How mature before adding SPS?

[ccwbank]

Many tanks can successfully cycle in just a few weeks, all relative parameters can be spot on, a nice bacterial population can be established, however there is something "un-measureable" about tank maturity that is less understood.

In your opinion how long should one mature a new tank before introducing SPS?

Also what ideas can we share about how someone would "mature a tank", if the goal is all SPS?

 

[bskiba]

I did it in a month. but I would say a well setup system 2-3 months would be best. that is a system that is really efficient at removing waste.

 

[acroholicreefer]

Before the days of GFO, old school reefers would say to wait about 6 months. Now, you can accurately measure phosphates and reduce them as well. I don't think the age of the tank should be a set in stone number, but your decision should depend on your experience with growing acros and your parameters.

 

[ccwbank]

Appreciate the feedback...I agree. I have a 70 gallon system that is new...stocked the tank with BRS pukani (that had been cooked for 4 months until PO4 was at 0.03), cycled the tank at initial setup with live nitrifying bacteria and ghost shrimp, weeks later added a cleanup crew and 2 cardinals, got all the expected things out of the cycle (diatoms, bacterial bloom, algae bloom) after everything looked clean and over, I added SPS. I have reactors running GFO and carbon; po4, ph, temp, calcium, alk, all are good. Some local reefers I've spoken too say I still added SPS too fast as the tank is not mature yet.

 

[TucanSam007]

Like the others have said, there's no set amount of time for a tank to mature before adding sps. Once your system can effectively break down nutrients, you can start adding frags. It's the diligence and research that comes while the tank "matures" that get's you ready for sps. Most of this effort is focused on being able to keep nutrients low, parameters stable and getting in a routine of tank maintenance.

 

[Steve Wright2]

My opinion is

wait until the set up has gone through any initial nuisance algae period and then
wait until you have coraline algae developing, as that is a good sign that some species of SPS will fare well in your system (providing all other aspects are as they should be , light, flow, water quality etc)

Steve

 

[Dexters Reef]

Mature generally means stable. Your calcium, alkalinity, magnesium should all be in the correct range, and you should know the daily depletion of CA and Alk. If you already have SPS, you should be supplementing as needed to keep these stable. Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate should be 0. Phosphate should be as close to 0 as possible.

I waited 6 months, but had Alk problems I wasnt aware of until I added a starter SPS (test kits were expired and inaccurate). After I got my parameters correct, I stabilized them over a few weeks and tried again, successfully. I now have a green slimer, encrusting monti, monti cap, turquoise stag, rainbow birdsnest, pocillopora, and a purple bonsai all happy. So for me I guess it took 7 months, but probably could have been sooner if I started testing (with accurate test kits) earlier.