How long to wait before adding corals?

It is hard to put my finger on one one thing that would indicated great growth....it just kinda happens. On the caps, you should see white on the edges...that means it is growing. On the birdsnest a bunch of white tips is good. The zoos should just multiply like cockroaches when things are going good. I would get rid of your xenia and kenya tree. Those corals are bush league to be quite honest. In time they will grow like weeds and become a PITA for you. When my tank really started rocking the m.spong shot branches straight up and my duncan started multiplying....I went from 3 heads to 5 heads in 9 months, when the tank was new, then 9 to 30 in 3 months, when the tank was old.

All that being said when your tank is new everything could be going great and then you might have a mini-cycle set you back. You might not see growth for months and then once your tank stablilizes your corals grow like on steroids.

You have begineer sps corals so that is good. That green slimer should just go wild. I cut it back ALL THE TIME.

My indicator coral for good are the red and green caps. (which I don't have anymore because I am moving on...they grow super fast)
My indicator coral for bad is usally the green birdsnest. That one seems to go south first.

Finally, I don't keep much LPS and no softies so I am kinda biased to SPS.

 

Posted By PotRoast on 04/22/2010 03:27 PM
It is hard to put my finger on one one thing that would indicated great growth....it just kinda happens. On the caps, you should see white on the edges...that means it is growing. On the birdsnest a bunch of white tips is good. The zoos should just multiply like cockroaches when things are going good. I would get rid of your xenia and kenya tree. Those corals are bush league to be quite honest. In time they will grow like weeds and become a PITA for you. When my tank really started rocking the m.spong shot branches straight up and my duncan started multiplying....I went from 3 heads to 5 heads in 9 months, when the tank was new, then 9 to 30 in 3 months, when the tank was old.
All that being said when your tank is new everything could be going great and then you might have a mini-cycle set you back. You might not see growth for months and then once your tank stablilizes your corals grow like on steroids.
You have begineer sps corals so that is good. That green slimer should just go wild. I cut it back ALL THE TIME.
My indicator coral for good are the red and green caps. (which I don't have anymore because I am moving on...they grow super fast)
My indicator coral for bad is usally the green birdsnest. That one seems to go south first.
Finally, I don't keep much LPS and no softies so I am kinda biased to SPS.
When did the type of coral kept become a competition or status thing?  Soft corals still offer the most challenge to aquarists. 
I would personally love to see a healthy tank with large colonies of any type of coral as opposed to "LE" corals that are a few inches tall and are pruned like Bonsai to make $$$ 
 

 

After a lot of years in this hobby I have to say that what you like for your particular tank is just fine.  Nothing is wrong with liking what you like.  I never ever wanted sps corals in mine.  I love all the options and no one should think less of what someone wants in their own tanks. 
The most imporant thing is to decide what you want and direct your efforts towards that with research and studying what your want needs. 
There are always people that love all the tec stuff, some love the fish, some love particular corals, some love just buying everything they see, some try to have the biggest with all the expensive equipment, some have limited space but some of the nicest tanks and some want it simple but workable and enjoyable. 
A  tank needs to be what you enjoy.  If you can't sleep at night worrying about some aspect of it...change it or get out of the hobby.

 

I've had SW tanks since 2003 and I'm still learning new things all the time about reef tanks /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/blink.gif The thought of adding new things and all the possibilities is very exciting, but go slow when adding things. I've lost some nice frags and thrown money out the window because I bought something without waiting until my tank was mature. A tank will change so much in the first year........stick with a few hardy coral that you enjoy for the first 6 months or so until you see the same parameter readings over and over and over and have a set routine down. Boring, I know, but it will make for a healthy tank

 

I have not read all the post. But waiting is good. Adding slow is great. Clams are touchy the smaller they are the more suplemental feeding they need (in my experience). Brains and hammers are hardy if given the right stuff. If you find stuff at the spring swap you want, I would get the ones you want the most and see what happens. If you see any sign of stress or dieing try to find a member in the IC area with a well established tank that can store the coral for you, and try to save them untill your tank is more mature. Your LPS coral are happy bieng fead brine or mysis. SPS coral or more a filter feeder of plankton. I live in Marion and if you do have a problem, I would be happy to help you out with your coral. I do not like to see coral die. I have had my share of lose to know it sucks and some are not cheap. I'm doing a 5k in Marion the day of spring fest, but going to try and get to Des Moines after the run. I've said it on other post and I will say it now my tank is open for you and any others that read this to come see it. I am vary happy where I am at with my tank.

Larry

 

With a new tank I would target feed 3 days a week. For the coral yes use a turkey baster and squirt it up curent from the coral and move it away or closer to see where the coral do not close up, because of it being to close. For the phyto ?????? the best person to talk to is JJtruemper.

 

10% daily is a good rule of thumb