And now I wait...

So my cycle completed, and I've SLOWLY been adding some fish. The tank is still only 8 weeks old. I'm wondering when it will be safe to add some coral, and at that point which ones are recommended? Thanks.

 

If your cycle is finished, I'd wait until a few days after the addition of the last fish before adding coral. Good beginner corals include mushrooms, zoanthids, palythoas, the euphyllias (frogspawn, hammer, torch), and leathers.

Just take it slow. Make sure one coral thrives before going overboard.

Good luck!

 

Wow, really?! I thought I was going to have to wait months.

 

You should be ok. I'd add, you should get your parameters in check now. If you'd be more comfortable waiting it out to confirm that you have success maintaining those parameters, then all the better.

But, if you wanted to add a coral or two now, IMO it wouldn't be a problem.

 

Best news I've had all day (and it's actually been a pretty good day!). I've been testing my parameters daily for a while now, and then cross checking them with my LFS about once a week or so. Everything has been rock solid so far. I'll see how things go for a week or two, since I just added a couple more fish.

 

Most likely a dumb question, but what (if anything) will I need in order to support these species (supplements, doser, etc.)?

 

if its softies i wouldnt bother dosing, if its a bit more expensive coral, i would get a calc and mag test adn supplement. to check if your saltmix got you in the right area, if there off dose accordingly. after that first dose you shouldnt have to dose anymore tell the next waterchange, because your coral load is too low to use the elements that fast



lighting, im assuming you have correct lighting for corals

 

Lighting, flow from powerheads (depending on what coral), and water chemistry takes care of 90% of what coral need. Just to add alkalinity to the list of tests, those are the big three, calcium, alkalinity and magnesium. Having low nitrates and phosphates is a good idea too although how low depends what type of corals you want to keep.