How soon is too soon for leathers?

[Brent]

One month old tank. 58gal, 70lbs live rock, skimmer, emporer400, vho lighting(2 50/50, 1 actinic for a total of 330w), ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates 2, calcium 400. Tank cycled in 2 weeks due to cured live rock and live sand added. I have had blue mushrooms in for 2 weeks(after 1st water change) and they are doing great.

My question is can I add leathers now or should I let the tank mature some more. I am wanting to add a sarcophyton then two O. clowns in the hopes they will take to the sarcophyton. Tank now has two yellow tail damsels, 20 scarlet hermets and 20 astrea snails.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Anonymous]

Brent, MattM knows what he speaks. Nothing more to add!

Good luck!

Louey

 

[Jawbone]

I know this is just my opinion but get rid of those damsels if they are the yellow tailed blue devil damsels or any damsel IMO

This is a new tank and you wont destroy it by removing them now but later when it becomes established it will be impossible.

Generally they are the first fish in to "CYCLE" the tank. I am sure the LFS said these are safe and great first fish. Real hardy. dont take the name blue devil mildy.

of course I have had bad luck with this reef safe fish and that does not mean you will. They cost me initially $14. for a pair then $35.oo for the fist coral they ripped up, And they would not leave my other fish alone. Constantly rushing and attacking anything that moved. Not a very soothing tank to come home to every night

Oh I forgot why I started this reply.

Wait on the Coral. Instant gratification does not exist in reef tanks. Let the tank go for a couple of months to see how things go.

[ February 18, 2002: Message edited by: Jawbone ]</p>

 

[MattM]

The tank should be fine for a Sarcophyton, but, of course one of the greatest ingredients you can add to any reef tank is patience!

Things to look out for are:

1) If you get any cyanobacteria blooms as the tank is maturing, try to keep it from growing on the head of the sarcophyton. An occasional blast from a turkey baster usually does the trick.

2) Sarcophytons will occasionally retract all their polyps and develop a waxy coating on the head. This is a method of expelling waste and it almost always clears up with no problems. However, it can stay retracted and waxy for a couple weeks at a time so don't panic.

3) Sometines a sarcophyton's stalk becomes pinched and it droops over. This is caused by a constriction of the vessels in the stalk and is usually fatal. Beware when shopping.