Starting the process

[unrefined]

I am slowly getting from a fish only to FOWLR with the intention of adding some soft corals, once I can get out of the nitrate factory I have been running for years.
Replaced my crushed coral substrate with some sand and added some live rock 60 lbs. I would guess, and a sweet older skimmer ( ETSS 600) and 4 56W T5 lights Still using my canister filter Fluval 405 but cleaning it weekly.
So now I am just waiting for things to settle (bloom city)
Just running around the site picking up nuggets of info to reduce the mistakes.

Do have a question on some hardy starters once things stabilize.

 

[dtd87]

I think most people use damsels as a parakeet of sorts .

 

[unrefined]

I have a few fish 8 or 9 to a 90 gallon tank, and my nitrates are in the 20s not going to harm my fish but I'm looking to add some softys that my tank could support. I hope to get something my wife will like so she doesn't shoot me. I understood I shouldn't add any corals till I'm consistanly in the single digits or 0
Looking for a something I can add that is somewhat hardy and can thrive on the lights I have.

 

[Krish]

:welcome: Sorry to hear about your troubles. It happens to all of us and hopefully you can get things under control. On the starter fish as suggested, damsels are a good bet, but you have to be careful with them. Although they are very hardy which is why people like to use them, they are also very territorial and will take on fish even triple their size if introduced to the tank after the damsels have already established themselves in there. You never said what size tank you were going with, but Chromis are nice to get as they are hardy and school together. Never had any issues with mine messing with any other fish so that is also an option as well.

Just a few thoughts! Good luck with the tank!!!

 

[unrefined]

I have a 90 gallon with an overflow.
Not surprised by the current results. A lot of changes over the last month
New LIve sand, live rock, lights and skimmer.
I'm thinking it could be a whole lot worse.

 

[Krish]

Yea, these things take time unfortunately. If you have any questions, just ask away.

 

[unrefined]

I guess my question is.
Want a soft corral that I can add that is hardy enough to handle some nitrates

 

[Krish]

Hmm...Couldn't say for sure. Not sure which softy's out there will do well with nitrates. I've always just waited until I had un-detectable nitrates before messing with any corals and personally, I'd probably concentrate on getting your tank balanced first as you never know what other issues may come up. Better safe than sorry IMO, but I guess wait for the others to chime in as there may be some softy's out there that can work for you.