How Early is too Early?

[Dilan Patel]

So I just finished setting up my reef tank and actually created my first build thread if you would like to find out more about the build ( https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/official-build-thread-of-a-135-gallon-reef-tank.344567/ ) follow this link for updated info on the build. But really my question is since it is a reef tank I want to get corals soon. i know nothing good happends quickly lol this isn't my first rodeo, but this will be the first time setting up a tank brand spanking new with the idea of it being a reef tank in the first place. My plan is too let everything stabalize and hopefully by the end of january to the start of febuary start adding some tester corals. these corals will be clipped from my 180gallon reef so I know the corals are at least in decent condition. My try a garf bonsai along with some other pieces. Any thoughts on my plan?

 

[drawman]

I see you have a few fish going so I would just make sure bacteria populations are stable. I've added acros early by maintaining good stable water and using bottled bacteria products (ie AF Bio S, Brightwell Microbacter). What are your Ca, Alk, Mg, NO3, PO4 at? Also make sure that you are fully cycled without any ammonia/nitrite.

Also I'm curious what you are using for lighting?

 

[Dilan Patel]

I will be testing ca,alk,mg today as a base point. No3 is 2-5ppm and willl test po4 maybe tomorrow or the coming week. rn I do not have ammonia or nitrite. i am trying to build up the bacteria in my denitrator. my current lighting is aquaticlife 8bulb t-5 which I had spare from my 180 gallon(with old bulbs) but will be switching to retro t-5kit with 3 sbreef lights

 

[Leaellynasaura]

Which model of sbreef did you get?

 

[Dilan Patel]

Standard 16in without the ramp timer. I have had sucess with them over my current tank and did not want to spend the extra money for kessils or something like that...even though I use the old a160 I used to have on the old build as my fuge light now lol

 

[Dilan Patel]

So here are some more chemistry results from today

Mag is 1050
salinity(1.019) real low I know I ran out of salt
Phosphate .32ppm

 

[drawman]

So here are some more chemistry results from today

Mag is 1050
salinity(1.019) real low I know I ran out of salt
Phosphate .32ppm

I would get your salinity up and test again. Please go slowly with this so you do not stress your fish. Your mag is depressed because your salinity is depressed. If you want to keep acros I would shoot for 1.025-1.026 for salinity. What are you using to test salinity?

For acros (once parameters are in line of course) Alkalinity will be your most important parameter to keep stable. To make things easier you may want to shoot for a lower dKH (say between 7-9). Your PO4 is quite high for a new tank IMO you may have some leaching from your rock or you have a lot of PO4 coming in from your food.

 

[Dilan Patel]

Yeah my salt was supposed to come two days ago but apparently they did not want to deliver it...hoping I can get the package today. I am using a hydrometer which is calibrated. yeah I am trying to keep my salinity in 1.025 range because that is what my other tnk runs at. I like to keep all my tanska round the same in a case if something happends an acclimatrion is not necessary.

 

[drawman]

Yeah my salt was supposed to come two days ago but apparently they did not want to deliver it...hoping I can get the package today. I am using a hydrometer which is calibrated. yeah I am trying to keep my salinity in 1.025 range because that is what my other tnk runs at. I like to keep all my tanska round the same in a case if something happends an acclimatrion is not necessary.

Just slowly bring it up over the course of days/weeks. I would just mix up NSW and add a small amount every day if I were you. Depending on which salt you use you may need to supplement Calcium and Magnesium (and potentially alkalinity).

 

[Dilan Patel]

I think I will put it in my ATO I use IO