When can I keep soft corals?

[Fishpalace]

I have had my tank for 30 days now and introduced cuc over the weekend.

When can I introduce my first couple of softies?

Water stats are stable with PH at 8.1 and phosphate is nil. Temp is 78 degrees and salt 1.025

 

[philosophile]

Most soft corals are pretty hardy. So you could probably put one in now, if its a hardy type, like most mushrooms (excluding yumas) or maybe some xenia or clove polyps, hardier zoanthids, etc.

 

[GSep]

Do you have any fish yet to put some nutrients in the water for the softies to soak up?

 

[Fishpalace]

Do you have any fish yet to put some nutrients in the water for the softies to soak up?

No fish for now and probably won't introduce for a couple of weeks yet.

I do have Red Sea reef energy a & b, was free with Red Sea salt so could use that to supplement coral growth?

 

[bull shark]

Has the tank cycled?

Softies live off of nitrates, phosphates, and other things found in fish poop.

Without fish, the softies will likely wither and die. Additives and supplements won't help.

 

[Fishpalace]

Has the tank cycled?

Softies live off of nitrates, phosphates, and other things found in fish poop.

Without fish, the softies will likely wither and die. Additives and supplements won't help.

Tank has cycled for past 5 weeks although I had no ammonia or nitrite spoke just nitrate between 15 and 20, currently 15.

Have cuc and fire shrimp in tank and feed with flakes.

Is there any substitute?

 

[schoch79]

IMO if your cycle has finished then you should be fine to add some softies. As for the ---you need fish poop or your softies will die--- comment, there are lots of invert only reef tanks and the coral in those do just fine. I say go for it.

 

[x1C0DE1x]

I had my tank cycling for 2 months with damsels in them, you need to have some time of die off or something to spike your ammonia and to cycle your tank. I have heard of people using shrimp but a tank can not just sit there and cycle. You need to wait until the cycle is done and then add your corals. It may take a while and be frustrating, but it is very rewarding the first time you go to the fish store and buy your first coral. I recommend toadstool leathers as your first coral. It is my favorite coral and it is very hardy. Toadstools are also very finicky, they may be ****ed off one day and not want to stand up or open up like it did the other day but its a earning experience and you will soon learn what they like. I also suggest that you use Marine snow 1 time every week to give them extra nutrients. Also, make sure that your lights are antiquate enough for you to keep corals. Without proper lighting the corals wont be able to photosynthesis. I do suggest that if you get a toadstool that you get 2 clownfish. The clownfish in my tank host all 3 of my toadstools and pretty much help the coral shed by rubbing all up on them.

The first 2 pics are of my tank now, and the last one is a pic of my tank 1 years ago.

 

[Fishpalace]

Since starting this thread I have made a number of additions and have now had tank for 7 weeks -

Added a Xenia and Zoa dragoneye in week 5, before adding fish and both have grown and coloured up nicely

This week I have added a pair of clowns and also a pair of cardinals. Water parameters are good and these fish are hardy so decided on 4 fish as opposed to 2.

Also added another conch, 2 x small red legged crabs and 2 other snails to cope with fish waste.

And then yesterday I bought 5 corals frags from a local reefer, 3 x Zoa's, a green torch and a sympodium. 4 are very small but great value for money and the torch has 2 heads and whilst a frag is about 2 inches high.

 

[Mikefromaz]

I have had my tank for 30 days now and introduced cuc over the weekend.

When can I introduce my first couple of softies?

Water stats are stable with PH at 8.1 and phosphate is nil. Temp is 78 degrees and salt 1.025[/QUOTE

Ive been following this thread. A lot of good advice and some not so good. Everyone who sets up a reef tank is anxious to have critters galore. Just be sure yoy understand the biological capabilities of your system. All tanks no matter of the size have that limitation. You don't want to get into a situation where you are constantly correcting problems. A LOT of people throw up their hands in frustration and leave the hobby because they have a "lets try this and see what happens" approach. Reef keeping is as much a science as a hobby. Good luck and best wishes.

 

[Mikefromaz]

Some leathers are capable of releasing potent toxins. The percentage of toadstools is higher than other leathers. It is wise in my opinion to at least monitor the health of any toadstool on a daily basis until you are sure it is thriving. I had a silver dollar sized Tonga mushroom decline and die in my 80gal. reef. It released Turpenze into the water, and within 72 hours all of my corals were stone dead. That tank was ten years old and very healthy until I failed to understand what was going on.

 

[Fishpalace]

Some leathers are capable of releasing potent toxins. The percentage of toadstools is higher than other leathers. It is wise in my opinion to at least monitor the health of any toadstool on a daily basis until you are sure it is thriving. I had a silver dollar sized Tonga mushroom decline and die in my 80gal. reef. It released Turpenze into the water, and within 72 hours all of my corals were stone dead. That tank was ten years old and very healthy until I failed to understand what was going on.

Thanks for the 2 responses.

I am trying to understand limitations and worked out how many fish and time it will take to get there, about 8 to 9'in total depending on size and also order too.

Taking it easy with corals too and reading up on LPS, won't go for SPS for quite a while as need to get some growth from LPS and take care of them first.

Will let tank establish itself for another 3 to 4 weeks before I add anything else.

I do need to understand how each coral behaves and spot if unhappy.

 

[Mikefromaz]

Reef keeping is the perfect hobby for people who are curious. I can honestly say there is hardly a day that goes by when I don't learn something new. It is the "process" of keeping my critters healthy and the inevitabe occasional drama when something goes wrong that keeps me coming back. Good luck with your reef!

 

[lostintheocean]

Not that you did but I would not cycle with fish and there is no need to stress the fish in doing this. If you tank was cycled I would add corals slowly. If the cucumber gets stressed it can kill everything in your tank so be careful.