How long did you wait to add corals???

So I was going through the net planning on my future corals and I thought, I wonder how long everyone else waited before they added a coral to their tank?

How long did your patience make it?

 

since you're going to keep mainly softies - I would think you could start adding coral if your tank is cycled.

 

I'm happy I won't have to wait for a long time.

 

Ya, after I cycled I dropped in a couple of clowns and then a few weeks later I added a bunch of corals. I went slow with a toadstool, mushrooms, zoos. Got braver a few weeks after that and threw in a torch and a trumpet.

 

Softies like zoas etc pretty forgiving. Hold off the SPS - just asking for trouble. People say 6 months or more and there is a reason. You want good Coraline Algae growing before you attempt SPS

 

Great. Thanks.

I have always been drawn to softies and LPS so thats great for me.

 

my first tank I waited a month or two after the cycle. This time round as soon as my cycle finished, I threw in some acan frags, two montipora frags, a green slimer frag, an Oregon tort frag, and a rose
Bubble tip.

Those four acan frags all have 20+ heads now and all the SPS and anemone are doing fine.

I felt confident enough after a couple years with my first tank to be able to do that. Not advising anyone to do it, but just saying once the cycle is done, anything is fair game if you can provide stability and appropriate lighting.

 

I am a coral and other invertebrates person not a fish person. I wait until my tank is cycled and I start adding corals, not fish.

(beware person that quotes me on my thread about wanting more fish)

You're a new hobbyist so try some Toadstool (Sacrophyton) and Cabbage Coral (Sinularia). The Euphyllias tend to do better in newer tanks not trying to be ultra nutrient low systems. Rhodactis Mushrooms another good choice.

 

The main reason why folks suggest waiting 6+ months for SPS really has nothing to do with the newness of the tank, but the learning curve you are going to go through about SW and coral needs. It takes some time to get your arms and head around all the parameters and learning how to keep them stable. Go at your own pace, learn about any corals before you purchase them and decide best you can if you think your system and knowledge level can support it. Also be careful of buying some easy corals now that can later become pests like Kenya trees. Go slow and choose carefully. You will soon realize you only have so much real estate in your tank and space become precious. Corailline gave some great suggestions.

 

Very well said!!!