question about Borneman article

[kismetsh]

This is my first post, though I have been lurking/reading for a while. I have significant FW experience and I'm about to take the "plunge" into reefing.

I was reading this article http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-01/eb/index.php and the part I have questions on is the stocking order. If I am reading correctly he suggests waiting three months to add a CUC and then several more to add stony corals and pioneer species.

Has anyone else followed this plan to the letter? If so, what were your results?

What exactly would be considered hardy stony corals and pioneer species?

I don't even have water in the tank yet but I'm carefully considering all of my options.

 

[kismetsh]

bump for the late crowd

 

[kismetsh]

bump--last call for input

This seemed like a "beginner" question to me, which is why I posted it here. If not "new to the hobby", does anyone have a suggestion for a more appropriate forum to post it in?

Thanks!

 

[danch]

I'm curious about this, too. I see this thread isn't getting a lot of views, either - maybe try a different title?

 

[StephM33]

Perhaps people are busy with their Valentine's?? I wish I could offer some advice, but we have a fish only set up. Usually, there are some helpful people here...give it some time. Also, if you scroll down the Forum list a bit there is a whole section devoted to coral. Perhaps they could give you some guidance as well?

Good luck!
Steph

 

[crumbletop]

Pioneer species are the early reef-building corals that help to form its underlying structure -- things like Stylophora, Pocillopora, and Porites.

The waiting a while and going slowly is good advice, I think -- but most people don't have the patience.

 

[Paintbug]

i would agree the title threw me off. looks like you want Eric to look at the thread, more than a general question. anyway. i cant speak for anyone but me. i think the last line of the black box sums it all up. "Patience is the top #1 tip by a panel of experts.....Seriously!". i didnt start my tank like the article says. probably the main reason is i didnt know any better. i didnt really get into the info on the web until i had already started the tank. Eric Borneman is one of the top experts in this hobby so i would definitely go with his word. when i started my tank i did take it slow, mainly because of budget issues. but i knew enough from the FW days to get started. i had time to scope out some fish from the LFS, and get some info on them to make sure they would work. my tank cycled for just over a month before i added any clean up crew. i started with some snails and a few hermit crabs. then about 2 weeks later i added a Damsel. he did fine for about 2 weeks, then he died. dont know why, water parameters were fine, and there was nothing in the tank that could attack him. well that showed me i didnt do enough homework. so a week later, i picked up a Coral Beauty. and i was so scared to add him being a $30 fish. but almost 2 years later he is still swimming in the tank. i added a goby, and blenny later on. then i bought a mushroom rock. at the time i was only planning on keeping softies. so i bought them. they have spread all over the place now LOL. i got some zoas, and other mushrooms later on. i thought the zoas died on me. turns out i have a hitch hiking crab that loves zoas. well i found a deal from a guy here on RC on some candy canes. so i got them. they are still doing good. i have since added all kinds of corals, and some new fish over the last year or so. one thing i wish i would have done different would be that i had been more patient in the beginning, and started with corals before the fish. when i added the fish the pod, and worm population dropped drastically. i had a lot of Amphipods, and Mysid shrimp, but the copepods, and bristle worms are rare in my tank now. letting them have time to really establish a heavy population would have been ideal. but i got in a hurry, and was tired of having a $1000 rock tank with some snails LOL. but you learn as you go! the biggest thing to learn, and often the hardest is Patience.

PS what part of NC kismetsh?

 

[L and L]

[welcome]

I think that's a good plan with less chance of having problems if you start too fast.

I started similar, but with no choice to do so. I bought my 100g tank and was going to have a FOwLR... but, saw peoples reef tanks and feel in love. This is EXACTLY what I want to have.
So, I broke down my tank (DSB, LR, and traded the damsel yellowtails back to LFS). I put my dsb in one 50g rubbermaid tub and the LR in another. The tank went back to the manufacture to get drilled and overflows installed. My dsb and LR sat in tubs for around 3-4 months. Then I added to my tank. I never saw a cycle through my testing (but, that doesn't mean it wasn't in progress. I read that article. Interesting.).

After LR and dsb added, waited 1 month for clean up crew. Then waited 1.5 months till fish. Then I waited 1 month till I added my first corals (frogspawn, toadstool leather, xenia, open brain).

It's worked for me. Just like in that article... patience is the key.
But, look around here and i'm sure you've already seen the posts... there are people that have started as quickly as possible... and appear to have success with it.

Good luck and welcome to Reef Central,

 

[kismetsh]

Thanks so much for the input!

Paintbug, I am in southeastern NC.

 

[Paintbug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9245070#post9245070 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kismetsh
Thanks so much for the input!

Paintbug, I am in southeastern NC.

another one many hours away LOL

 

[drej424]

I had an ich problem in my reef tank, so I followed an article's advice on RC and put my fish in QT, letting the reef tank go fallow. It's been amazing to see the difference in growth with no fish in the tank! I've had a population explosion of snails, pods, worms and other interesting creatures. I never would have seen all this if I hadn't moved the fish. I'm only halfway through the quarantine cycle now (4 weeks).

In this 4 weeks time, I've really enjoyed seeing all these changes. When I was impatiently waiting for my tank to cycle so I could add fish, I missed out on some really neat stuff...