When can i start adding?

[rogeta]

Ok, well i'm coming up on week 3 of adding live rock(this friday) but my ammonia and nitrite are gone and my trates are at about 50. so i am just curious when i can start adding a clean up crew..there is brown algae everywhere! lol Thanks all!
Ride on!

 

[cboyfan2020]

i would let your trates come down a little more but if ammonia and trites are down you can add them. Also if your ammonia and trites both read zero(double check with a different test) then your cycle is pretty uch done.

 

[islandgirl]

Hello RoGeTa, I asked my lfs that question the other day cause I was ready to add some cleaners myself....serious diatoms! and they said to get my trates down to about 10 cause inverts don't like high nitrates.
Good luck!

 

[blue dew]

Hi,
I'm also pretty new at this hobby, but from what I've read and the huge amount of info on this board, you might want to consider doing a good 25% or so water change to lower your nitrates. I waited until my ammonia and nitrites were both zero for a week, then did a water change. It dropped my nitrates down from 10 to a bit less than 5. I also had both the brown (diatom) algae and a green hairy algae growing on my glass and the sand. A week after the water change I added a 1/2 dozen astrea snails and a couple small hermits. They've gone to town on the stuff. My nitrates are now about 2. Hope this helps
Dew

 

[rogeta]

Hey thanks for all the great responses! I'm gonna go check my trates...well...they are still at 50 well a little less but not low enough. I will try th water change in a day or two and see what they lower too. Thanks all!

 

[timo]

Just don't use tap water!!!