Adding Corals

[Marlin65]

Feb you should be good to add some mushrooms especially if you have coralline growing. Start with those they are hardy. Then maybe a leather.
Drop the canister in my opinion they cause more trouble than the are worth. Or at least take out the sponge.

[MMAX]

Why is the cannister trouble?

[Myka]

You still didn't mention anything about parameters...one of the most important determining factors in whether your tank is ready to sustain corals or not.

Canisters are nitrate factories when used with media or any kind, as they cause huge biological filtration, and that produces nitrates. Not a big deal with freshwater aquariums, but a big issue with reefs. You're best off filling it with live rock rubble.

[MMAX]

Yeah I've seen guys who take everything out of the cannister and put a couple of chunks of live rock in. Parameters: ammonia, nitrite, nitrate 0, pH about 8.3, kH 1.8 and I've never tested for phosphates and calcium. I add a capfull of Kent Marine calcium every few days.

[marie]

Originally Posted by MMAX

...and I've never tested for phosphates and calcium. I add a capfull of Kent Marine calcium every few days.

Never add anything you don't/can't test for it's too easy to overdose.

Get alk, calcium and magnesium test kits. If you want to keep corals these are important things to test for and maintain at certain levels.
Alk should be kept between 7dkh - 10dkh
cal between 380-450
and Mg should be over 1250ppm
These and other trace minerals and elements can be kept up with regular water changes but as your coral collection grows your going to find that you have to supplement with calcium, alk and magnesium additives of some sort

[Myka]

^ Pretty much what I was going to say. Adding a capful of Kent Calcium every few days, you're going to be SKY HIGH on calcium. I'd suggest you get a Calcium test kit before you add any more.

Adding a photo of your tank MMAX will probably help us to help you as well. With saltwater, we call it Alkalinity instead of KH. Your reading of 8.3 is in dKH, right?

[MMAX]

It's more like every week, not every few days and usually right after I add water. I didn't even know I was supposed to be testing for phosphates and magnesium and stuff like that.