[kathywithbirds]

"So much emphasis is placed on getting the tank to the point where there is no ammonia and nitrite detected by test kits, that it is forgotten that there are hundreds of other types of microbes that need time to also settle in to the routine of the aquarium. These microbes don't start their job until the tank is up and running, and can't settle in until the nutrients in the water come to a sort of equilibrium with the things removing or using them."

OK, well, yeah, I did that. Happy that all I've lost so far is a featherduster and snails. I liked that featherduster though.

So what should I do (or NOT do?) to let my tank age more appropriately? I've increased the cleaning crew: I'm now with 8 hermits (yeah, I was desperate) 10 ceriths, 10 narcissius (sp?), 1 bumblebee snail, a sandsifting star. I might still have a turbo or astrea in there somewhere.

Oh, and 3 lettuce nudibranches.