Healthy Coral?

[mckwestla]

How do you tell if coral is healthy or not when buying from LFS? I want to add this LR piece with all this coral attached. Is it healthy? And see below my most recent stats. Guy in fish store said it would be good idea and ok to add this coral.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Don't know about it being ok, but yea, those look good to me. They spread like weeds though.

 

[LetItReef]

I suggests to slowly raise your Salinity to 1.024 and check Phosphate levels too.

 

[mckwestla]

Ok. I am 1.022 as of yesterday. Do LR survive the huge ammonia spike I had (now back down to .25) but now in a huge nitrite spike?

 

[Finnaddict]

How long has your tank been set up? Looks like its going thru the cycle. I wouldnt add anything until you have the ammonia and Nitrite down to zero

 

[mckwestla]

About a week.

 

[Reefing Madness]

WHOA!! Wait a sec. I just noticed you have posted your parameters on the bottom right. You shouldn't have anything in that tank yet, its still cycling. Anything you put in there stands a really good chance of not making it.
You want Ammonia at 0
Nitrite at 0
Nitrates under 30
then you can add things, like a fish first.
With corals you should be testing for ALK, CAL and MAG.
Heres a chart:

Marinedepot.com | Reef Tank Parameters

 

[mckwestla]

Thank you, how can I be certain that my live rock is still alive? Can LR survive such high parameters? Also, would getting a HOB filter (which would be in addition to the sump and protein skimmer I have) be a good idea?

 

[Reefing Madness]

Live Rock is whats creating your cycle. It has bacteria growing in it to remove the Nitrites and Nitrates. Its alive, and if its now, it will be again soon.