How do you know you're ready ?

Is there a minimum wait after the tank has cycled to introduce your first coral (softy)?


Also, in the case where you won't see much of a cycle when the tank is seeded with fully cured mature LR, how do you know you're ready for the first coral?

 

As long as your water parameters all check out fine, ammonia and nitrite 0, nitrate as close to 0 as possible, no more then 10 really, and pH and salinity of course, then you should be ok to get an easy softy. what kind and how much light do you have over the tank? i assume you're asking for the 20g? also keep in mind what you want to do in the future so you can get the correct lighting now and now wast your money.

 

Hi Brandon,

The lighting on my 20gal is identical set-up as my 120gal ..... guess I neglected to show that in my sig. It shall be fixed


2 x 14W 10,000K daylight T5 flourescent bulbs
2 x 14W True Actinic 03 Blue T5 flourescent bulbs


We had talked about the lighting on my 20 on a previous thread:

Quote Brandon1023:

The WPG rule is starting to sink. The reason is that every different light puts out a different intensity and water penetration capability. I think the WPG rule can probably be applied to PCs, but that's about it. T5s are the second most powerful light, second only to MHs of course. It sounds to me like you have enough light over your 20gal for what you want to keep. As for your FO tank, lighting is not as important. You are not trying to keep corals alive or anything, just some beneficial algae. To me you are on the right track.

Unquote Brandon1023.


Thanks Brandon.

 

I would test all of your water parameters and as long as the ammonia and nitrite are at 0 and nitrates are <10 you should be ok!
Be careful not to add to many things at once so that the bacteria can grow to the demands of your bioload and not stress out the livestock!
Lighting isn't as important with soft corals and most sponges and gorgonians as it is with stonies(especially the small polyped stonies), NON THE LESS they will require "full spectrum" light. I would add iodine to your water once or twice a week for their success and have moderate waterflow for detritus removal, provide food and carbon dioxide and oxygen transfer.
One other VERY IMPORTANT thing to be aware of is that most soft corals are very "TOXIC" and will release mucus and toxins into your water. If you plan on keeping stonies, you will have to have a strong skimmer and carbon to remove these toxins so as not to raise the levels too high and kill hard corals. Sinularia and lobophyton sp. especially-sarcophyton(leathers) sp. aren't as toxic as the aforementioned.
Best of luck and enjoy...!Keep us updated