I need some Nano advice...

[blucees]

I just recently purchased a JBJ 12gl Nano Cube with about 2lbs of LR and 3" of LS. This tank had been sitting for a few months without water in it with the exception of about 3" mixed in with the sand. I cleaned the LS until the water was clear,and cleaned the LR in salt water and reused both. I went to my LFS and purched 10gl of saltwater. With this being said, I now have everything setup and running now it's been about 5 days. Water temp is dead on 78*, ph is 6.5, NH3+NH4 is .25+, NO2 is between <.3 and .3. I plan to add about 10 more lbs of LR in the next week. Please give feedback and recommendations. The ammonia has increased a little from day one, should I add a piece of shrimp to get thing going? Add more LR first? any info at this point would greatly be appreciated.
thanks,
Will

 

[fretfreak13]

Rock first, then the shrimpy. That way the bacteria will have more surface area to grow on. It doesn't matter a whole lot, but that's just how I would do it. So far, great start. We all love pictures here. =)

 

[mr.clownfish]

i would add some more LS, about 10 pounds. when u buy rocks look for purple rocks. that is the best kind.

 

[blucees]

Attachment 236134
Thanks for the post...
I have added 12lbs of LR, it's been in the tank now about 5 days.
Ammonia has gone up as expected 1.5 - 3.0 from .25 about a week ago.
PH is 70, Nitrite is 0.1, KH is 11%, water temp steady at 80*.
I'm now getting some brown algea growth in the sand, LR has alot of purple corline growth.
LR came with a bonus? a dark green mantis shrimp. He was active for the first 3 days, I have not seen him since. If he is in fact still living, I will attempt to catch and carry to my LFS.
Any more suggestion would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Blucees