Adding coral

Hi.

How long should a new tank be running before adding coral?

Currently have fowlr 50 gallon that's been running 2 months

Parameters are

Ph 8.2
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 2
Amonnia 0
Kh. 12
Phos 1.0 (can't seem to lower it, rowaphos in cannister filter, using an api test kit (this any good)?
Temp 25c

Just had the cyano stage that's now gone and now have some green hair algae at the mo

Fish are
Lemonpeel
2 percula clowns
1 chromis
1 dottyback

Inverts
2 cleaner shrimp
3 dwarf red hermits
2 blue legged hermits

 

How long depends on the tank – there is never a set time line.

Get your nitrates to zero and resolve the hair algae – have the tank be stable 2 additional weeks after this point and then begin to stock it.

Chances are that your HA are consuming the nitrates and if you yanked the hair from your tank you would see a spike in the nitrates.

API test kits are reliable, but still might want to check the test with a lfs if you can.

Are you using RO/DI ? Rowaphos in a canister is an excellent choice on your part.

 

Yeah using ro

 

remember to test salinity too, can be overlooked and coral like stable salinity. if you dont have one i suggest a refractometer to test.

 

I agree with crimson, once you get your algae under control, you'll be good to start adding coral. Algae can quickly smother your coral and kill it so it's best to get that in check first. You could also try getting some cheato to help combat the gha. It will consume the nitrates as well and is easily trimmed back when it starts growing.

 

There's no set time period. You could probably start adding hardy corals like zoas, palys, mushrooms and many lps, but it would be better to wait until your parameters are stable. You really don't want to worry about the parameters and your coral health at the same time. People will say wait X amount of time, but that's simply not true. I added a small crocea clam about 4 weeks into my tank being setup and it's done just fine since. I also added sps shortly there after and they grew well. I don't want to say that you will achieve the same results, but it is possible. However, I didn't not have any phosphate or GHA issues, that would probably have made me wait a little bit longer.

 

I let my new 90g run for 2+ months before adding any coral. Every week I'll add a coupla pieces from my frag tank & up the photoperiod. I've got GHA growing on the glass and a coupla spots on the sand that I'll take care of. So far-so good.

 

Sorry forgot to add it. 1.022 and climbing to 25. Slowly!!!!

 

Get it to 1.025 before adding corals.

 

6-8 mos. Wait for the "complete" cycling to exhaust itself.