So basically I started my tank from scratch at the beginning of January. New live rock, new sand, fresh water.
By the beginning of February my cycle was done and I added a couple of fish and a few cuc.
Now 9 weeks in, a couple more fish and more hermits, shrimps, snails etc I'm at a point where I'm expecting or expected something to go wrong but it hasn't!
I've kept freshwater fish on and off for 30 years but only just took the plunge into reefing.
Lots of forums, YouTube videos and research has taught me a heck of a lot but mainly as well as how to do it, but of course lots of "how NOT to do it"
I've read about the pitfalls like algae blooms, sudden spikes in areas of the nitrogen cycle etc but I've had algae probably cover about 5-10% of my total rock area, a bit on sand and a few spots on glass but no outbreak.
I test my parameters every 2 days and everything is 0 except nitrate which hovers at around 30ppm with pH sitting at 8
After everything I've read and seen I'm gobsmacked that everything is going so well! Am I right to be proud of my achievements so far or am I getting too comfy too soon?
I know about the ugly stage or new tank syndrome so roughly when is this supposed to happen? Also as I'm looking to get corals at some point, isn't it best to get a good coverage of coraline algae growing first? And if so, how do I get that going?
All knowledge greatly received!
By the beginning of February my cycle was done and I added a couple of fish and a few cuc.
Now 9 weeks in, a couple more fish and more hermits, shrimps, snails etc I'm at a point where I'm expecting or expected something to go wrong but it hasn't!
I've kept freshwater fish on and off for 30 years but only just took the plunge into reefing.
Lots of forums, YouTube videos and research has taught me a heck of a lot but mainly as well as how to do it, but of course lots of "how NOT to do it"
I've read about the pitfalls like algae blooms, sudden spikes in areas of the nitrogen cycle etc but I've had algae probably cover about 5-10% of my total rock area, a bit on sand and a few spots on glass but no outbreak.
I test my parameters every 2 days and everything is 0 except nitrate which hovers at around 30ppm with pH sitting at 8
After everything I've read and seen I'm gobsmacked that everything is going so well! Am I right to be proud of my achievements so far or am I getting too comfy too soon?
I know about the ugly stage or new tank syndrome so roughly when is this supposed to happen? Also as I'm looking to get corals at some point, isn't it best to get a good coverage of coraline algae growing first? And if so, how do I get that going?
All knowledge greatly received!