What time is safe to add corals

[NicksTanks223]

I am wondering how long I would have to wait before I could add corals to a new reef setup. If the setup was 120 gallons how would I be able to cycle it faster or how long should I wait before adding fish or coral?

 

[F i s h y]

There are a lot of variables that go into answering this question. Does your tank have live rock or dry rock? Cycling using bottle bacteria can speed the process but the number 1 rule of reef keeping is NOTHING GOOD HAPPENS FAST IN A REEF TANK.

What type of coral? Softies? Lps sps, the answer is different for all types, and even within those types.

Think of reef keeping as a marathon. You slowly build up to the long distance, you train, prepare, and train some more. Then you pace yourself.

I recommend being slow and deliberate, research lots....

Happy reefing.

 

[NicksTanks223]

There are a lot of variables that go into answering this question. Does your tank have live rock or dry rock? Cycling using bottle bacteria can speed the process but the number 1 rule of reef keeping is NOTHING GOOD HAPPENS FAST IN A REEF TANK.

What type of coral? Softies? Lps sps, the answer is different for all types, and even within those types.

Think of reef keeping as a marathon. You slowly build up to the long distance, you train, prepare, and train some more. Then you pace yourself.

I recommend being slow and deliberate, research lots....

Happy reefing.

I would be putting live rock, live sand, and some biological filter media from my already set up tank. I have some euphyllia, stylophora and was zoanthids I would want to put in the tank. I have them in my tank now and they would have to be in a transfer tank until I’m able to put them into the 120g. I was also just wondering because I see big setups that are only like 6 months old which have a bunch of corals and fish in them.

 

[JCTReefer]

You’ll get varying opinions. There’s a lot of things to consider. Some corals are more forgiving then others and will tolerate less than ideal water parameters. Some require a really stable and mature system to do well. And then some are challenging even with a mature system. That’s why I don’t do sticks. Namely Acropora. It was about the 6 month mark when I started adding corals to my current system. When coralline growth started to take off this was a good indicator for me that my tank could support calcareous organisms. In my case I had a particular stocking plan and knew exactly what type corals I would be keeping. Mainly LPS and Softie dominated. I started slow, stocking over the course of about 2 1/2 years. Now I’m maxed out coral wise. That’s the depressing part. I’m not sure how long you’ve been in the hobby, but I would take your time and enjoy the journey!

 

[NicksTanks223]

You’ll get varying opinions. There’s a lot of things to consider. Some corals are more forgiving then others and will tolerate less than ideal water parameters. Some require a really stable and mature system to do well. And then some are challenging even with a mature system. That’s why I don’t do sticks. Namely Acropora. It was about the 6 month mark when I started adding corals to my current system. When coralline growth started to take off this was a good indicator for me that my tank could support calcareous organisms. In my case I had a particular stocking plan and knew exactly what type corals I would be keeping. Mainly LPS and Softie dominated. I started slow, stocking over the course of about 2 1/2 years. Now I’m maxed out coral wise. That’s the depressing part. I’m not sure how long you’ve been in the hobby, but I would take your time and enjoy the journey!

Ok thank you, will definitely take my time when starting up this tank. I’ve been in freshwater tanks for about 3 years and then just started my first saltwater tank about a year ago.

 

[LesPoissons]

I would agree that coraline growth is a good indicator that tanks can support corals. It’s hard to wait but once you tank cycles complete, gone it some time to balance out and then add slowly.

 

[fnlyreefready]

is what i can say.... is start easy. start hardy. zoas, zenias, easy and hardy. then the tank wont be empty but they will tolerate swings that you may still be having. as the tank matures and gets more stable. slowly add piece by piece. patience is the key to success, if you rush things will swing. swings cause death. death causes ammonia and nitrates....makes the swings worse. loose everything because you wasnt ready. my tank was set up 3 years prior to ever adding a coral and even now i am still seeding new types of coralline. ... fish ...stable ... couple more fish... stable... softies... stable ... walk your steps and cover your bases