Tank Is Cycled!

[fishwatcher]

Today is the first day of the completed cycle. There is only LR in the tank, so how long can I wait before I add a CUC?
Should I add all of them together (4-5 hermits, 1 emerald, 5-8 snails) or just a few at a time?

 

[Matthew5664]

Could I ask what the NH4, NO2 and NO3 levels in your tank are.

 

[fishwatcher]

Let's see....
ammo 0
nitrites 0
nitrates 5
temp 78
salinity/sg 1.023

Is that everything? (I don't remember what the different symbols are that you used... sorry!)

 

[fishwatcher]

oh, and ph is 8.0, and sg now is 1.024 (due to evaporation).

 

[Matthew5664]

Sounds good. You can now wait for an algae bloom the add the CUC or add a small fish and wait a week for some mulm to build up for the CUC to work on. When the tank has finished its cycle there isn't allot of actual food for the CUC. If you wait over time you will see the nitrate (NO3) level fall as the bacteria in the LR converts it to nitrogen gas and the algaes bind it into there tissue. then the CUC have something to do. I would advise at this point to measure the phosphate level (PO4) and if higher that 0.015 use some sort of PO4 binder in your tank. The phosphate can bind with calcium carbonate (what hard corals and LR are made from) to form insoluble Calcium Phosphate with late will cause problems.

Could we have a picture and equipment list of your tank.

 

[fishwatcher]

I have a HOB filter rated for a 30g, a 100w heater, 1 small Penguin powerhead, 7 lbs. of LR, about 9-10 lbs. base rock (tufa and lace), aragonite substrate, and some mixed sea shells. The light is a single-strip Coral Life 50/50 bulb. (Not expecting any corals here, obviously.)

There is a picture posted here...

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=206776

I already added a phosphate absorber thing to the filter, as I was advised to go ahead and do it before the algae gets bad.
There is a little diatom algae growing on the rocks... or at least I think, as they are looking a bit brown now.
I threw a couple of shrimp pellets in last night, just to make sure the cycle is holding good, before I add any CUC. Is that ok?

 

[Matthew5664]

Sound like you’re on the right track the diatom algae should kick in big time with the shrimp pellets. The CUC you can start to add but not to much get a feel for the growth of the 'unwanted' then add accordingly.

As I said before the addition of a small fish will keep the bacteria happy.

 

[fishwatcher]

I just checked the shrimp pellets, and they are growing bright pink stuff on them. They've only been in there since yesterday evening (it's just after lunch time here). Is this corraline algae or something else?
There is also some green plant life growing on the LR. It looks like tiny tree branches and is a nice green color, and it sways with the water movement. It came in on the LR when I bought it. Any idea if this is a good or bad thing?
Thanks for all the help!