When to get inverts?

[CleverBs]

My tank has been cycled for about a week now and am wondering when it would be safe for me to get some snails and hermits? I am getting a Diatom issue and would like to have some inverts to handle it before it gets out of control. I would think that if i got my nitrates down with a large water changes the inverts would be ok.

 

[joy13]

Is your ammonia 0 yet?

 

[CleverBs]

ammonia - 0 Nitrite - 0 Nitrate - 10-15

 

[Sharklover]

Yah water changes will deff help but i wouldnt trust putting anything in there until all at 0 because if they die u gotta find them and flush them or it could restart your cycle, it happened to my dads freind

 

[CleverBs]

I have never had a tank with all 0's you always have nitrates thats why water changes are needed.

 

[Sharklover]

Wow well im sure u have more exp then me my tank isnt set up yet

 

[Sharklover]

But im sure they are close to zero right?

 

[adeebm]

I have never had a tank with all 0's you always have nitrates thats why water changes are needed.

A tank with enough liverock that isn't overstocked will have 0 nitrates. Mine has been 0 for almost a year now.

If your showing no signs of ammonia and nitrates, you should be good for hermits and snails. If your looking to get a bunch, reefcleaners offers packs at a good price. Try to keep nitrates low. If it doesn't go to 0 eventually, you might need more LR.

--Adeeb

 

[CleverBs]

well im new to saltwater but I have never heard of Nitrates beings Zero in anything other then a planted tank, My hightech planted tank has a LOT of plants on it and the plants consume all the nitrate but i didnt think they could be 0 in a SW tank, I mean i can keep them below 10 and i cant see why that wouldnt be ok

 

[adeebm]

Below 10 is fine for most fish and inverts. Corals usually need close to 0 though.

--Adeeb

 

[mr_X]

yes. to answer your question, it's safe to add some snails and hermits or whatever you like.

 

[CleverBs]

ok sounds good, what about peppermint shrimp?

 

[mr_X]

sure. if you like them.