new tank

[kelligrl37]

I started my tank 4 weeks ago I am using live rock to establish, I have quite a bit of brown algea growing a couple of crabs that came along and rock anemones some small feather dusters on the rocks, when should I preform my first water change?
and what kind of supplements do you recomend for keeping the rocks growing coraline? everything seems really healthy in there right now.

[sir_dudeguy]

Ok, first thing... the brown alga is just diatoms and will go away in time if you keep your nitrates and phosphates down. Once your cycle is over get a few cerith snails. They'll really clear that stuff up.

As for the aptasia or whatever the anemone's are that you've got, something like joe's juice usually works, or if you're sure its aptasia, a true peppermint shrimp will usually eat them.

For the dusters, i wouldnt even pay attention to them. You'll see em' everywhere but they wont grow big.

Coraline...i dont recommend adding any suppliments to get coraline to grow, specially Purple Up. It will grow on its own in time as long as you keep your calcium and mag (i think its mag...might be alk..i get the 2 mixed up) in the right levels.

One last thing..i didnt really have a problem with it, but some find it very hard to read your posts if you try to cram every little detail in one sentence without using hardly any periods and whatnot. It took me a couple times through to understand what you were trying to say is all

[jer77]

Do you have any test kits? Do you know your water parameters? You should concern yourself with ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates, along with phosphates later if you added live rock 4 weeks ago.

[Nano Chris]

I read Calc/Mag/Alk play hand in hand for coralline.

[WaterKeeper]

The diatoms will be followed by a green algae bloom. See The New Tank Thread on what to expect next.