Two weeks post cycle

[hogfanreefer]

and a couple of questions.

Only had diatoms for a few days at the end of the cycle but the algae has hit like a hammer. Sk8r I know you said it would happen but it still hurts to see!

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f164/huntindoc/aquarium/3rdtry005_zpsfd231bae.jpg

Weird thing is the cleanup crew has completely decimated the algae on the live rock but hasn't done much on the dry rock. They are hitting it but only spending maybe 20% of their time there. Can't see any on the live rock and it was as bad as the dry before they went in.

I had several sponges on my live rock. A few have gone away, many have decreased but this red one has actually gotten bigger with some new spots in the last few days. Do sponges survive the cycle? I like it and hope it does.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f164/huntindoc/aquarium/504_zpsca7a489c.jpg

I know, it's too early for the Zoa's but my daughter gave me three $10 frags for my birthday and I couldn't tell her to take them back. All three are opening up pretty well for 24 hours.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f164/huntindoc/aquarium/003_zps7f3c336b.jpg

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f164/huntindoc/aquarium/005_zps065c9b38.jpg

[hogfanreefer]

A couple of hitchhikers. One that survived

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f164/huntindoc/aquarium/011_zpsc1f61e6b.jpg

Is this urchin ok?

And one that didn't. I know it's a stony coral from feeling of it. Any idea what kind (I know that's hard going by the skeleton alone).

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f164/huntindoc/aquarium/013_zps65bbb9e2.jpg

[thegrun]

Songes often will survive the cycle, but most species will slowly die off. If the ammonia and nitrites have dropped off to zero and your nitrates are below 10ppm you are fine adding zoas, mushrooms...any of the easy to care for corals now. Keep an eye on your nitrates and phosphates, they are the food for algae. If you keep them in check you will be fine as far as algae growth goes. Be ready to increase your clean-up crew as the tank matures.

[chunk78]

I am planning on starting a new tank with dry rock. Does anyone know why algae is persisting on the dry rock?