Adding coral

[MarineDan]

Hi all, I discussed with someone about adding coral to my tank as it is nearly finished its cycle but I would just like to confirm.

2 images below are of my tank and the test I did a minute ago..
Am I now able to go and buy 2 small coral and add them to my tank? Will they get affected or affect my tank in any way if I was to add them in there today? As you can see my tank is clean, the water temp is where it should be and the lighting is what it required for coral ( just to add I have coral growing on my live rock so the lighting must be right lol )
PH - 8.2 - 8.4, Ammonia - 0, Nitrite - 0.25 and Nitrate - 5.0 - 10...
Thanks in advance. :)

 

[willthethrill]

Hello! You should do a water change to bring those nitrate levels down before adding anything. How new is this setup? Any fish in there already? It looks brand new. In which case you should wait quite a while longer. The tank's parameters aren't stable when it's new. It's still going to go through a diatom algae bloom where everything will be brown for a few weeks.

 

[MarineDan]

Hello! You should do a water change to bring those nitrate levels down before adding anything. How new is this setup? Any fish in there already? It looks brand new. In which case you should wait quite a while longer. The tank's parameters aren't stable when it's new. It's still going to go through a diatom algae bloom where everything will be brown for a few weeks.

I did a 20% water change on Sunday and I still have 0.25 Nitrite.. The Nitrate actually climbed when I did this water change. Yes its a new tank, I have live sand, 1kg on live rock (came from my pet shops tank), 2 small pieces of dry rock and the bigger bits are ocean rock. No fish in there as of yet. I have had the tank running for about 2 weeks.

 

[MarineDan]

Also @willthethrill I have a polyp growing on my live rock and the other day noticed a red tube worm living in my live rock.

 

[icemanalex]

I don't think your tank has gone all the way through the cycle process.
When it does you will not read ammonia, and your parameters will be a little more stable. Then comes the next stage of algae growth, which will make you ask why you did this. Be patient and don't get in a hurry you will only regret it. your getting there

 

[MarineDan]

I don't think your tank has gone all the way through the cycle process.
When it does you will not read ammonia, and your parameters will be a little more stable. Then comes the next stage of algae growth, which will make you ask why you did this. Be patient and don't get in a hurry you will only regret it. your getting there

Thank you for the reply :) helps a lot! So how do you tackle the algae growth? Just regular cleaning and water changes I guess? And can I add fish and coral as soon as I'm reading no Ammonia & Nitrite?

 

[mcarroll]

Be patient and don't get in a hurry you will only regret it.

So how do you tackle the algae growth?

@icemanalex got it right. The next stage is going to make you feel like you have to do something.

"Be patient..." was the answer. :)

Let the diatoms, cyano and algae come and go. They are all part of a functional reef, so don't get in the way! :) (They can all be a potential problem later if you overstock or otherwise don't take care of the tank...don't let that confuse matters at this stage though.)

 

[icemanalex]

After your tank becomes more stable, you can add a fish to help boost the bio filter, but don't go crazy, a fish, not four or five, you have to let the bacteria grow enough that it can handle the waste with ease. Right now I'd say you have a good colony started but you don't want to overload it. After a week or so of that you can slowly start to add some other live stock. I generally add only one to two things at a time to make sure I have the bacteria to consume the waste in a timely manner. as for the algae bloom to come, cleaning and water change and as little as possible your hands in the tank, when you stick your hands in the tank you unknowingly transfer things that promote the growth of algae. Good luck keep asking those questions and learning, before long you will have a very nice display tank.