dianeww
Aquarium Advice FINatic
Here's my story:
Six weeks ago I set up my 75 gallon tank and threw in a shrimp. Ammonia and nitrite started to go up, then got a little nitrate. Ammonia and nitrite started to com down slowly, then seemed to get stuck. (Sorry I didn't keep those early numbers, but they never got very high.)
Ten days ago, I added live rock from lr.com.
Finally built up some nitrate, up to 20 ppm, where it is now. Over the last week, ammonia has dropped from 1.0 ppm to 0. (Yay!) Nitrite has fallen from 0.50 to barely a trace. PH is 8.0. Is it safe to put in a clean-up crew at this point? Am I correct in assuming that most of you put in the clean-up crew before any fish?
How do you all decide on a clean-up crew? If it's OK now, should I just go to somewhere like saltwaterfish.com and order a pre-made package? Or does anyone have better suggestions for custom-picked critters? I'd like some of you with some experience to please give suggestions!
Thanks, Diane
Six weeks ago I set up my 75 gallon tank and threw in a shrimp. Ammonia and nitrite started to go up, then got a little nitrate. Ammonia and nitrite started to com down slowly, then seemed to get stuck. (Sorry I didn't keep those early numbers, but they never got very high.)
Ten days ago, I added live rock from lr.com.
Finally built up some nitrate, up to 20 ppm, where it is now. Over the last week, ammonia has dropped from 1.0 ppm to 0. (Yay!) Nitrite has fallen from 0.50 to barely a trace. PH is 8.0. Is it safe to put in a clean-up crew at this point? Am I correct in assuming that most of you put in the clean-up crew before any fish?
How do you all decide on a clean-up crew? If it's OK now, should I just go to somewhere like saltwaterfish.com and order a pre-made package? Or does anyone have better suggestions for custom-picked critters? I'd like some of you with some experience to please give suggestions!
Thanks, Diane