Tested my water today with an API kit, Tank has been up and running with live rock, live sand, and pre-mixed salt water purchased at LFS for about 1 week. Water params:
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: about 0.25ppm
Nitrites: 0ppm
Nitrates: 0ppm
Noticed a bit of brown algae growth but LFS says there wouldn't be enough food for snails/hermit crabs first. I thought the steps for cycling were:
1. tank set up with water, filtration, rock, substrate, etc.
2. cycle for a bit
3. add inverts like snails & hermit crabs
4. wait for a bit
5. fish
Am I missing a step? Why wouldn't we want to add hermits/snails right now?
pH: 8.2
Ammonia: about 0.25ppm
Nitrites: 0ppm
Nitrates: 0ppm
Noticed a bit of brown algae growth but LFS says there wouldn't be enough food for snails/hermit crabs first. I thought the steps for cycling were:
1. tank set up with water, filtration, rock, substrate, etc.
2. cycle for a bit
3. add inverts like snails & hermit crabs
4. wait for a bit
5. fish
Am I missing a step? Why wouldn't we want to add hermits/snails right now?