Ready for an addition?

[addicted2fish]

Wondering if it would be ok to add a soft coral now. My system status:
4 weeks ago introduced sand bed and 100 lbs LR. Ammonia went as high as 1 ppm. Nitrite was back to zero in 9 days.
2 weeks ago added cleanup crew.
1 week ago added another 80 lbs LR. Expected at least a small cycle, but ammonia and nitrite remained undetectable.
Parameters now:
Ammonia and nitrite undetectable.
Nitrate 4 ppm.
pH 8.2
SG 1.025
Temperature 78.4-80.8F
Calcium 400 ppm
Alkalinity 220 ppm

Everything in the tank now seems healthy. Am I going too fast, or would an addition be alright? Any suggestions appreciated.

Bill

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"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy" - Red Green

[This message has been edited by addicted2fish (edited 05-16-2001).]

[Mobious]

I think you could.. But IMO I would wait for another month.. Get that Sand bed going.. If anything you could add an Xenia or some star polups..

[skipm]

You could make a small addition now but not a very big one, I think that at this point in the game it would be a good idea to proceed with caution. Skip

[golfish]

I think your going too fast. I know that's not what you want to hear but you haven't even been through the algae blooms yet. When I started my first reef tank I keep saying I was going to wait 6 months after the addition of the LR and LS before I added corals. I first added some snails and crabs, then a detrivore kit from IA. I think I added my first coral at 4 months[img]/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

Go slow and do it right you have the rest of your life to stock the tank.....

What is you Alkalinity? 220ppm?

[Personifer]

It would be better to wait a few more weeks. If you wanted to add something now I would suggest some mushrooms or some kind of polyp. You should be fine adding these now.

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Jeff

Visit my website:
JeffsReef

[addicted2fish]

Thanks everyone. I'll take your advice, hold off, and do it right. Of course I am anxious to move ahead, but for now it is still fascinating watching just what came in on the rock! I did have some dusting of diatoms on the sand and a lot of green algae on the glass, but the hermits and snails wiped it out in short order. I guess I should be looking for what, the cyano stage next? [img]/ubb/frown.gif[/img]

You all are a tremendous resource, and I appreciate it.

Bill

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"If the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy" - Red Green