Is it time for Gfo

[minus9]

Do yourself a favor and buy some good books on reefing. The Modern Reef Aquarium vol.3, The Reef Aquarium vol.3, etc... I'm not posting this to be rude, but it sounds like you're very new to this and knowing the basics and fundamentals will save you a ton of headaches and losses. You can't get this info on forums or YouTube videos, etc... I wish someone would digitize all of the FAMA articles, such good info.
To give you the short answer, your tank isn't going to be ready for corals for a while, so take the time to research and learn about the biology and chemistry, which will pay dividends and then some.

 

[Reefdiculous22]

Do yourself a favor and buy some good books on reefing. The Modern Reef Aquarium vol.3, The Reef Aquarium vol.3, etc... I'm not posting this to be rude, but it sounds like you're very new to this and knowing the basics and fundamentals will save you a ton of headaches and losses. You can't get this info on forums or YouTube videos, etc... I wish someone would digitize all of the FAMA articles, such good info.
To give you the short answer, your tank isn't going to be ready for corals for a while, so take the time to research and learn about the biology and chemistry, which will pay dividends and then some.

I will do that. I’m not freaking out to much about the algae and stuff. I know it takes time to get the tank established. I only added some corals because I have seen that some people have added fish and corals on day one of their tanks so I thought I’d give it a shot. I started my tank with dr Tim’s and after 2 weeks started adding fish and corals. I don’t plan on adding anymore corals I do feel like I’m rushing it and I will definitely get the books.

 

[minus9]

I will do that. I’m not freaking out to much about the algae and stuff. I know it takes time to get the tank established. I only added some corals because I have seen that some people have added fish and corals on day one of their tanks so I thought I’d give it a shot. I started my tank with dr Tim’s and after 2 weeks started adding fish and corals. I don’t plan on adding anymore corals I do feel like I’m rushing it and I will definitely get the books.

You can most certainly have an instant tank, but the knowledge and experience involved is quite detailed and lengthy. I would never advise someone new to the hobby to start a tank that way, you’re just going to get frustrated and be completely lost for the things that pop up. Keeping a reef tank is problem solving and if you don’t have the basic fundamentals down, it just gets deeper and harder to solve those problems. Nothing good happens fast in this hobby. Patience and knowledge are your best friends here.

 

[Remy123]

Give the tank more time to settle out. I would say the tank is still cycling and balancing out. Just be careful how many nutrients you’re adding to the system and if you want to do anything about the cloudy water then add carbon or a UV sterilizer

 

[Reefdiculous22]

Give the tank more time to settle out. I would say the tank is still cycling and balancing out. Just be careful how many nutrients you’re adding to the system and if you want to do anything about the cloudy water then add carbon or a UV sterilizer

Yes. I’ve already started carbon in the reactor. I think I will get a uv. I’m fairly happy with the parameters at the moment. I have noticed the alk has dropped in the past few days. That could be due to the corals. It isn’t going to help that I will be changing salts. Brs didn’t have the regular instant ocean that I started with so I got 480 gallons of Io reef crystals. I will be doing 10 percent water changes over the next month or so to let the tank adjust to the new mix. I test every 4 days and phos has been around .05 to .1 alk was 9.3 but has dropped to8.2 which is a whole ppm. I haven’t started testing cal or mag yet. Didn’t know if it’s that important in the early stages. pH is between 8.1 to 8.3 , salinity 1.023-1.024 and temp is 76.8-77.0

 

[stevolough]

Reef crystals will have a higher alk reading then instant ocean. Really no reason to do water changes. It messes with the aging process.

 

[Reefdiculous22]

Reef crystals will have a higher alk reading then instant ocean. Really no reason to do water changes. It messes with the aging process.

Ok. I just read that when changing salt mixes to do small water changes to let the tank acclimate. I just used the last of the regular IO on my last water change so I haven’t introduced the reef crystals yet.

 

[stevolough]

Ok. I just read that when changing salt mixes to do small water changes to let the tank acclimate. I just used the last of the regular IO on my last water change so I haven’t introduced the reef crystals yet.

So those recommendations are for an established tank. But yes all changes should be slow. Your trying to stabilize things. Water changes are counter productive to that. A new tank with little in it really shouldn’t need much of anything.

 

[Reefdiculous22]

So those recommendations are for an established tank. But yes all changes should be slow. Your trying to stabilize things. Water changes are counter productive to that. A new tank with little in it really shouldn’t need much of anything.

Ok. So as long as ammonia and other parameters aren’t chaotic I should leave it alone. Just change the water if I have a really bad spike?

 

[Reefdiculous22]

Ok. So as long as ammonia and other parameters aren’t chaotic I should leave it alone. Just change the water if I have a really bad spike?

Mainly I’ve just been doing the changes to get the algae and bacteria out of the water

 

[stevolough]

Mainly I’ve just been doing the changes to get the algae and bacteria out of the water

Water changes are more about replenishing things. Sometimes you just have to let thing stabilize. One of the biggest algae outbreaks I’ve ever had got better with just stopping everything. Advice I got on this site!

 

[stevolough]

And yes unless you have an emergency with some parameters that needs immediate attention