Hi SeaSerpant!
Great start to your new tank! =] Your tank is rather too new for a shrimp. They are more sensitive than a lot of people realise. I would suggest you wait at least 3-4 months before trying to add a new one.
What are you using to test your pH? I am surprised to see the pH so high during the cycle, as well as after. I suspect it isn't accurate. I would suggest you check it against a calibrated digital pH meter/monitor.
FYI, the "pearling algae" pic you posted is actually dinoflagellates. I see a wee bit of cyano bacteria as well. Usually when you see an algae-like growth that is "pearling" like that it is a bacteria of some sort, and not an algae. I would also suggest you get on top of the red bubble algae (siphon them out when you do water changes) as they are difficult to irradicate.
Quote:
Corals:
None
Want:
Zoas
Pulsing Xenia
Frogspawn
Feather Dusters
(any ideas for nice colourful corals? preferably soft)
Fish/cuc:
None
Want (will change):
2 clownfish (female, male)
RedFire Fish
Longnosed Hawkfish
Magenta Dottyback
Lawnmower Blenny
CUC
Possibly a pygmy seahorse
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Be aware that feather dusters have very poor long-term survival. They require more food than we can usually provide them without polluting our tanks. I hope you don't want to put ALL those fish in the tank!! If you decide to get a Lawnmower blenny pick one that eats prepared foods as most won't accept prepared foods, and will die of starvation in a small tank like yours. The Longnose Hawkfish will get too big for your tank. If you decide on a Dotty, I would suggest an Orchid Dotty instead as the Magentas can become quite aggressive. Pigmy seahorses are one of the most challenging ponies to feed, they are best left to reef keepers who have previous experience with ponies. I would suggest that your tank would be full with only two of the fish on your list (not including the ones I don't suggest you keep). Consider checking out "nano" fish for more options. There are lots of teeny fish out there that allow you to keep more fish in a small space.