New tank is setup. What next?

NC Frank

I will be gone from Monday until the 23rd. I have a friend coming over to take care of my Discus and top off this tank.

Question... do I need to do anything as far as adding livestock to this tank? If I start seeing coraline algae before I go do I add a couple of CUC members or a small fish or something? If the tank is ready for livestock will having none in there (outside of a single hitchhiker blue hermit crab) cause a negative effect (like leaving a cycled freshwater tank empty which will kill off the beneficial bacteria)?

wake49

You will be fine leaving that tank as is. It already had life in it, all the beneficial bacteria in the Live Rock and Sand, and also some microfauna that came on the Rock and Sand. Being away for a couple weeks will help you leave the tank alone and not be tempted by an empty tank.

NC Frank

That is the answer that I was hoping for.

NC Frank

Day 7 - more signs of a diatom bloom as the gravel bed is now mostly covered with the brown stuff. The base rock is now showing more and the live rock is covered in it almost completely.

Water test results (All API tests from master and master reef test kits - salinity from a newly calibrated refractometer).

PH - 8.0
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 5
KH - 8
Salinity - 1.029 (don't know how this is possible as I used premixed water and RO for top offs.

onefish2fish

who calibrated the refracto and what was used to do it?

NC Frank

I brought the refractometer and a water sample to my LFS who calibrated it with a solution that they had for this purpose. They tested the water with two of their refractometers and with my new one and the results all came back the same post calibration.

wake49

Where's the Calcium results?

Pasfur

If you are seeing a diatom bloom, it would be the perfect time to begin the alkalinity and calcium testing. Proper levels will help to encourage coraline, and reduce the risk of cynobacteria, hair, and thread algaes.

NC Frank

I will do the calcium and alk tests tonight.

wake49

I see a KH reading of 8 here. Is that from a Carbonate Hardness Test? If so, this is in the range, but in the lower part of the range. Test kits suggest 7-12 dKH; I try to keep mine between 8-12 dKH.