When should I add coral

[aus1230]

I my 40 gallon has been set up for about a month with a good amount of rock from my 15 gallon that had been running for 3 months prior. I noticed that my ugly phase on this 40 gallon happened a lot quicker than the 3 gallon and I’m clear of the ugly phase now. But I recently visited my local dish store and had an employee refuse to sell my zoas saying I needed to wait another 3-4 months till my tank is ready.
My current parameters are:
Salinity 1.025
Alkalinity: 7.3
Nitrate: 8
Phosphate: 0.03

The tank has fish which are all healthy and also has a healthy clean up crew with no issues so far. I realize I need to wait to even consider adding lps or sps. Any insight on this?

 

[dvgyfresh]

I would think you are good to try hardy soft corals / some LPS. Zoas would be fine to test and I’m sure will survive

 

[Fish Fan]

I my 40 gallon has been set up for about a month with a good amount of rock from my 15 gallon that had been running for 3 months prior. I noticed that my ugly phase on this 40 gallon happened a lot quicker than the 3 gallon and I’m clear of the ugly phase now. But I recently visited my local dish store and had an employee refuse to sell my zoas saying I needed to wait another 3-4 months till my tank is ready.
My current parameters are:
Salinity 1.025
Alkalinity: 7.3
Nitrate: 8
Phosphate: 0.03

The tank has fish which are all healthy and also has a healthy clean up crew with no issues so far. I realize I need to wait to even consider adding lps or sps. Any insight on this?

I have never heard of an LFS refusing to sell someone coral under almost any circumstance

I would say, go get your Zoa's from another LFS

Letting a tank cycle and mature for several months before adding coral is something some reefers do when trying to prepare for very sensitive species, like Acropora corals. I don't believe this is necessary for hardy softies and Zoas. The proof would be the countless member tanks here where people routinely add coral immediately after the nitrogen cycle, sometimes even before.

Good luck!

 

[aus1230]

I my 40 gallon has been set up for about a month with a good amount of rock from my 15 gallon that had been running for 3 months prior. I noticed that my ugly phase on this 40 gallon happened a lot quicker than the 3 gallon and I’m clear of the ugly phase now. But I recently visited my local dish store and had an employee refuse to sell my zoas saying I needed to wait another 3-4 months till my tank is ready.
My current parameters are:
Salinity 1.025
Alkalinity: 7.3
Nitrate: 8
Phosphate: 0.03

The tank has fish which are all healthy and also has a healthy clean up crew with no issues so far. I realize I need to wait to even consider adding lps or sps. Any insight on this?

I have never heard of an LFS refusing to sell someone coral under almost any circumstance

I would say, go get your Zoa's from another LFS

Letting a tank cycle and mature for several months before adding coral is something some reefers do when trying to prepare for very sensitive species, like Acropora corals. I don't believe this is necessary for hardy softies and Zoas. The proof would be the countless member tanks here where people routinely add coral immediately after the nitrogen cycle, sometimes even before.

Good luck!

Not saying I’m an experienced reefer by any means but I have tried my best to take my time but also respect keeping track of my parameters.

 

[Fish Fan]

Not saying I’m an experienced reefer by any means but I have tried my best to take my time but also respect keeping track of my parameters.

I’m far from an expert here or anywhere :-) If you want to wait and let your tank mature, that’s fine, it would only help. But I don’t believe it necessary for Zoas.

 

[aus1230]

I would think you are good to try hardy soft corals / some LPS. Zoas would be fine to test and I’m sure will survive

What kind of LPS do you think are best to give a shot?

 

[dvgyfresh]

What kind of LPS do you think are best to give a shot?

A Duncan I think is a great first coral! Easy to tell if happy and can be fed

 

[Maize & Blue]

Soft corals such as Leathers, toadstools, Zoanthids, you may want to increase your Alk and get your Calcium and Magnesium in the correct parameters.

 

[Fish Fan]

Soft corals such as Leathers, toadstools, Zoanthids, you may want to increase your Alk and get your Calcium and Magnesium in the correct parameters.

I cannot outright disagree with your statement here, you're not wrong, but the parameters of alk, calc, and mag are much more important when trying to keep stoney LPS and SPS corals. These parameters are not as important to track when keeping soft corals since soft corals do not need to build a calcium carbonate skeleton like stoney corals do. Many who keep softies and Zoas can do well by maintaining a very stable salinity (an ATO really helps!) and temp, and by doing regular, routine water changes, which will replenish and maintain alk, calc, and mag.

I hope that helps

 

[Fish Fan]

Soft corals such as Leathers, toadstools, Zoanthids, you may want to increase your Alk and get your Calcium and Magnesium in the correct parameters.

And just to be clear, the levels indicated in your pic for "reef tanks" for nitrate (<1.0 ppm) phosphate (<0.1 ppm) are extremely low, and ostensibly intended for people trying to keep very delicate corals like Acroporas. Even then, these levels are so low that you'd risk bottoming one or both out to zero, which brings a whole host of problems including ugly algae and coral death. There's no need to get these levels this low for softies, Zoas, and many easy LPS and even some SPS corals. Many soft corals actually require higher levels of nitrate and phosphate to do well.

 

[aus1230]

And just to be clear, the levels indicated in your pic for "reef tanks" for nitrate (<1.0 ppm) phosphate (<0.1 ppm) are extremely low, and ostensibly intended for people trying to keep very delicate corals like Acroporas. Even then, these levels are so low that you'd risk bottoming one or both out to zero, whole brings a while host of problems including ugly algae and coral death. There's no need to get these levels this low for softies, Zoas, and many easy LPS and even some SPS corals. Many soft corals actually require higher levels on nitrate and phosphate to do well.

Thanks for the clarification on this

 

[Uncle99]

I my 40 gallon has been set up for about a month with a good amount of rock from my 15 gallon that had been running for 3 months prior. I noticed that my ugly phase on this 40 gallon happened a lot quicker than the 3 gallon and I’m clear of the ugly phase now. But I recently visited my local dish store and had an employee refuse to sell my zoas saying I needed to wait another 3-4 months till my tank is ready.
My current parameters are:
Salinity 1.025
Alkalinity: 7.3
Nitrate: 8
Phosphate: 0.03

The tank has fish which are all healthy and also has a healthy clean up crew with no issues so far. I realize I need to wait to even consider adding lps or sps. Any insight on this?

Absolutely correct.
I add at the first confirmed site of coralline algae dots taking hold.
Great indicator IMM.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I my 40 gallon has been set up for about a month with a good amount of rock from my 15 gallon that had been running for 3 months prior. I noticed that my ugly phase on this 40 gallon happened a lot quicker than the 3 gallon and I’m clear of the ugly phase now. But I recently visited my local dish store and had an employee refuse to sell my zoas saying I needed to wait another 3-4 months till my tank is ready.
My current parameters are:
Salinity 1.025
Alkalinity: 7.3
Nitrate: 8
Phosphate: 0.03

The tank has fish which are all healthy and also has a healthy clean up crew with no issues so far. I realize I need to wait to even consider adding lps or sps. Any insight on this?

Its simple- when parameters are stable and readings are consistent, you are clear often for coral. If dosing, master dosing first before adding coral to watch them decline.

 

[Miami Reef]

but the parameters of alk, calc, and mag are much more important when trying to keep stoney LPS and SPS corals. These parameters are not as important to track when keeping soft corals since soft corals do not need to build a calcium carbonate skeleton like stoney corals do.

Very true.

Soft corals don’t require alkalinity, but some might contain calcium carbonate spicules. Zoas are not one of them.

 

[Miami Reef]

But I recently visited my local dish store and had an employee refuse to sell my zoas saying I needed to wait another 3-4 months till my tank is ready.

That’s absurd.

 

[Fish Fan]

That’s absurd.

Agreed; thanks for your help here!