How mature should a tank be before you add corals?

[kookerson]

My tank is only 2 months old, and Im really intersted in getting a sun coral. Ive done all my research and I believe I could handle the responsibility for this coral, Im just not sure how mature my tank needs to be? All my parameters are stable and have been for a few weeks now (ammonia, trite,trate, phosphates all undetectable) and my calcium and alkalinity are all in check......calcium @ 430 and alkalinity @ 3.5 meq/l..........

[Aquabucket]

I'd say you are good to go! The stocking of fish is going to have more of an impact on your tank than stocking a coral IME. Sun corals are pretty hardy corals if fed regularly. Good luck and enjoy your new coral.

[kuoka]

I agree. I think you're good to go. Test your water about a week after to make sure it's still stable before you add anything else though. If your water params are still good, then you're cycled. Question though, have you already gone thru the cyano and/or diatom outbreak?

[Sk8r]

You should be good for sun. You don't, however, mention your lighting, which is critical for corals---excepting sun coral, which you know is a must-feed. Other corals might be good for you, too, but acroporas have the highest light requirement. SPS moderate.

[kookerson]

I dont have the proper lighting for any other corals, which is half the reason I chose a sun coral. The tank has been set up for about 2 months now and I have not gone through a cyano/diatom outbreak......my cycle wasnt even 2 weeks long. When I set up my tank, I used fully cured LR that spent less than a day and a half in shipping. Also, I am stocking fish pretty slowly, I think, as I only have four fish in there right now.......

[Bebo77]

just stay away from SPS for now.. make sure you know your tank and its swings before you add sps...

[Musho3210]

what size tank?

[kookerson]

75 Gallon with 20 gal sump.....

[davidryder]

Sun corals sound good... you can also try

zoo's (button polyps)
mushrooms (ricordeas, etc)

[kookerson]

I only have normal flourescent lighting.....so I dont think that I can keep anything else.....but thank you all very much for you replies!

[justinl]

how many watts though? ime shrooms and zoos will do fine under pretty much any lighting.

[davidryder]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10339824#post10339824 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by justinl
how many watts though? ime shrooms and zoos will do fine under pretty much any lighting.

Agreed.

[Sk8r]

Ditto bubble coral. It's very low light, comes in plain and toothed, white and green.

[Musho3210]

or even better check out your local reef club and maybe get a cheapo PC unit.

[Peter Eichler]

I get the feeling that Kook had the plain old fluorescent lighting that comes with most aquariums. While the photosynthetic corals you're suggesting can do well in lower light conditions I wouldn't suggest them if that is the case.

[kookerson]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10340014#post10340014 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Peter Eichler
I get the feeling that Kook had the plain old fluorescent lighting that comes with most aquariums. While the photosynthetic corals you're suggesting can do well in lower light conditions I wouldn't suggest them if that is the case.

Bingo! Normal, plain ol' flourescent lighting. Soon Ill be getting a couple 2 x 54 T5 retros.....I dont wanna put anything other than the sun coral in until I get the T5s........Thanks guys!