trates: 40
Amo: 0
Salinity: 32 (just the last 2 #s)
SG::34
Temp.: 79

 

[devilboy]

Originally Posted by zoie2
My tests:
PH: 8
Alk: 300
trites: 3.0
trates: 40
Amo: 0
Salinity: 32 (just the last 2 #s)
SG::34
Temp.: 79
if this is your true readings on this tank, then your cycle is not over. your nitrites have to be at zero. your nitrates are also too high. thats just my opinion

 

[jacksdad]

I agree, it sounds as though your cycle is still underway. Wait until the nitrates get to zero or you have an ammonia spike then do the water change. When you do the change don't disturb the sandbed, you can suck up the surface debris and algae but don't burrow into the sand.
bob

 

[zoie2]

Yea, I know my readings weren't IDEAl, but the strips said it was safe. My amonia spiked last week, way off the charts. It took abut 4 days for tehm to come to a point on the chart I could read. Now they are 0. My nitrites are 0 amd my nitrates are 20. My hermit crab and sanil are doing good, the crab is actually eating my hair algae. I wasn't sure he would, it's about 1/2" long. Thought it might be too long.

 

[zoie2]

thanks, jacksdad, I was wondering about that. I will just vaccumm the very top. In my fresh water tank I go all the way to the bottom of the pebbles. to get any food that might be mixed in. Anyway, thanks again. It s the spacifics like that, they don't put in the books. I have 2 books and neither one tell you how deep to vaccumm, or when and if you should vaccumm during your cycle.

 

[jacksdad]

No problem zoie. Fresh and saltwater differ in that area. If you vaccuum deep into the sandbed you could release nitrates into the water and harm your livestock. As long as you don't overfeed your cleanup crew should manage any extra food that settles to the bottom.
Good Luck,
Bob

 

[zoie2]

I'm not feeding anything, should I be? I only have the hermit and the snail. I thought the algae in the tank was enough.