I need some help.

[reefsforme]

I have a 6 gallon JBJ nano cube and it is all cycled. The 6 gallon JBJ nano cube has built in 50/50 compact 18 watt fluorescent light fixtures with a built in filtration that included a sponge, charcoal, carbon, and bio balls, and it is all run by a 80 g.p.h pump. It has 10 pounds of live sand, and around 5-7 pounds of live rock. The tank has been running for a month. The live rock is starting to get some purple and red coralline algae growth.

C.U.C. :
- Super Tongan Nassarius Snail
- Nerite Snail
- Dwarf Blue Leg Hermit Crab
- Scarlet Reef Hermit Crab
- Small Hawaiian Feather Duster

Water Parameters :
Ammonia : 0 p.p.m.
Nitrates : 0 p.p.m.
Nitrites : 0 p.p.m.
pH : 8.2
Specific Gravity : 1.024

My Questions :

- How long will it take for the coralline algae to spread through all the rocks?

- Should I change my filtration to a more natural way with live rock rubble, macro algae, and carbon, or keep it the way it is, or any other ideas?

- I will want to have corals in it, and 1 fish, should I purchase the fish first and then the corals, or the other way around, or what do you suggest?

- I will get a 2 - 3 gallon quarantine tank, what should be in it, any sand, rock, c.u.c., or what?

Thank you for all your help in advanced.

 

[thominil]

Fish first, then wait a month and get coral. For the coraline it varies from system to system. I have had my tank up for about three and a half months and the coraline is just now starting to grow.