when do you know when your tank is ready for coral?

Like my title said I would like to know when you guys knew when you were ready for coral?

I think I bought mine to quick I bought a xenia wich melted the next day and button polyps which has not open yet and looks like it's dying it's been almost 2 weeks.

So i would like to know how did you know that you and your tank was ready for coral?

Thanks for sharing

 

When I see my first spot of coralline algae

 

i mean its just constant testing parms and knowing your flow and lighting. Its different for every tank would need alittle over view of you tank to help more. i mean i waiting months for coral but its because i didn't have the proper lighting now i do and my tank is flourish. So first i would say more info is needed thanks.

 

Well I have 120 gallons tank its been up and running for 2 months. I have 2 clowns and 6 chromis.
My lights are t12 vho and my params are

PH 8.0
ammonia 0
no2 0
no3 0
ca 520 (a little high)
kh 9
po 0
temp 79
salanity 1. 025

I am not sure if im forgetting something but let me know

 

Those t12's aren't going to be any good for corals. That's for fish only. You'll need to upgrade. You'll need at least a t5 fixture. You could get by with PC's but the bulbs don't last as long and a very pricey.

 

i run 3 bulb vho system with a icecap ballast and i have no issues with any coral

 

3 bulb t5's right? She said regular t12's the kind that come with most freshwater tanks.

 

no not t5 the very fat i guess considered t12 bulbs the very fat ones that are super bright

 

Are you sure it melted or just retracted its polyps? Xenia will do that somtimes when first introduced. They look like the polyps have dissolved off but onc they get comfortable with the tank they will slowly start to return to normal.

 

No, she said VHO T12s. Those are the ones that came out before T5, also meant for corals.

How many bulbs is the fixture? Where did you place the coral in the tank?