Suggestions on knowing I am ready for fish/ or inverts

[thelawnwrangler]

PS I will test Phosphates this weekend, but my understanding if the RO/DI water I used was good I should be near 0

 

[BrickFishHouse]

Uh-oh... You asked about coral...

Brace yourself for a flood of feedback from a lot of angles. LOL!

I've been reading your thread here, and for what it's worth...

No two tanks are the same. What works in one may not work in another, even if everything is the same (it never really is).

The numbers are not necessarily absolutes. I wasted a lot of years and dollars chasing this one until I was introduce to the zen of doing my best and letting things lay where they lie.

Opinions vary - and so do the levels of passion behind them. That's the nature of a hobby.

And finally, if Mama ain't happy, nobody is happy. Make her happy with the small tank and see how quickly you have a 210 in there. LOL!

 

[thelawnwrangler]

Thanks Brick - sage advice

Gone fishin- thanks again for all the advice

The reading from the LFS of .25 nitrites I just don't see how it is possible. That is throwing me. I will test water again with them Friday. if it is good I buy, if it is bad I think I will get another test for 3rd opinion lol

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Thanks Brick - sage advice

Gone fishin- thanks again for all the advice

The reading from the LFS of .25 nitrites I just don't see how it is possible. That is throwing me. I will test water again with them Friday. if it is good I buy, if it is bad I think I will get another test for 3rd opinion lol

LOL that's just like asking the same question until you get the answer you want :lolspin::fun2:

 

[thelawnwrangler]

LOL that's just like asking the same question until you get the answer you want :lolspin::fun2:

Lol I want the truth!

All kidding aside I have conflicting readings on nitrites. I test 0 with red sea, and have for a week. I don't like waiting but absolutely will if needed. That said waiting for waiting sake seems wrong.

Right now my tank is a big female maroon clown fish, and all I can do is shake submissively until I get to follow her were we want to go

 

[gone fishin]

The biological starter I kind of saw as unnecessary, but hey maybe they got a lot margin maybe just maybe I got a little uptick from the bacteria within.

http://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/microbe-lift-nite-out-ii-nitrifying-aquarium-bacteria

I printed of instructions (red sea testkit) and followed them very closely this time got zero on nitrites. I am not seeing much algae, although if I look at tank long ways there is a little free floating.

Do some of the very hardy soft corals use nitrates at all? zoas, hairy mushrooms, etc? I know you want to keep nitrates down with coral, but still struggling to figure out what nutrients from water they use to grow.

The LFS owner is seems extremely knowledgeable said he didn't think it would be crazy if I did a coral first once I cycled (the really hardy stuff).

I do believe some of the very hardy corals such as xenia, kenya trees do benefit from some nitrate in the water. However, it seems alot of the very hardy ones like I mentioned can overrun a tank in short order if left unchecked.