I got crabs

[YHSublime]

No... really. I put them in 3 days ago. So I've had my tank up and running for 3 weeks now. I was getting the itch, pardon the pun, to put something into the tank. So part of my CUC it was. Put 5 of them in there, and they have been eating all over the live rock now for the past, well, 3 days.
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h36/YHSublime/AQUA1.jpg

So I know what you're thinking. I must have been doing some water testing. Well, I just got the kit in the mail today, and here are my first readings:

High Range PH: 8.0
Ammonia: .25 ppm
Nitrate (NO2): 0 ppm
Nitrate (NO3): 30ppm
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h36/YHSublime/AQUA3.jpg
Good bad... any advice from here about what to do?

Salinity: 1.027
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h36/YHSublime/AQUA2.jpg
I expect it's probably 1.028, but the Hydrometer is brand new, and I didn't soak it in vinegar like the instructions recommended.

Couple picks of the tank:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h36/YHSublime/AQUA6.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h36/YHSublime/AQUA4.jpg

I have a 6 gallon that I think I'm going to use as a quarantine. I'm thinking about picking up a clown fish tomorrow to begin that process. I'd also like to get a start on some SPS corals, any advice on what to do in the meantime?

I know at this stage it's probably pretty boring for everybody else, but even watching these crabs run around my tank has been so cool. Freshwater is cool, but Saltwater is ice cold!

[Painted skin]

Lower your nitrate and if you are going to keep corals, junk that hydrometer and invest in refractometer. Base on the meter you are way too high on the salinity, but who knows those thing are not very accurate. And it doesn't read 1.028, but does read over 1.026 which is high.

[YHSublime]

I'll look into a refractometer, I figured the hydrometer was a good "in the meantime" purchase. Guess not, it gave me a 1.026 reading, but I did it a couple of times, and each time was a different read. The water is all from my LFS, I only presume it's O.K.

I presume you're talking about the NO3 level for the corals? I'm wondering if a water change will take care of this? I should have enough live rock and sand in there atm? The live rock and sand is from my LFS, I'll most likely grab another piece or two to aquascape what I'm visioning. Is there anything else I can do to lower the nitrate level... properly?

[acabgd]

Is there anything else I can do to lower the nitrate level... properly?
You should first look into lowering your ammonia which will kill everything in your tank. As long as you have ammonia your cycle is not over.

You should see another increase in nitrates, then you can do larger water changes to lower them and bring them to an acceptable level.

[MrJawfish]

I agree with the previous comments, I think that you tank has not finished cycling yet. I would definitely not add any corals for at least 2-3 months of an active tank. Work on adding your livestock before progressing to corals. Let you system completely stable out with all livestock additions. This is what I have done, and I have had no problems. My tank has been running for 3 months and I just put in my first coral (hammer coral), and it appears to be doing quite well. Just my opinion though.

[swine]

Are you going to put it on a desk/stand? Might be hard to get a siphon going to clean it out :P

[YHSublime]

Yeah, the plan is to put it on a stand eventually. Just waiting to order one. Wasn't really planning on using the Biocube, turns out it's easiest.

[fishgate]

What possessed you to put that right in the middle of the floor? You don't have a dresser or something to put it on?

Also agree your cycle is not complete and salinity is high.

[YHSublime]

I really threw everything in there to start cycling the tank as quickly as possible, it wasn't my intention to use the Biocube, so the floor was the best place to start! It'll be going on a stand soon!

I'll wait for my tank to finish cycling. Will the crabs make it through the cycle? Will the crabs be fine working off the flakes, or should I get something in there to feed them?

[YHSublime]

I really threw everything in there to start cycling the tank as quickly as possible, it wasn't my intention to use the Biocube, so the floor was the best place to start! It'll be going on a stand soon!

I'll wait for my tank to finish cycling. Will the crabs make it through the cycle? Will the crabs be fine working off the flakes, or should I get something in there to feed them?

[mikeyVR4]

Hydrometers are usually off. Mine is off .005 points.