How many corals can you add at one time

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Define "stable" in this context. Water parameters? Nutrients? Which ones should I be looking for?

Bacterial and archeal biome.

 

[Kiboshed]

Reading back on your description - you are off to a great start

soft corals to start and then add more as the tank matures and Of the testing parameters and the feel of the tank is right.

Ok so definitely dropping the fungia.

I'll just start with a small Cespitularia, Rhodactis, and Briareum in a month and see how they fair for 6-12 months.

Definitely going to start tracking my Calcium and Phosphates.

 

[Lavey29]

My tank is about 8 to 10 years old and I still cannot keep them for whatever reason lol

Lol, I just added a couple to mine to see if I can keep them happy. They are a really hard coral to understand sometimes especially when they start moving around.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Again what does "stability" mean objectively? How do I measure it and how will I know when I have achieved it?

Cause currently my chemistry in terms of the Ammonia/Nitrate cycle is completely stable.

The nitrogen cycle is just the tip of the iceberg, and actually isn't necessary for coral. Coral eats ammonia (and nitrite, nitrate...) so can technically go into an uncycled tank.

You came here asking about how many coral you can add, and don't seem to want to listen to the answers everyone is giving.
Feel free to keep asking until someone tells you what you want to hear, but that's really not a good use of the forum...

 

[((FORDTECH))]

Lol, I just added a couple to mine to see if I can keep them happy. They are a really hard coral to understand sometimes especially when they start moving around.

Yes I’ve tried it many times and I’ve had that same issue with the moving around they always like to but up against something that kills it with stingers

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

So I should not add any corals for like 6months? A year? Now I am more confused then when I started. Lol

I am just looking to add a few soft begginer corals in about a month because my cycle is finished.

Is that a bad idea? If I can how many?

Sure. As others said, adding a few *actual* beginner coral is fine... Mushrooms, zoas, other soft coral... But not plates (fungia), etc.
It's not even about what "might" survive; these are live creatures were talking about and it's our responsibility to do our best to have the right environment for them.

 

[Kiboshed]

The nitrogen cycle is just the tip of the iceberg, and actually isn't necessary for coral. Coral eats ammonia (and nitrite, nitrate...) so can technically go into an uncycled tank.

You came here asking about how many coral you can add, and don't seem to want to listen to the answers everyone is giving.
Feel free to keep asking until someone tells you what you want to hear, but that's really not a good use of the forum...

Don't know what your talking about. I have been very receptive to everything everyone has said and asked even more questions in kind.

Maybe you have not read all my posts.

Only soft begginer corals, add them slowly, no LSP for 6-12 months. Track my phosphates and Calcium.

No idea where you got the impression I haven't been receptive to the input this forum is giving me.

 

[Gatorpa]

Fungia are not a beginner coral. New tanks are generally too unstable still for these, along with most euphyllia/ fimbriaphyllia

Unless you like wasting money, watching it die and then wondering why

 

[Lavey29]

Coral does not add to the bioload!! lol!

Uh no, all living things add to the bioload. Corals intake nutrients and expel waste. Their contributions to the bioload is extremely small though and basically negligible for reef tank consideration.

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Ok so Alkalinity is the measure of stability?

It's all just very vague. What parameters do I need to see before I can add even basic corals? Or is it ALWAYS a measurement of time? If so how long?

Please do a little research! There's so much readily available on this forum and other sites... Coming here and expecting others to regurgitate what you can easily find on your own is rather inconsiderate. We've given you all kinds of advice and information already... Take that and go learn more!

 

[Gatorpa]

Don't know what your talking about. I have been very receptive to everything everyone has said and asked even more questions in kind.

Maybe you have not read all my posts.

Only soft begginer corals, add them slowly, no LSP for 6-12 months. Track my phosphates and Calcium.

No idea where you got the impression I haven't been receptive to the input this forum is giving me.

You’re asking questions that require very detailed answers.

It’s not just about what you can measure and how well those things stay the same. That’s just the tip of the iceberg.

It’s more about what you can’t see or measure directly.

Every and I mean Every tank is different. I’ve set up dozens and often they all run a bit different even with the same “ingredients “.

spend some time reading some of the new builds and various related threads here.

 

[Hairyteeth]

Add some soft corals for sure

 

[jmoneyyy703]

I went against the norm, added tons of coral (40+ frags) in a 75g at once. Included mostly lps, then shortly thereafter sps. If you really maintain a consistent regiment: testing all major parameters, weekly water changes, dosing chemicals (eg. Trace elements/all for reef) and bacteria (microbacter7) to maintain populations. You will have very high success on lps. Sps is high risk because swings in parameters, but again if you maintain above it was fine. Where I personally hit a snag was going away for period of time and extending maintenance days, or getting to busy to test. Most of my original SPS didnt survive. However those that did are trained to survive in harsher conditions and major swings lol. You could also try whatever you like and experience the processes vs lessons learned.

 

[Kiboshed]

Please do a little research! There's so much readily available on this forum and other sites... Coming here and expecting others to regurgitate what you can easily find on your own is rather inconsiderate. We've given you all kinds of advice and information already... Take that and go learn more!

Now your just being rude.

Sorry I thought this was the begginers forum where we could ask any questions we wanted on these topics that begginers might not understand.

I have already learned a lot from a lot of the posters on this thread which I thought was the point.

Telling me to take my questions elsewhere or to go figure it out on my own on stuff a begginer might not understand is not what the spirit of this forum is about.

The only one wasting your time is you. You can choose to read or respond to this thread or not. Like I said been lots of super helpful, polite, informative people so far.

Your remark was not.

 

[Kiboshed]

You’re asking questions that require very detailed answers.

It’s not just about what you can measure and how well those things stay the same. That’s just the tip of the iceberg.

It’s more about what you can’t see or measure directly.

Every and I mean Every tank is different. I’ve set up dozens and often they all run a bit different even with the same “ingredients “.

spend some time reading some of the new builds and various related threads here.

Yeah I am just struggling with the subjectivity of that. Some things in the hobby seem so super detailed and precise while others are subjective, like what you are describing.

Just going to have to come with time I suppose.

 

[jabberwock]

Let's just all take a chill pill. We are friends and advocates for each other here.

 

[Hankcorals]

So I should not add any corals for like 6months? A year? Now I am more confused then when I started. Lol

I am just looking to add a few soft begginer corals in about a month because my cycle is finished.

Is that a bad idea? If I can how many?

Start with zoas and shrooms. You can add as many as you want. I did and my tank is fine. In a nut shell you just want to wait 4-6 months for any skeleton building corals and you should be fine. What you have to understand is everyone's tank is different, your experience will be somewhat different but the end result is what matters and all the advice given is to help get you there. Good luck on your journey!

 

[Lavey29]

Now your just being rude.

Sorry I thought this was the begginers forum where we could ask any questions we wanted on these topics that begginers might not understand.

I have already learned a lot from a lot of the posters on this thread which I thought was the point.

Telling me to take my questions elsewhere or to go figure it out on my own on stuff a begginer might not understand is not what the spirit of this forum is about.

The only one wasting your time is you. You can choose to read or respond to this thread or not. Like I said been lots of super helpful, polite, informative people so far.

Your remark was not.

I think the problem is that people with extensive experience are giving you advise and you continually question their response. If you don't like the answer then you need to research it more on your own. It sounds like you are off to a good start with your tank and are trying to be very diligent in your approach. One of the main factors to successful reefing is patience. Nothing good happens quickly in this hobby. Your tank is fine to test out a few soft coral and maybe an easy LPS or two. Give them a few months and see how your tank progresses. I can tell you my tank at 15 months is night and day better, more stable and more predictable then it was in my early stage.

 

[Sean Clark]

Yeah I am just struggling with the subjectivity of that. Some things in the hobby seem so super detailed and precise while others are subjective, like what you are describing.

Just going to have to come with time I suppose.

Unfortunately there is no objective answer to your quite broad question. This is a very fluid situation that never has objective answers. You can look ot other people's systems or consider others advice. There is no finite answer.

 

[Kiboshed]

I think the problem is that people with extensive experience are giving you advise and you continually question their response. If you don't like the answer then you need to research it more on your own. It sounds like you are off to a good start with your tank and are trying to be very diligent in your approach. One of the main factors to successful reefing is patience. Nothing good happens quickly in this hobby. Your tank is fine to test out a few soft coral and maybe an easy LPS or two. Give them a few months and see how your tank progresses. I can tell you my tank at 15 months is night and day better, more stable and more predictable then it was in my early stage.

Ah well I didn't want people to perceive my questioning as not liking the answer. They were genuine questions on what I should be looking for. I can wait. I can be patient to add corals, I don't mind that. I just really didn't know what I was supposed to be looking for IF anything.

I just got out of my cycle. How I know I had a successful cycle is by diligently measuring Ammonia and Nitrites.

I am new so assumed "When to add corals" is the same process. I was wrong. It is apparently far more subjective then simple measurements.

I know this now. Came asking about coral numbers and learned all kinds of stuff about adding all kinds of corals lol

That is the point of this forum. Sorry if my questioning came off as childish petulance, I just genuinely didn't know and wanted to learn.