When can I add ‘nems?

[vcnt]

I just got my first fish and am wondering when I can get nems/corals , tank is two weeks old. I will be getting new lights as my current bulbs are outdated

 

[paragrouper]

Your tank is still new. Most folks recommend waiting 6-12 months before introducing anemones. They key is to wait until the tank is well established and the parameters are stable.

 

[vcnt]

Your tank is still new. Most folks recommend waiting 6-12 months before introducing anemones. They key is to wait until the tank is well established and the parameters are stable.

What is a good indication of stability?

 

[cloak]

Color is usually an indicator of time. GL.

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Wait 6 months for a nem, one year is even better. You can try some hardy soft corals in a month.

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

What is a good indication of stability?

Coraline growth.

 

[vcnt]

Coraline growth.

How do I start coraline? My rock is dry and "ocean direct" sand

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

How do I start coraline? My rock is dry and "ocean direct" sand

Edited: The best option would be to add some live rock. It'll speed up the process.

 

[vcnt]

It'll eventually grow.

Thanks

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Thanks

I edited the post. It'll eventually come in on things you add, but a way to speed up the process would be to add some wet live rock.

 

[vcnt]

I edited the post. It'll eventually come in on things you add, but a way to speed up the process would be to add some wet live rock.

I considering getting something like 5 pound ruble from tbs

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

I considering getting something like 5 pound ruble from tbs

That'll work great.

 

[vcnt]

That'll work great.

Sorry, two off topic questions


My tank is 110 gallons, should 5 jars of galaxy pods be good enough plus phyto (if even needed) to maintain a population good enough for copepod hunters, like mandarins, and keep the uglies at bay?

Also
LFS recommended frozen Hikari mysis, how often should I feed and how should i? Should I just defrost and dump it in?

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

Sorry, two off topic questions


My tank is 110 gallons, should 5 jars of galaxy pods be good enough plus phyto (if even needed) to maintain a population good enough for copepod hunters, like mandarins, and keep the uglies at bay?

Yes, but you need to let the population stabilize before getting a mandarin, so wait a few months after adding the pods. Before adding one, make sure you see pods  everywhere. Dosing phyto will also help keep the uglies at bay, by out competing nuisance algae, while also boosting the pods population which will also help keep the uglies at bay. Adding live rock too will help keep the uglies at bay.

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

LFS gave frozen hikari mysis, how often should i feed and how should i? Should I just defrost and dump it in?

You have two clowns right? Take a cube and defrost it in a tupperware. Start by feeding once a day, only feeding the amount the two fish can eat in two minutes. After, if you think your clowns are fattening up and need to eat less, you can dial that down to every other day, or every 3 days. But, a fat fish is a healthy fish.

 

[vcnt]

You have two clowns right? Start by feeding once a day, only feeding the amount the two fish can eat in two minutes. After, if you think your clowns are fattening up and need to eat less, you can dial that down to every other day, or every 3 days. But, a fat fish is a healthy fish.

Yep, only two clowns.

Yes, but you need to let the population stabilize before getting a mandarin, so wait a few months after adding the pods. Before adding one, make sure you see pods  everywhere. Dosing phyto will also help keep the uglies at bay, by out competing nuisance algae, while also boosting the pods population which will also help keep the uglies at bay. Adding live rock too will help keep the uglies at bay.

Thanks! Ill be sure to keep this noted.

 

[shcrimps]

How do I start coraline? My rock is dry and "ocean direct" sand

one really easy thing to do is pickup live rock rubble
yes it can come in on frag plugs but live rock rubble will give you sponges, good bacteria and so on (yes you will get hitchhikers, some good some bad) but that’s inevitable in this hobby
also patience is a good thing too i struggled with a lot in the beginning

 

[vetteguy53081]

I just got my first fish and am wondering when I can get nems/corals , tank is two weeks old. I will be getting new lights as my current bulbs are outdated

4-6 months is a safe range as far as tank age, when you are doing less water changes and numbers such as phos, nitrate, ammonia and ph are steady for a period of time

 

[vcnt]

4-6 months is a safe range as far as tank age, when you are doing less water changes and numbers such as phos, nitrate, ammonia and ph are steady for a period of time

As Ive been reading, once youre cycled every time you increase fish count your ammonia does a little spike again, how true is this?

 

[JohnCol]

Just be careful with hardy soft corals. I know it's fun and exciting and getting new corals is always a blast. But some soft corals you will run into. Perhaps even for free. Are Kenya tree, xenia and star polyps. Be careful. Star polyps can take over a display if planted on the rock work early on. Xenia can take over a tank regardless of where it's planted. And Kenya trees can spread fast as well if not carefull. I keep star polyps and green Kenya but again I'm careful with placement. Also my tank is mainly soft coral. Soft corals all grow pretty fast so it's harder for one to out compete the other.

But put star polyps next to a sps and it will be an expensive star polyp structure.