My patience is running out.

Patience is key, but if you have reached the month mark, there are corals that you could handle at this point - I agree with Night-Rida -- no anemones though... get some easy corals, then some fish down the road...

 

I'm just wondering why there is such a huge clean up crew with nothing in there?

You will most likely kill any anemone you put in there - they need "mature" (i.e. nine to 12 months minimum) to survive. Would you rather spend a hundred bucks(or more!) on fish and corals and have them die in a week?

Wait - I swear it is the hardest part of this hobby - the first six to eight weeks. It what makes or breaks you.

 

When I sat "safe" that what I mean at zero.
I am getting brown algae as of now.

Im not going to just go dropping things in my tank because Im inpatince. This is why I like to ask "why first. Even though I may not be able to do a few things I still like to know the answers why. For instance: what is it that makes a tank better in a year than in a month? just a question. thanks

 

This is what I was told to add first. clean up crew. whicxh I guess I dont understand why since I cant add anything else.

 

Because a tank is just a vessel of water... a reef is a ecosystem.... and a mature reef is not the same as a new born reef. Way too soon to throw a anemone in. Why is always a good question, but if you don't know the answer to why you can't throw an anenome in a 1 month old tank now.... well then you need to do some more research and reading. Not at all trying to be rude, just trying to give some honest advice.

You need to learn about what it takes to have a healthy eco system. You need critters in the rocks, starfish to grow, worms to populate the sand, bacteria colonies to stabilize. Water chemistry to stabilize, your maintenance to be regular routine and stable, pod population growth..... And then the proper equipment to support your goals.

Also, just because you can keep an anenome alive does not mean it is healthy and happy. Anemones do not make it very long under very good conditions. Throwing one in now is a good recipe for a restart of your tank.

 

Hey Banthony,

Clean up crews are normally placed in after the tank has cycled and the brown diatom bloom has started/occurred.

While some folks here might not like this idea, it might just kill three birds with one stone. 1) If your water is showing zero ammonia, zero nitrite and zero nitrate, try this:
Add one damsel or clownfish - you get to add a fish, and you'll find out in a hurry if your tank has cycled. Downside is it can be hard on the fish.

2) Before you get this fish, make sure the LFS will take it back if your ammonia/nitrite spikes like mad. No sense in killing a fish for vanity - place the fish in and check the parameters the next day - if there is any ammonia or nitrite - please take it back and give it two more weeks . Make sure to test every day after you put the fish in. You probably won't see a spike in the first couple of days (not enough waste), but if you see one on any day, get it out and back to the LFS, else you run the risk of killing your clean up crew and re-starting the cycle for another month or more in your tank.

3) Assuming the parameters are good (I mean zero ammonia and nitrites), you've now got a good start to your tank - and you get something nice to look at while it settles in

Good luck, and always ask questions!

 

Nobody here started with all the answers. Keep reading, keep asking, and have patience. So far your LFS is giving it to you straight.... and you are in the right place. Welcome.

CUC clean up what has been left behind. Many of them are ditrivores. (eat poop) Move on to a fish and feed a little extra to keep the clean up crew fed. After your tank is going, you just feed the fish, not the CUP. Not sure how big your tank is (55g?), but your crew seems a little big at this point.

 

well I hace only got 14 hermits. which are all very small as well as 9 small snails. the two shrimp where only added to cure an aiptasia problem.

 

Got it... and as always you will loose a few.... I probably have 15 or less hermits in my 90g, but they are bigger and I feed well. Plenty of snails. Hopefully you have some Nasarius to till the sand bed. Personally, I don't care fro Turbos. Way to big. I have two and will probably take them out.