Water Change??

[RedTornado]

Okay i just tested my water and since yesterday my nitrites have dropped from .25 ppm to 0 ppm i did the test 3 times just to be sure. Right now my ammonia is 0 ppm, nitrite 0 ppm, nitrate anywhere from 10 ppm to 5 ppm. From what i have read once i get a hold of some cheato that will help bring the nitrates down closer to 0.

Should i do a water change at this time? If so how much? 20%?

So you all know this site is awesome it has helped me out a ton.

My LFS truly sucks. So bad that i would rather drive 2 hours to a different one that deals only with saltwater.

 

[Bifferwine]

I would do a 10% water change right now. How long has the tank been cycling?

 

[RedTornado]

Its been only 2.5 weeks. In that time i had a rooting shrimp in there for a week my ammonia got up to a little over 1 ppm.

Do you think it is still to soon to really add anything into the tank? I probably wont get a chance to get to the store till next week. I know the longer i wait the better to let the bacteria establish itself but looking at a empty tank is not a easy thing to do either.

 

[sen5241b]

Cheato, although an excellent way to reduce nitrates and phosphates, will not by itself get rid of them. Good strong flow, lots of live rock, skimmers, under-stocking fish and reactors are all excellent ways to reduce 'trates.


Also, do NOT over-feed!

 

[Bifferwine]

It sounds like your tank has cycled. I think you can add your first fish and a small clean up crew.

 

[RedTornado]

Awesome thats what i was hoping to hear. I was thinking of adding a ocellaris clown and a cleaner shrimp. For the first additions into the tank. Then in time a yellow tang, foxface, watchman goby, and maybe a flame angle and some more to the clean up crew.

Any suggestions on a clean up crew?

 

[Bifferwine]

I would hold off on the shrimp for at least a month. Shrimp are much more sensitive to fish and may not do well in a new tank. The clown is a good addition though. Your other fish ideas would work well too.

For a clean up crew, I'd add a mix of snails to start. Then maybe a month down the road, get the shrimp and a starfish or two. You could also add a couple emerald crabs if you start to see algae. If you want to add hermit crabs, you can, but some people avoid them because they kill snails.

 

[ErinCahir]

75 gallons really isn't big enough for a yellow tang...

Some nasarius (I always spell that wrong, sorry) and turbo snails would be good.

And someone might correct me, but I think you'd be okay with a pair of clowns...