New Reef Build

[gauche]

I'm finally converting my 180gal 72"x24"x24" into a reef tank, this is what I have in the tank now.

6" naso tang, 4" copperband butterfly, 4-blue/green chromis, 1 1/2" Ocellaris clownfish, and a 4" kole tang in QT (will be added next week), I also plan to get a yellow tang, and a hippo tang to complete the fish stocking list

inverts, numerous hermit crabs(to many to count) turbo snails, sand sifting starfish, red lankia starfish, and maybe a blue lankia starfish in the future, 1 cleaner shrimp, 1 camel shrimp, 1 pepperment shrimp, 1 purple reef lobster

I just got my lighting system in a week ago, it has 3-250W MH bulbs, and 4-96W Actinic bulbs, I have picked out these corals and would like to know if the lighting system that I have will be sufficient for these types of corals: yellow fiji coral, green star polyp, metallic brain coral, orange tree gorgonian, red mushroom, stylophora coral, chili coral, bubble pearl coral, brain star goniastrea coral, deresa clam, maxima clam, crocea clam. Of course I won't be getting this stuff over night but at the rate of about 1-2 every two weeks to let the tank get use to the new additions. I have been doing some research and I know that I have to supplement the tank w/ different additives, but I want to know is there anything else that I need to do. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!:rollface:

 

[demonsp]

Just because you have coral doesnt mean you have to add anything.
What do you test for and there readings?

 

[gauche]

Right now the only tests that i run on my tank are PH, Nitrate, Nitrite, Amonia, Calcium. All my reading are good w/ the exception of the calcium being higher at about .425ppm to promote coraline algae growth. When i asked the question should I add anything, I was refering to iodine, magnesium, strontium, trace elements.

 

[demonsp]

Never add anything you cant test for.With little to no coral load then regular water changes should keep these elements in control as adsing to much is much worse then adding to little.

You say your readings are fine but you didnt list there levels. If there borderline then your tank is ready for problems and coral need proper water quality.Fish can live in conditions that coral wont tolerate.
Your calsium reading is fine and if your tank is older and you have little to no coralline growth then many coral will not be happy either.

I would invest in more water testing supplys.Like phosphate and Alk and Dkh.
Im sure you could add a softy or 2 and get them to live but this doesnt mean you should and many costly problems take time to show and become harder to control.This is why haveing water quality under control can save lost money and lost stock and many headaches and more confusion.

Learn the bascis and the rest gets easier. Water source,flow,minimum equipment and regular testing and maintance alone will achieve great results.