Questions about my tank

[Volitang]

I tend to do a fair amount of chores on Sundays. tending to the tank has become one of them. Ok, we are probably at week 4 or so. I believe I'm cycled, I check the minimum stuff last week and we were good with trace Nitrates. I haven't performed a water change yet but, have stocked with some turbos (6) and several black snails and (24) red legs. Is the water change necessary immediately?? I had my light off for these 4-5 weeks and just put it on timer. Its the regular 2 bulb light that came with my freshwater tank when I had one. Am I correct in assuming that this will be appropriate in the interim for algae production for these animals?? Should I purchase some supplimental algae?? Is the LR good enough source of food for these animals??? I won't be adding fish until I get things right.
Thanks

[the_real_brian]

Originally Posted by Volitang

I tend to do a fair amount of chores on Sundays. tending to the tank has become one of them. Ok, we are probably at week 4 or so. I believe I'm cycled, I check the minimum stuff last week and we were good with trace Nitrates. I haven't performed a water change yet but, have stocked with some turbos (6) and several black snails and (24) red legs. Is the water change necessary immediately?? I had my light off for these 4-5 weeks and just put it on timer. Its the regular 2 bulb light that came with my freshwater tank when I had one. Am I correct in assuming that this will be appropriate in the interim for algae production for these animals?? Should I purchase some supplimental algae?? Is the LR good enough source of food for these animals??? I won't be adding fish until I get things right.
Thanks

You can throw in a chunk of food every so often for the red legs. The snails should be fine now that you have some light. I wouldn't add any more though.

[Volitang]

Thanks for the reply but, how about the water change is it necessary yet????

[TripleT]

Originally Posted by Volitang

Ok, we are probably at week 4 or so. I believe I'm cycled, I check the minimum stuff last week and we were good with trace Nitrates.

What are your levels? Ammonia, nitrite, salinity, ph, nitrate, temperature?

You can buy some seaweed sheets, and rubber band some to a rock. Your snails may be grateful, until there is an ample supply of algae growing on your tank walls and rocks. Remove after 12-24 hours.

I'd wait another couple of weeks before adding livestock. Any idea what you'd like to have yet?

[TripleT]

Did you witness your ammonia and nitrite both rise, and then later fall to undetectable levels?

[Volitang]

Yes, ammonia and Nitrites did their thing aleady. I won't be stocking for quite some time. I wanted a tang but was unaware that 54 gallons was unsuitable, I was told by the LFS I could when I purchased my set up. I am completely undecided about what to put in there., I just know that I want few fish, I definitely want to keep things to a minimum. Ultimately, I just don't want to be the reason for killing anything. I intend to let this environment develop further and slowly thereafter introduce some interesting invertabrates, perhaps a clam and some cool looking crabs and shrimp. No idea about the fish, suggestions???

[GhostCon1]

Pair of clowns, some gobies, dartfish, mandarin fish (when your tank has matured enough to have ample copepods, dwarf angels (careful if you keep corals as SOME can nip them), there are really tons and tons of options!

[JoeRonda]

I would'nt do a water change yet. A tank that new needs to be left alone for about 6 or 7 weeks, then do a 10% change. Unless you need to lower NH3 or No2 levels in that case I'd do 25% now.