Corals!?!?! how sooNNNNN?!??!?!

[CourtNjoeZreef]

So like many i have basically zero patience! What conditions am I supposed to be looking for before we add our first Coral Frags. We are probably going to go with some zoa and lps for starters.

I added a bottle of Coraline algae spores about 2 weeks ago and have yet to see it pop yet. I had some brown algae and that is gone almost entirely. (TY lenny the Blenny & Pooty Tang)

Parameters as of last evening were 0 ammonia, 8.2 Ph, 0 Nitrite, 5ppm Nitrate, between 1300-1500 magnesium (test is hokie at best) 8.1 Alkalinity, 420ppm Calcium, And the Salinity is between 35-36.5 I dont fully trust this meter yet i get about a 1 difference from test to test in the same 5 minutes. Using a Hanna tester. I have calibrated it several times. The refractometer i cant seem to focus to my eye so i feel that is a waste of time. my ATO is a Kalkwasser solution.

 

[ThePurple12]

You should be good to go now.

 

[GaryE]

It's more about stability than hitting a number.

 

[EuphylliaAddict]

So like many i have basically zero patience! What conditions am I supposed to be looking for before we add our first Coral Frags. We are probably going to go with some zoa and lps for starters.

I added a bottle of Coraline algae spores about 2 weeks ago and have yet to see it pop yet. I had some brown algae and that is gone almost entirely. (TY lenny the Blenny & Pooty Tang)

Parameters as of last evening were 0 ammonia, 8.2 Ph, 0 Nitrite, 5ppm Nitrate, between 1300-1500 magnesium (test is hokie at best) 8.1 Alkalinity, 420ppm Calcium, And the Salinity is between 35-36.5 I dont fully trust this meter yet i get about a 1 difference from test to test in the same 5 minutes. Using a Hanna tester. I have calibrated it several times. The refractometer i cant seem to focus to my eye so i feel that is a waste of time. my ATO is a Kalkwasser solution.

Go for it, I waited like a week and added a birdsnest frag that I have from my display, so far it's still alive in a new tank.... Shall see if it dies or not in the next few days. I think your parameters are on point tho for corals as long as po4 is low you can try the zoa's first.

 

[Jekyl]

How old is the tank? Stability comes with age also

 

[fishguy242]

hi,agree once stable ,do trial piece or two,make sure tank is ready

 

[aquakj]

You should be good to go...I would star with mushrooms, toadstools, kenya tree mainly softies just to be on the safe side once they start doing good then I would add some LPS...thats just my 2 cents.

 

[Kellie in CA]

When I start up a new tank, I wait 6-8 weeks before adding fish/corals. The clean-up crew goes in earlier, usually once the algae starts.

 

[terraincognita]

If it's your first tank give it 1-2 months for some easy softies and LPS.

Once you get more experienced in reefing, I've thrown in easy softies and LPS first day. But that's just crazy stuff.

 

[terraincognita]

So like many i have basically zero patience! What conditions am I supposed to be looking for before we add our first Coral Frags. We are probably going to go with some zoa and lps for starters.

I added a bottle of Coraline algae spores about 2 weeks ago and have yet to see it pop yet. I had some brown algae and that is gone almost entirely. (TY lenny the Blenny & Pooty Tang)

Parameters as of last evening were 0 ammonia, 8.2 Ph, 0 Nitrite, 5ppm Nitrate, between 1300-1500 magnesium (test is hokie at best) 8.1 Alkalinity, 420ppm Calcium, And the Salinity is between 35-36.5 I dont fully trust this meter yet i get about a 1 difference from test to test in the same 5 minutes. Using a Hanna tester. I have calibrated it several times. The refractometer i cant seem to focus to my eye so i feel that is a waste of time. my ATO is a Kalkwasser solution.

On refractor meters I use this guy, nothing fancy.



Sometimes it's easier to get it to 1.026 (looking at the left markers) than the right.

Another tip is use a flash light or your phone light and shine it directly on the end. Brighter light makes it a LOT easier to read.

Also once you get the hang of mixing your salt, it's a lot easier since it should be the same amount everytime.

I do 2.5 Cups of Coral Pro Red Sea to 5G water, and then will add table spoons or two sometimes but normally the 2.5 hits the nail on the head.

I've been guilty a time or two of not even checking :x don't do this, do as I say not as I do LOL

 

[CourtNjoeZreef]

How old is the tank? Stability comes with age also

The tank is 2months old

 

[Garf]

Twist the refractometer lense to focus it.

 

[CourtNjoeZreef]

Go for it, I waited like a week and added a birdsnest frag that I have from my display, so far it's still alive in a new tank.... Shall see if it dies or not in the next few days. I think your parameters are on point tho for corals as long as po4 is low you can try the zoa's first.

I have a phosphate test ill run when i get home. if thats good im going shopping!!!

 

[CourtNjoeZreef]

Twist the refractometer lense to focus it.

Its probably more to do with the light in the room as it isnt the brightest ever. im going to get another one and give it a go. ps yes i tried that i have a stigmatism in both eyes so =/

 

[Jekyl]

2 months is enough time. Just Google beginner corals and start with those.

 

[CourtNjoeZreef]

Follow up to the part about salinity. I grabbed another Refractometer different brand then last time. This one came with calibration solution ect. so do that and my water reads 41!!!!!!!!!!!!!! o.o the hanna checker says 36.4... Im running in circles with this for some reason.

I feel like the refractometer should be more accurate since its not electric its light and science

 

[fishguy242]

hi,clean and recalibrate refractor one more time,recheck ,trust the refractor ..jmo

 

[davidcalgary29]

My Hanna salinity meter needs to be calibrated frequently and drifts by up to 2 ppt every week. I'm certainly more reliant on my glass Tropic Marin hydrometer and refractometers these days (and the refractometers are also checked frequently).

Coral: get someone to give you a Kenya Tree branchlet. They really do grow like weeds, and are great barometers for both water quality and lighting issues. They'll certainly let you know if something's wrong!

 

[zukihara]

 

[William Morris]

Agree with using the Tropic Marin hydrometer - great tool.