How long to wait before adding SPS's to a new tank.

[mikem]

I've been in the hobby for around 40 years. I've always kept sps's growing great with great colors. I lost all corals in Sandy. I currently have a 150 gallon FOWLR and a 40 gallon mixed reef. My plans are to make the 150 a softie tank, the 40 an LPS tank and I just set up a 120 gallon that I want to be my SPS tank.
My question is, how long should I wait before adding corals to the 120? It has been cycled and parms are in check. I'm just afraid to add high end sps's due to the fact that a new tank might go thru an algae cycle. 3/4 of the rock is from my established tank and the rest is new rock. The new rock is getting the algae film on them, which I wouldn't want on my new coral plugs.

First pic is the new 120 gallon. Second pic is my 40 gallon mixed reef.

My second question is; My SPS's in the 40 aren't doing that good. I'm having too much chemical warefare. Carbon is only helping a little. I want to take out the sps's and put them in the 120. I'm still trying to get the parms in the 120 to be exact as the tank the corals are coming out of. I don't want to loose them in the 40. Would they have a better chance of surviving in the new tank? Corals I'm referring to are in pic 2 on top right. Thanks for any input.

 

[KingTriton]

6+ months. Let the algae cycle subside first. You will thank me later.

 

[mikem]

Thank you.

 

[Anirban]

Once your cycle is done and your system is stable (No3-2-5ppm, PO4-undetectable, Ca, Mg and alkalinity does not swing alot) you are ready.
Now coming back to your second question what are your parameters in 40? Looks like all of them are brown up. Please post all the parameters including NO3, PO4, Ca, Mg, Alk and pH. It will help us to help you a lot.

One small thing if your water chemistry is not good then if you even move up to 300gallon still it will not solve your issue. Try to post your parameters and everyone will try their best to make your reef a happy reef....

Cheers..

 

[mikem]

The 40 is the wife's tank. I just went to check everything and all test kits are out dated(except mg) which is only 1110. This explains a lot of stuff. I asked her last month about all the kits. She said she was still waiting on the hanna alk regent and nothing about anything else. I guess question 2 is off the table until I reteach her to check dates on everything...lol

 

[Anirban]

The 40 is the wife's tank. I just went to check everything and all test kits are out dated(except mg) which is only 1110. This explains a lot of stuff. I asked her last month about all the kits. She said she was still waiting on the hanna alk regent and nothing about anything else. I guess question 2 is off the table until I reteach her to check dates on everything...lol

Lol....I think this answers a very large part of your queries.

 

[scrapz]

Buy a cheap sps and throw it in to test. I threw in SPS a week after the tank cycled, it's been 4+ months and I've lost 1 sps out of 40+ and that was because it was unhealthy when acquired.

 

[mikem]

Buy a cheap sps and throw it in to test. I threw in SPS a week after the tank cycled, it's been 4+ months and I've lost 1 sps out of 40+ and that was because it was unhealthy when acquired.

Thanks. I took an unhealthy one out of the wifes 40 gallon. It looks a lot better in the new 120.