When do you think it's safe to start adding SPS or Clams to an aquarium?

[ryebread]

Many folks seem to start adding things to tanks far before they actually belong there. (Myself included)
What do you think is a good amount of time to wait before adding sensitive additions such as Clams and SPS?
Is time the only aspect to go by when figuring out if your tank is mature? Mature enough?

 

[the claw]

I consider a "MATURE" aquarium 1 year and older.

 

[spsfreak100]

I agree with The Claw, although, I do personally think that some species of Montipora, Hydnophora, Pavana, or Porites could be added to a tank over 7 months old. Corals such as Acropora should be added later on when the tank is around a year old, providid if other scleractinians are thriving in your setup. Tridacna clams should also, in my opinion, be added to a tank over 12 months old.
Graham

 

[nm reef]

I'd say at least 6 months...but there are other factors to consider.

 

[leboeuf]

I think time should be taken into consideration, however it should not be the indicator of maturity. I think a lot of factors are at play here. It's very possible for the ideal conditions to be achieved prior to the one year mark, as well as someone who has neglected a tank for a year could have terrible water quality. my 2 cents....

 

[bigmac]

I used to beat it into Grahams head almost everyday to wait at least 6 months (or was it a year) before adding sps. It was more of a case of "do as I say not as I do"... experience, having the RIGHT equipment and adding tank raised corals might speed things up a bit.

 

[justinx]

I have to agree with the general trend that there is more to having a "mature" tank than a time frame. As previously stated, a tank can be ready for sps in under a year IMO. I think that a tank that can grow coralline algae on the back glass is ready for sps. I dont mean expanding patches, I mean the outbreak of NEW patches. IE . . . the corraline is growing, not spreading.
However, poor husbandry can also lead to a tank that may never be ready for sps as far as water quality goes as previously mentioned. I added sps frags to my tank WAY before any of the time frames mentioned here . . . well . . . . I only have VHO lighting and lets just say that I have had to do some fragging . . . granted they are lower lighting sps such as pocillopora, and hydnophora, but thats besides the point. Was I just lucky? Possibly. I dont deny that. Would I do it again? Probably. Am I being irresponsible . . . no . . . I dont think so.
All in all, it really depends on a lot of other factors than time. Things such as the aquariusts "maturity" as well. No I dont mean do they act like a 3 year old, but does the aquariust have a maintenance routine that is rigid and strictly adhered to. This in my mind is probably one of the most important aspects of a "mature" reef tank.
However, I think that in order to determine what makes a "mature" reef tank . . . . a definition of what exactly is meant by mature needs to be clearly outlined. Perhaps this is a better starting point.
Although I do agree with the initial post that there seems to be many people out there who add things to a tank that is not yet prepared to handle such delicate animals.
Justin