Desperately need some help

Callok · Jun 21, 2017

I've been keeping fish for nearly 30 years. A new tank that has been "cycled" through the nitrogen cycle, is only in the very early stages of getting established. Just because there is no longer any ammonia or nitrite and a few hardy fish can survive that is a far cry from an established, stable tank. You are still going to go through various algae blooms, probably a few cyano blooms. This is all part of getting the tank stable. I agree that you need to think in terms of months-years, not weeks before adding sps. Start with just a few easy corals such as gsp, Xenia, and if they survive and thrive for weeks, then add some softies such as candy canes, euphylias etc. Refrain from over correcting and doing huge changes, usually it just does more harm than good. This is a hobby of patience, fish and coral are just icing.

Damien Buckley · Jun 28, 2017

victorcan said:
in 25 years of saltwater tanks and reef keeping Ive come to the conclusion that SPS require a tank a year old or older to thrive.. I wish I knew why but it has always been the case.. 2 years ago I upgraded my home tank from a 150 to a 220.. everything from the 150 (SPS & LPS) went into the new 220.. I am a very active reefer, weekly water changes daily testing etc etc... about 5 months after the switch all the SPS crashed.. I waited about 6 months , or should depression of the loss lasted about 6 months before I attempted to add another piece of sps and since have added about $4k more and over the last year have thrived and spread like weeds. This is like the 4th time Ive gone through this (you'd think Id learn) I always think because Im moving stuff from a fully established tank into a bigger tank everything will be smooth and I have had some limited success in the past but I always loose and always the most beautiful sps pieces in my reef wait a few months and the tank will be ready for SPS again softies and LPS are hardier.. I wish I knew what it is in a new tank? silicone ? glass ? Donno.. but my heart feels bad for your loss none the less..

That's really bizarre. I would have made the same assumption that shifting everything over, it would just continue as it was.

JohnnyTabasco · Jun 28, 2017

I haven't read all the posts so I might be repeating stuff here.

Has the tank only been running for 4 month? I would be adding the first or second fish at this point - if it was my tank. Not having SPS and plenty of fish.
Yes, it's a problem if your have 0 po4 and 0 no3, but I really don't believe that's the case.
I think it would be a huge mistake to try adding nutrients - your algae growth is probably sucking up all the nutrients and that's why it shows up zero.
And try to test for silica and iron.

I know this sucks, but take a deep breath and stop adding things. Keep one or two fish for the next months and let the tank get some age.
And don't give up but prepare for a long battle.

... and keep us updated - I would love to hear how it goes..!