Hilltopreef90
Well-Known Member
After cycling a tank when can corals be added ?
Adding corals
- Thread starter Hilltopreef90
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OP
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Hilltopreef90
Well-Known Member
Thanks
OP
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Hilltopreef90
Well-Known Member
Why do people wait to add corals ? After a tank has been cycled ?
What causes calcium and magnesium to be high?
I have a Red Sea foundation test kit for calcium alkalinity and magnesium.
in my new tank that was recently cycled and I added fish about 2 weeks ago I tested and the phosphate was .25 the nitrate was a little over 1ppm, calcium over 500, magnesium around 1400, alkalinity 9dkh, salt was a tiny bit high 38ppt
My smaller nano tank had very similar parameters
If my salinity is just a little off could that be why my calcium and magnesium are high ?
My phosphate stays high and I’m tired of worrying and plan to just do what I can as far as water changes and starting a refugium in the 90 gallon, running a media reactor in the nano tank
Considering my phosphate is already up in the 90 gallon should I start my refugium or wait a bit longer
If after I get my salinity down a bit the calcium and magnesium remain high what should I do ?
IslandLifeReef
Valuable Member
Yes, your Calcium and Magnesium are high because your salinity is high. All of that stuff is in the salt mix, so if you are adding more salt mix resulting in a higher salinity, the other elements will follow.
Adding a refugium will help bring down PO4, but only in relation to your NO3. Since your NO3 is already fairly low, you probably won't see your PO4 go down a lot. What are you using for your water source? Have you tested that? Unless you ghost fed your tank to cycle it, you shouldn't see your PO4 that high so soon.
blaxsun
10K Club member
Why do people usually wait to add corals? Usually it's because you want to make sure your tank is established and doing well, and they need the right balance of water parameters, lighting and flow. This is why I typically suggest starting with an easier (cheaper) coral like zoas, which are a bit more forgiving.
