Is it too early for me to add coral?

[Chris H Reef]

Hey All,

I have a 75 gallon tank that has been up and running for just about a month. I currently have just 2 clowns in there.

I'd like to slowly add a few more fish soon but my question is can I add a few easy to keep corals too? I'm thinking about adding GSP (on an island rock) and maybe some zoas. I have not hit the ugly stage yet since I haven't turned the lights on yet. If I get a few corals and turn the lights on will the ugly algaes that I'm sure are coming take over my corals and kill them?

Just curious what everyone's thoughts are about adding corals to a new tank.

 

[WalkerLovesTheOcean]

If you really want, start with a leather.

See how it does, and if it is continuing to do well after 2 weeks, maybe another easy soft coral.

With the tank being that new, you can't guarantee a coral will do well. I put corals in my tank at around the month mark, and they are doing great. This is just my experience though.

 

[BeanAnimal]

I would not add coral until the lights have been on for a few weeks. Other's will have differing opinions.

More importantly, you need to decide what type of coral that you wish to keep. GSP, Zoas, leathers, mushrooms, and other soft corals can be very invasive if you are going to have a mixed reef or wish to keep SPS.

 

[Uncle99]

Simply a risk.
Water cannot be stable yet.
So you run the risk of losing them.

Zoa a bad idea IMM, maybe a leather or GSP but these things take up large amounts of real estate and can defend their space.

But so many do which keeps the LFS in business.

 

[mdpitts]

At the risk of being considered an idiot I'm going to say that when I started my first saltwater tank this past October (I've been freshwater planted for years) I did research but I guess not enough and I started with a fish and a few corals after a week. Then went nuts from there. The question I asked my LFS is "Is this a beginner coral?" when I saw something I liked and if the answer was it is easy to keep - I bought it.

My tank was only 12ish gallons and I faithfully do weekly water changes but I haven't had any problems and I'm surprised at how all the things are thriving. I have softies, zoas, 2 BTA's, a chalice, frogspawn and toadstool, an elegance, birdsnest and something the LFS said could be a pocillapora (sp?) but it was a sad, broken, tiny frag and now it is putting out so much growth, anyway, I have a lot more than that and am about to upgrade because I'm out of room.

My point is - I believe that if you take really good care of your tank you will be fine. Or maybe the stars just aligned for me. Then again a 75 is probably a whole other ball game. Maybe in a year I'll look back on my reply and cringe...

 

[saltylilthang]

I would not add coral until the lights have been on for a few weeks. Other's will have differing opinions.

More importantly, you need to decide what type of coral that you wish to keep. GSP, Zoas, leathers, mushrooms, and other soft corals can be very invasive if you are going to have a mixed reef or wish to keep SPS.

Hi! I just added my clowns to a month old tank. Do you have to turn your lights on? I thought you needed to leave them off till you got corals?

 

[saltienewb]

Try a cheap frag. As long as you’re on top of salinity and water changes, you should be able to add some soft coral or easier LPS

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Hi! I just added my clowns to a month old tank. Do you have to turn your lights on? I thought you needed to leave them off till you got corals?

You can leave the lights off or turn them on, whatever you want. The fish don't need the light, as long as they have ambient light to see. Leaving the lights off will delay or reduce algae growth.

Personally, I do turn my lights on right away, I find it boring to look at a dark tank. I deal with the algae as it comes.

But there is no rule, its completely up to you.

 

[Uncle99]

Hi! I just added my clowns to a month old tank. Do you have to turn your lights on? I thought you needed to leave them off till you got corals?

Fish don’t care much about light.
Light fuels green stuff, so it depends on where you are in the maturity process.

 

[saltylilthang]

Fish don’t care much about light.
Light fuels green stuff, so it depends on where you are in the maturity process.

Cycle is complete in this tank, at least testing shows that for 2 weeks now. Tank is a month old and half give or take (forgetting when I started it..). Was started as a fishless cycle with bottle ammonia and Microbacter start XLM so it's considered a brand new tank.

 

[saltylilthang]

This is tank currently looking sterile before anyone says anything the bottom portion is my RO/DI ATO tank. Not a refugium.

 

[Uncle99]

Looks great

 

[saltylilthang]

Looks great

Thank you! Wanted it looking nice on my first try

 

[Uncle99]

Thank you! Wanted it looking nice on my first try

Great work.
Just keep her chemistry stable and let her age.
Going to develop nicely.

 

[MnFish1]

Hey All,

I have a 75 gallon tank that has been up and running for just about a month. I currently have just 2 clowns in there.

I'd like to slowly add a few more fish soon but my question is can I add a few easy to keep corals too? I'm thinking about adding GSP (on an island rock) and maybe some zoas. I have not hit the ugly stage yet since I haven't turned the lights on yet. If I get a few corals and turn the lights on will the ugly algaes that I'm sure are coming take over my corals and kill them?

Just curious what everyone's thoughts are about adding corals to a new tank.

yes you can - assuming you're up with the current testing recommendations, etc. Also should decide about quarantining protocols, etc.