Going fallow what to do with corals?

[Nick Steele]

Okay so sadly I lost my 3 fish in my 20G and am going fallow for 76+ days. I have a decent amount of corals in my mind and just picked up 5 new frags. Should I do anything special for them during this time? I usually spot feed everything reef roids twice a week but I’m curious if I should broadcast feed once or twice a week now as well since there’s no fish waste being made.

I have
4 zoas frags around 30 polyps total
1 hammer
1 frogspawn
Gsp
Xenia
1 Acan frag 6 polyps
1 monti spongodes
1 monti dig


here’s a pic just for reference too

Thoughts and opinions appreciated!

 

[35ppt]

Just spot feed your coral like normal and keep an eye on No3 and Po4. If it starts to drop I would recommend dosing No3 and Po4 to maintain levels rather than feeding more to a tank that doesn't have mouths to eat it.

/If you have any nassarius snails or the like they still need to eat so don't forget them.

 

[lpsouth1978]

Another thing to consider during the fallow period, it that anytime you add another coral or invert, you will want to restart the 76 day clock. Otherwise you could re-introduce ich and the fallow period will be a waste.

 

[Nick Steele]

Another thing to consider during the fallow period, it that anytime you add another coral or invert, you will want to restart the 76 day clock. Otherwise you could re-introduce ich and the fallow period will be a waste.

As I don’t plan on QTing corals going forward is this a huge thing to skip during the fallow period?

I plan to QT fish going forward though.

Just spot feed your coral like normal and keep an eye on No3 and Po4. If it starts to drop I would recommend dosing No3 and Po4 to maintain levels rather than feeding more to a tank that doesn't have mouths to eat it.

/If you have any nassarius snails or the like they still need to eat so don't forget them.

Totally forgot about my snails and hermit crabs thanks! I’ll feed them two-three times a week which I believe should be enough right?

 

[vetteguy53081]

feed and enjoy them. You can even add one or two and have something to enjoy in the mean time.

 

[35ppt]

As I don’t plan on QTing corals going forward is this a huge thing to skip during the fallow period?

I plan to QT fish going forward though.


Totally forgot about my snails and hermit crabs thanks! I’ll feed them two-three times a week which I believe should be enough right?

I think more than enough. I would recommend that you QT your corals and inverts though, you're going through the hassle to fallow your tank and every new addition is a chance for introduction of all kinds of stuff you don't want. While introduction of fish disease is less common with coral and invert additions it is possible and for sure happens to people. And you're quarantining for more than just fish disease but also for aptasia, valonia, byropsis etc. I've always run an invert QT and have never had any of that stuff make it to the DT.

 

[Nick Steele]

I think more than enough. I would recommend that you QT your corals and inverts though, you're going through the hassle to fallow your tank and every new addition is a chance for introduction of all kinds of stuff you don't want. While introduction of fish disease is less common with coral and invert additions it is possible and for sure happens to people. And you're quarantining for more than just fish disease but also for aptasia, valonia, byropsis etc. I've always run an invert QT and have never had any of that stuff make it to the DT.

I’m sure I could qt inverts in the fish system when there isn’t any fish in there but I’m 100% positive I couldn’t get a coral qt out of my fiancé at the moment.

 

[35ppt]

I’m sure I could qt inverts in the fish system when there isn’t any fish in there but I’m 100% positive I couldn’t get a coral qt out of my fiancé at the moment.

You can only do what you can do, and manage the risk as you see fit. I would also say though that a coral QT doesn't need to be much. Mine was just a 10 gallon tank/Jebao PP-4/Asta20 light/DIY ATO/50w heater and hand dosing 2 part for a long time and I got all kinds of LPS and even some easy SPS through no problem. And if you've got a reef tank it's an excellent idea to have some extra gear around for emergency.

 

[jerrod]

I am 64 days into my fallow period and haven't done anything different. I still feed the tank only slightly less than I did before, still feed corals and perform water changes etc. I was told that doing this keeps the biological filtration near the same as it was in order to repopulate the tank later (still re introduce slowly) and not shock the system with nutrient spikes or chance a mini cycle, I kept the same clean up crew and they are fat and happy. I also took the time to re-aquascape for better flow and appearance and moved some corals around.

 

[ctopherl]

I am 64 days into my fallow period and haven't done anything different. I still feed the tank only slightly less than I did before, still feed corals and perform water changes etc. I was told that doing this keeps the biological filtration near the same as it was in order to repopulate the tank later (still re introduce slowly) and not shock the system with nutrient spikes or chance a mini cycle, I kept the same clean up crew and they are fat and happy. I also took the time to re-aquascape for better flow and appearance and moved some corals around.

So how did this go? Anything you’d do differently? About to start this same process myself

 

[jerrod]

It worked. No further issues and learned my lesson in regards to quarantining fish. The only thing that was annoying is feeding the tank without fish I had a few aptasia and bristle worms before and there population multiplied. Berghia took care of the aptasia and bristleworms leveled out once I repopulated the tank.

 

[Sharkbait19]

I too was foolish about QT and had to go fallow (twice). I did suffer some coral casualties due to nutrient imbalances, but thankfully the fish are back now. I now quarantine all new fish and wish I had means to quarantine inverts and corals. Really I just have to trust the supplier. I intend to convert my fish QT into a coral QT once I’m done with quarantining fish. I hope everything goes well for you! Best advice I can give is to drop food in every once in a while. Maybe even target certain specimens.

 

[Nick Steele]

Wow sorry I never updated this thread so I will now.

The fallow period went fine. Didn’t have any issues with the corals they did fine and most grew better good. Bristle worms did grow in numbers but I don’t mind them at all they help clean and aren’t out during the day. The only thing that weren’t too happy were my rock flower nems. They went for a walk all over the tank and never really settled down (they just settled a few weeks ago after a Dino battle).

For me I continued to target feed my corals at least once a week but mainly twice a week didn’t broadcast much but a few times when I would remember. I didn’t have any algae issues.

 

[ctopherl]

Thanks all! There is a lot of “going to run fallow” activity on the internet but not much follow up as to how it went. Maybe I will document my experience in a thread. I have one more fish to catch still before my timer starts...