Tank maturity

[bknapp]

This might be vague and subjective but I'm looking for opinions anyway.

This isn't my first tank nor is it my first attempt at an SPS dominant tank but the approach has been different than before.

The tank has been up and running for about a month prior to that the rock was in a Rubbermaid tub for almost four months. The rock was given a muriatic acid bath followed by freshwater rinses. The only living thing added to the tank at this point is two bags of AlgaGen pods, I see plenty on the glass. The tank has finally cleared up after a two week long bacteria bloom. I've done 30 gallons worth of water changes. The tank will also be running Warner Marine ecoBak biopellets, which have been running since the day the tank started. I am also using Marine Pure Bio spheres which were in the Rubbermaid with the rocks.

I guess I've said all that to ask what are the next best steps to take to help the tank mature and become a successful SPS dominant tank.

I've read of people leaving the tank fallow for six months prior to adding any livestock but I've also heard of people adding corals from the onset of set up.

I'm willing to be as patient as needed to help ensure the best chance of success.

Is it as simple as just giving the tank time or should I do more?

Thanks for bearing with me, any insight is appreciated.

 

[rovster]

I added sps from the very beginning. I personally would add some fish and CUC and let the biological filter get somewhat established. Then add some tester frags. As long as the water is clean and stable sps will do fine. Not sure why you'd run the pellets now but I suppose if you keep them to a minimum it theoretically should be ok.

 

[bknapp]

I've got fish that just finished quarantine, just apprehensive to add them. And I can't answer why, gun shy I guess.

There is only 80mL of pellets (tank is a standard 120), I've always added them at day one considering they take 6-8 weeks to colonize. Generally by the time the cycle completes they're fully active. But, with the four months in saltwater I previously cycled the rock, only the sand needed to gain bacteria. I have continued to ghost feed the tank with random drops of pure ammonia and a couple pellets randomly.

 

[rovster]

Just go for it. I cured my rocks for months and months due to delay in my build. I never saw a cycle, added acros while my rocks were still white and didn't lose a single one. The whole tank maturity thing is bs. It's more about reefer maturity and ability to manage parameters which is hard in a new tank. A mature tank may be more forgiving, but as long as you are cycled you are good to go. Just keep in mind that young tanks tend to swing if you are not careful so keep the additions slow and changes minimal.

 

[bknapp]

Yeah, I never intended to cure the rock for that long, just had a long delay due to outside circumstances, probably didn't hurt anything.

Just being over cautious I guess, just trying to be patient and go about things differently than in the past and hope for different/better results.

 

[ReefBum]

It is beneficial to take things slow....patience is a virtue in this hobby. With a new SPS dominated tank the obvious first step is to build up the biological bed with some fish and then add some hardy LPS corals when all of the parameters are in line and stable over a period of weeks. After that I would add some very hardy SPS like a birdsnest, stylo or monti to see how they do. If you have all new equipment I believe there is a break-in period to get a feel for how it performs. For example, it might take a while to fully understand how to tune in a skimmer. So my advice is to not go crazy and wait a while before adding a bunch of expensive frags.