Starting a New Mixed Reef with Fish vs Corals

[lesismore]

Hi all.

I always believed that it was best to cycle a saltwater aquarium by adding beneficial bacteria and either dosing ammonia or starting to slowly add fish and waiting for an extended period of time before adding less demanding corals.

Today, I came across the below article which suggests going in a very different direction, and starting a new reef aquarium by adding corals. It does make some interesting points. Any experts care to weigh in on this?

Here’s a direct link to the article:

https://reefbuilders.com/2021/05/25...ext=But we say it's ok,the system as a whole.
Thank you!

Les

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I feel like stability is key when adding corals. Sure, you can add them as soon as your tank is cycled, but is your tank truly stable yet? To me, a tank should be more mature before adding coral into a tank.

 

[lesismore]

I feel like stability is key when adding corals. Sure, you can add them as soon as your tank is cycled, but is your tank truly stable yet? To me, a tank should be more mature before adding coral into a tank.

This is what I always believed as well. The article indicates that you put the corals in right away as soon as temperature and salinity are stable, which shocked me.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

This is what I always believed as well. The article indicates that you put the corals in right away as soon as temperature and salinity are stable, which shocked me.

I have a coral hitchhiker on some live rock in my pico tank. Surprisingly it's doing great, considering I haven't dosed anything or even have a heater in the tank (just the lights)

 

[Ancient Mariner]

Many people actually throw in coral really early. Yet I don’t hear many claims of success. Just read all the threads asking why their corals are dying or not thriving at month 2 or 3.

Yes, starting with dead dry rock a little piece of live rock or plug with the coral will help start the diversity development needed for a successful reef. But even a reef started with live rock the old school way still has to evolve into a mature micro- and macro- biological ecosystem before corals will actually thrive (and nuisance organisms get controlled).

Now maybe throwing in some tough soft corals like green polyps, Capnella sp., mushrooms or the like would be beneficial. But certainly not SPS or even LPS as I can’t see them doing well in a new sterile tank.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Many people actually throw in coral really early. Yet I don’t hear many claims of success. Just read all the threads asking why their corals are dying or not thriving at month 2 or 3.

Yes, starting with dead dry rock a little piece of live rock or plug with the coral will help start the diversity development needed for a successful reef. But even a reef started with live rock the old school way still has to evolve into a mature micro- and macro- biological ecosystem before corals will actually thrive (and nuisance organisms get controlled).

Now maybe throwing in some tough soft corals like green polyps, Capnella sp., mushrooms or the like would be beneficial. But certainly not SPS or even LPS as I can’t see them doing well in a new sterile tank.

We had some LPs in our tank, but our tank was still fairly new. It's safe to say they didn't survive. However, the mushroom and toadstool we got at the start have been doing amazing!

 

[lesismore]

I agree that I’d much prefer to go the tried and true approach that I’m familiar with and save the corals for a much later date when things are stabile. Like anything, there are multiple ways you can go I suppose. In the reefing world, I’ve always been taught nothing good happens quickly and patience is a keep part of success.