Time to turn on the lights

[Magostini]

Hey all, a question for you, please help me here.
I am running my tank for 45 days. Today I have 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 3-4 ppm nitrate. 0 phosphate (I have the red sea test, not the pro, I think I will buy a Hanna). I am also using seneye reef monitor, ph 8.2, 0.001 nh3. It is important to say I have all the fish there: pair of clowns, yellow wrasse, Doty back, blue tang, purple tang, yellow eye tang and a Midas blenny. They are all fine seems very happy, I am feeding them 3/4 times a day, tangs eat Nori 3 times a week. Skimmer is working fine, UV too and I also have a little refugium with a chaeto.
It seems OK to turn on the lights and start with the corals, right?
But I always remember the bulk reef supply vídeos saying to wait 4 months... Wow, this is 2.5 months ahead.
What do you think, should I start with the lights now or wait some time more?
Thank you!

 

[Philly Reefer]

If you have the willpower to wait, I would advised you to wait. Try to have a stable parameters for couple months if you do want to wait. Mostly the Nitrate and Phosphate.

If you are using redsea Phosphate and its clear, then it is 0. I would recommend shooting for 0.05 -0.1 Phosphate and 5 -10 nitrate. I think you are starting with softies and possibly lps, right?

But... If you are like the rest of us.. just add those corals and try to make small changes along the way.

Good luck


PS: BRS did an investigated, you can't get away from the ugly stages. All new tank will have it

 

[wcroft987]

The longer you wait the better. With that said if you really wanted to I would start gradual and slowly ramp up if possible. Turning everything in full blast will almost definitely create an algae bloom.

 

[homer1475]

Ok i'll type this out one more time.........


Algae needs light, and nutrients to grow. Leaving your lights off, only prolongs the ugly stage. Sure no algae will grow while the lights are out, but as soon as you turn them on, it'll start. There is no way to avoid the ugly stage of a new tank.

I call complete BS onm leaving the lights out for 4 months. Who the heck is going to do that? Isn't part of enjoying the tank being able to see whats going on it?

Turn the lights on and enjoy the tank, deal with the algae when it shows up. There is no way to avoid it.

 

[homer1475]

Yup good old BRS strikes again.

Sure leave the lights off for 4 months. When the algae starts to take hold(and it will be way worse after 4 months then if you just started with the lights on), they'll SELLl you a ton of stuff to help combat it.

BRS does some great video's, and many are very informational. But they are in business to sell you stuff, and most of their videos tell you to do something so they can sell you something. Plain and simple.

 

[Magostini]

Thank you all! I decided to start! First kessil a 360x and after a couple of days I put the other. But wow it is incredible, more beautiful than I thought.. Thanks again everyone, that's why we love this hobby.

Picture right before, picture right after... And a quick movie

 

[MNFish]

Thank you all! I decided to start! First kessil a 360x and after a couple of days I put the other. But wow it is incredible, more beautiful than I thought.. Thanks again everyone, that's why we love this hobby.

Picture right before, picture right after... And a quick movie

Nice looking tank and I love Kessil lights. There is a lot of good things that come with waiting, that being said personally I would start with some coral, but still take it slow.

 

[cmoore806]

In defense of BRS (I’m not paid to say this but I’d gladly accept store credit for defending them). I just listened to more of their tank cycling advise (in the episode when Jen setup an instatank for them) and they do say that the WWC/BRS hybrid method has some issues being that WWC had lights off for four months with live rock.

I did hear Ryan state the idea of just turning the lights on and embracing the ugly stage