New tank, can I inteoduce LPS??

[AquaticGenius]

Hello, im a new hobbyist creating my first ever set up. I was wondering if after cycling my tank i could add lps? I will be doing weekly water changes of about 10% in order to maintain levels. I was wondering if i could dose from the start using the balling method in order to keep the lps at a great rate. My lfs is not so local(15 miles away) and they sell mainly lps and sps corals. Im thinking of buying a few acans and a torch coral . I cant really order a lot of online corals as the shipping is expensive! Im trying to keep my budget low as im 18 and saving for college. Btw i will be running an IM Fusion Nuvo 20 Pro with an AI Prime 16HD.

 

[un5tab1e]

You can add coral after you get thru the cycle. Is it the best way? Probably not. Most new tanks go thru an ugly stage, not all do but, most. It's easier to get the ugly stage under control without having to worry about cleaning green hair off your frags. It would be a good time to set up a quarantine tank tho and you could keep them there until your main display is ready. Do frequent water changes on the qt and keep a hob filter running.

 

[AquaticGenius]

You can add coral after you get thru the cycle. Is it the best way? Probably not. Most new tanks go thru an ugly stage, not all do but, most. It's easier to get the ugly stage under control without having to worry about cleaning green hair off your frags. It would be a good time to set up a quarantine tank tho and you could keep them there until your main display is ready. Do frequent water changes on the qt and keep a hob filter running.

Thats freat to keep in mind! Might start a quarantine tank and wait out the ugly stage. How long would you wait out the ufly stage? And if i were to get lps straight from the bat, would i have to dose the qt tank ?

 

[un5tab1e]

It varies how long it will last and if you even go thru it. Some people get lucky. Dosing isn't just something you do though. For a lot of lps and soft coral you can just do frequent water changes and be ok. New reefer the best advise I can give is don't rush it. Slow and steady until your tank gets some maturity.

 

[CoastalTownLayabout]

If you plan on getting a fish maybe start with that and see how things react to feeding and waste. It’ll teach you a lot about the tolerance of your system, how much CUC you’ll need, problem algae management. Best to fine tune your regimen before putting expensive corals in.

 

[AquaticGenius]

It varies how long it will last and if you even go thru it. Some people get lucky. Dosing isn't just something you do though. For a lot of lps and soft coral you can just do frequent water changes and be ok. New reefer the best advise I can give is don't rush it. Slow and steady until your tank gets some maturity.

Oh okay i see. Ive heard that adding corals helps with stabilizing oarameters. I might just start with some zoas from online and keep it likd that for a while, until my tank matures. Would coralline algae help with the calcium levels that would come later on? Ill wait out the stage then. Thank you

 

[CoastalTownLayabout]

Have a read through this https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/cycle-process-and-stages.284898/ It’s an easy and informative description of the challenges that may lie ahead. The best corals still look pretty average under a carpet of cyano

 

[AquaticGenius]

Have a read through this https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/cycle-process-and-stages.284898/ It’s an easy and informative description of the challenges that may lie ahead. The best corals still look pretty average under a carpet of cyano

Thank you and wow that opened my eyes up a lot! I guess i should wait out adding anything at all?? Or could i at least add fish? And so from what I read just leave the phase to be, just add CuC and let the algae grow. After im done with this stages, would it be a great idea to add coralline algae or before the stages come?

 

[CoastalTownLayabout]

Yes, don’t froth on getting coral in too soon. Add a fish if you want them. Coralline is a good indicator of stability and generally won’t grow if things are sub-optimal. Plenty of things will happen before that, take them as they come and refine your maintenance practices.

 

[AquaticGenius]

Yes, don’t froth on getting coral in too soon. Add a fish if you want them. Coralline is a good indicator of stability and generally won’t grow if things are sub-optimal. Plenty of things will happen before that, take them as they come and refine your maintenance practices.

So i should just wait for everything to occur naturally? So when would it be ooti.al to add softies if not lps? How long does it take for coralline algae to groe and why do they sell them in bottles if its better to wait? Thank you

 

[CoastalTownLayabout]

I believe they sell coralline in a bottle to treat the anxiety of new reefers.

 

[Thespammailaccount]

You can add coral to a new tank but it can be risky since most corals do not do too well in a new tank. In a few months add something cheap and easy like a zoa and see how it does after a month.

If you do weekly water changes you won’t have to dose your tank. Generally you will not have to dose your tank until you start filling your tank with stoney corals

 

[AquaticGenius]

You can add coral to a new tank but it can be risky since most corals do not do too well in a new tank. In a few months add something cheap and easy like a zoa and see how it does after a month.

If you do weekly water changes you won’t have to dose your tank. Generally you will not have to dose your tank until you start filling your tank with stoney corals

Yes i will do weekly water changes. Now that i have recieved the advice i needed i feel like after the cycle, i will add a fish or in the span of a few weeks so the bacteria can mature. Then i will wait for the ugly phase to pass by and then will i add some softies maybe some lps. When would you guys recommend me to furn on my lights?

 

[CoastalTownLayabout]

Consider getting a blenny. Small hardy fish with a heap of personality. Many are good algae grazers. Give it a name, become its friend and enjoy it’s antics while you wait for Your tank to tell you it’s ready to accept coral.

 

[AquaticGenius]

Consider getting a blenny. Small hardy fish with a heap of personality. Many are good algae grazers. Give it a name, become its friend and enjoy it’s antics while you wait for Your tank to tell you it’s ready to accept coral.

Ive heard a lot about those little guys! Sure sill pick one up!

 

[Thespammailaccount]

Yes i will do weekly water changes. Now that i have recieved the advice i needed i feel like after the cycle, i will add a fish or in the span of a few weeks so the bacteria can mature. Then i will wait for the ugly phase to pass by and then will i add some softies maybe some lps. When would you guys recommend me to furn on my lights?

If you started with dry rock your ugly phase can last a few months to a year or more. I would never recommend a new reefer start with dry rock. For 120 bucks you can have 10 pounds of well established ocean rock shipped to your front door overnight and you won’t have to worry about all the problems that come with a dry start. 120 bucks might seem like a lot but then again that is the cost of two lps frags that you are almost certain to loose in a new dry rock tank https://www.kpaquatics.com/product/aquacultured-live-rock/

 

[AquaticGenius]

If you started with dry rock your ugly phase can last a few months to a year or more. I would never recommend a new reefer start with dry rock. For 120 bucks you can have 10 pounds of well established ocean rock shipped to your front door overnight and you won’t have to worry about all the problems that come with a dry start. 120 bucks might seem like a lot but then again that is the cost of two lps frags that you are almost certain to loose in a new dry rock tank https://www.kpaquatics.com/product/aquacultured-live-rock/

If i buy live rock, would i have to cure ir? Or could i just add it to my tank? Would the live rock promotoe coralline algae? When is it okay for me to turn on my leds? What problems would i avoid and could i do half live rock and half dry? Im setting up a 20 gallon

 

[Thespammailaccount]

If i buy live rock, would i have to cure ir? Or could i just add it to my tank? Would the live rock promotoe coralline algae? When is it okay for me to turn on my leds? What problems would i avoid and could i do half live rock and half dry? Im setting up a 20 gallon

Inspect the rock and remove any crabs. Then just add to the tank. Check ammonia daily. In a few days the mini cycle will be over. Then do a large water change 50% or more to drop nitrates from the mini cycle. Add a fish. (To make your life so much easier only put one fish in the tank at most two baby clowns one a tad larger than the other and no more). The live rock will be covered in coralline algae. If you can do 15lbs of the live rock that would be fine for a 20 gallon and I would not even add the dry rock. The day before the rock comes add live sand the kind in the bag and fill the tank with water RODI or distilled Okarka distilled is my go to

 

[AquaticGenius]

Inspect the rock and remove any crabs. Then just add to the tank. Check ammonia daily. In a few days the mini cycle will be over. Then do a large water change 50% or more to drop nitrates from the mini cycle. Add a fish. (To make your life so much easier only put one fish in the tank at most two baby clowns one a tad larger than the other and no more). The live rock will be covered in coralline algae. If you can do 15lbs of the live rock that would be fine for a 20 gallon and I would not even add the dry rock. The day before the rock comes add live sand the kind in the bag and fill the tank with water RODI or distilled Okarka distilled is my go to

Wow i might do that actually, it woukd allow me to eventually grow lps right? Thank you and i might just do that!

 

[Thespammailaccount]

Wow i might do that actually, it woukd allow me to eventually grow lps right? Thank you and i might just do that!

Yes starting with live ocean rock will give you the best chance of success with corals. Since the rock is fully established and covered in coralline you can add corals as soon as no ammonia registers and you do a water change to reduce nitrates after the mini cycle which should only be a few days and should not be longer than a week. Generally when you start to see coralline algae in a tank that means that the tank is ready for corals