Started the uglies

[D4nnyD91]

Evening all,
Looks like im currently stepping into the ugly phase. What Nitrate numbers do you guys aim for to try and keep diatoms up and not end up with the dreaded dinos? I dont have any CUC in the tank atm as it was just too clean up until yesterday so i will make sure this week i head out to the LFS before it gets out of control and grab a few turbo snails and possibly a strawberry conch or 2.

Thanks

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I would say thats the beginning of the beginning of the uglies. I would grab a few hermits and a few snails but I would wait on the conches, let some micro algae grow on those white rocks before getting too many hernivores, your rocks and sand are looking too clean still.

I don't aim for any particular nitrate numbers, but I like to keep my nitrates lower than 10 and my phosphate lower than .1