When Can I Start Adding SPS and LPS Corals?

[AmberL]

I have a 90 gallon reef tank with a sump. The tank has been set up since Feb. 25.
I currently have 2 clowns, a midas blenny, and a diamond goby.
I have a green star polyp and a daisy coral. I'm trying to go slow like everyone says.

I'd like to start adding SPS and LPS, but I'm not sure how long the tank has to be set up before that can happen. Also, do I need to get a Phosphate Reactor? A Kalk Reactor? Are these requirements, or do they just make daily maintenance easy?

Thanks!

[pawek]

I have a 90 gallon reef tank with a sump. The tank has been set up since Feb. 25.
I currently have 2 clowns, a midas blenny, and a diamond goby.
I have a green star polyp and a daisy coral. I'm trying to go slow like everyone says.

I'd like to start adding SPS and LPS, but I'm not sure how long the tank has to be set up before that can happen. Also, do I need to get a Phosphate Reactor? A Kalk Reactor? Are these requirements, or do they just make daily maintenance easy?

Thanks!

WAIT!!! SPS I would wait 4-6 months before putting anything in. LPS get some cheaper ones and yu can try, but do not go for anything $$$$.

[Virtuoso]

Really? I am not too far behind AmberL, but do not have any fish yet. Was going to add a colony size Frogspawn and Toadstool Leather so the 2 clownfish have something to host on. Would those be too adventurous for a tank that has only been up for 2 months or so?

[Bigwyll]

My first tank I had up for about 2 months when I started adding a leather, zenias, and few zoa's. Each tank is different but I would wait the full 5 to 6 months for SPS. Yeah I tried that also and failed.

I'm at the two month mark for my new tank and my fingers are twitching. But I am going to wait until June for SPS. I can see myself buying something to keep me occupied until then.

[Sk8r]

Wait on sps: they don't combine that well with lps anyway: sps like crystal clear water, brilliant light, a super skimmer, and low nutrient; and lps like the opposite, except for light: they thrive on floating food. Rare to succeed well with both at the same time for obvious reasons---what one needs insults the other.

[DustinB]

You don't have to wait several months for SPS. You have to have a stable tank and have thorough knowledge of your tank and it's requirements.

You are ready if you have consistently low to non-existent nitrates and consistently undetectable phosphate as well as fully understanding how to keep your calcium and alkalinity in an acceptable range without anything other than VERY minor swings.

Just start with some of the easier SPS or pretty much any LPS. Keep an eye on your alk/cal levels and have a plan to supplement them properly when the demand grows.

As stated, it's not totally about how long the tank has been running, it's just about how stable the tank is and how well you understand how to keep it that way. The time frame is given with the idea that the new person will have acquired the necessary knowledge by then. My current tank was stocked with around 100 frags/colonies 2 weeks after setup, but I knew what to do and I started with established rock. I did allow a 2 week period for any possible spikes.

My advice is to read a lot and understand everything you can. Start with something cheap and add slowly. Before you know it you will be able to keep just about anything with any issues. Keep in mind though, some varieties of SPS can be extremely touchy even for seasoned reefers. Strawberry shortcake acro is one I had a problem with from an alk swing, RTN overnight from a small problem.