How long to add corals?

[Espino963]

Hi everyone,

I just started my tank 2 days ago with live rock and the same water that was inside a friends tank. I’ve check my perimeters 2 days in a row and everything checks out.
How long do I wait to do my first water change and add corals?
I have a build thread, however I didn’t want to flood it with newb questions. I hope you can all help.

thank you

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

Have you added an ammonia source to check if it is actually cycled? I would ghost feed and get ammonia readable to make sure it is processing

 

[Espino963]

Have you added an ammonia source to check if it is actually cycled? I would ghost feed and get ammonia readable to make sure it is processing

I just have a clean up crew in there with bottled bacteria. I’ll swing by the reef store today and get some food. I actually don’t want a fish for a while, just corals for now

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

Well tbh if it is cycled rock and you are not adding a bioload I don’t see why you couldn’t. Watch parameters as new tanks tend to have issues (nascence algae, die off, ect). I would cycle for at least a week but I am not a risk taker.

 

[Espino963]

Well tbh if it is cycled rock and you are not adding a bioload I don’t see why you couldn’t. Watch parameters as new tanks tend to have issues (nascence algae, die off, ect). I would cycle for at least a week but I am not a risk taker.

Sounds good. I’ll wait until Friday and do a water change/retest

 

[DSC reef]

Once you know your tank is cycled then slowly add a fish/bioload and make sure you can keep things under control and consistent for a few months, no need to rush. A small tank can go south very quickly. Buy test kits to monitor alkalinity, calcium and magnesium as these are vital to coral. Research the coral before you buy to make sure you can meet its requirements.

 

[Espino963]

Once you know your tank is cycled then slowly add a fish/bioload and make sure you can keep things under control and consistent for a few months, no need to rush. A small tank can go south very quickly. Buy test kits to monitor alkalinity, calcium and magnesium as these are vital to coral. Research the coral before you buy to make sure you can meet its requirements.

Is it worth getting an auto doser for all and calcium in a Nano tank? I suppose so since I do want to focus on corals. I will buy a test kit soon

 

[DSC reef]

Is it worth getting an auto doser for all and calcium in a Nano tank? I suppose so since I do want to focus on corals. I will buy a test kit soon

In my opinion, a doser is not necessary but knowing your tank and the corals uptake is.

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

For soft and lps then no, you can keep up with parameters with manual dosing and water changes. Once your coral start growing then dosing will become necessary. In my Evo 13.5 my frags used next to nothing for about 3 months and now I manual dose (upgrading my reef-pi) to keep levels higher. It’s nice to manual dose as needed to start to you appreciate the equipment you buy later

 

[Big G]

Welcome to R2R!

 

[Greatdane]

If you do end up coral I take about 30-45 min trying to acclimate then to the water

 

[DSC reef]

I would not buy any real light demanding coral if you plan on keeping the stock light, not even lps. My wife had the same tank and we upgraded the light to a current marine led. Here's a few pics

 

[eric.battani]

Is it worth getting an auto doser for all and calcium in a Nano tank? I suppose so since I do want to focus on corals. I will buy a test kit soon

Well till the tank is fully stocked and the corals are out the the shock stage, you could dose kalk until the demand is high enough for a dosing pump. Brs 1.1 ml dosers should do the trick along with a 2 part.