No Algea?

I started my 30G cube about a month ago. I used live rock from an established tank and also some live sand from that tank, they both were kept in warm water and I don't think they experienced much die off if any at all. I had 0.25 ammonia and 0.25 nitrite after the first few days. Then they both dropped to 0 and my nitrate climbed to 20ppm over the course of a couple weeks. I never got any algea blooms. I have one small damsel and a clean up crew (for no real reason apparently). The CUC consists of 10 cerith snails and about 20 red legged hermit crabs. They are small. I also have one feather duster. Is it ok that I never got algea. Also I only have a small strip light until my MH arrives and I have a new Coralife super skimmer running.

 

I wouldn't be too concerned. I had the same dilema. When i started i read everyone going through algae problems while I wasn't. My tank didn't start to develop algae until well into 2 months and it was brown (diatoms) now it's starting to turn green. When you get your MH's on there you'll probably have a bloom. One thing, don't add too much too soon. I went through my first cycle, and as soon as I added 2 fish, boom I went through a mini cycle again, which lasted a week! Do you plan on keeping that damsel? If not I would remove it as soon as possible before you add any more fish.

 

I'm not sure about the damsel. I didn't use him to cycle the tank, but even with all parameters testing well I didn't want to put a $16 fish into my tank as the first. I probably don't wanna keep him. I want a clownfish (read my wife wants me to get a clownfish) and of course some coral down the line. I don't know what other fish really. Probably not many.

 

ya get rid of the damsel before you get any other livestock...you'll have a hard time with the damsel. you can cycle the tank just with liverock which is what I did and I had no problems.

 

Yeah it was cycled when I added the damsel. I just didn't want to add a $30 fish and then have it die for some reason. I'll get him out before I add something.

 

Yeah... I wouldn't expect you to have a bloom. Maybe after you add the hallide.