question about corals

jamest0o0 · 01/31/2008, 05:16 PM

Right now I have a 55gallon reef tank I only have one pink zoanthid.... I've been trying to add the fish and CUC I want first and start adding corals afterwards.... anyway what are the main things you should test for while keeping corals and how often? also what things do you use to add these things to the water and how often do you do that? I know about all the different tets just wasn't sure how often you should do all of this...

Savas · 01/31/2008, 05:33 PM

Test for the basics: salinity, pH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and calcium levels. I would also test for phosphates. Now as to levels you have some variance on salinity 1:021 - 1.026, pH can be from 8.2 - 8.4, ammonia, nitrites.nitrates should be as close to zero as possible. Calcium level will depend on exactly what you are raising in your tank. In the beginning, I tested daily, sometimes twice daily; now I test once a month. You will learn the signs of a healthy tank soon enough.

Savas · 01/31/2008, 05:35 PM

I would actually add the clean up crew, then corals, and then some fish. You will have to feed the CUC for a while, but this seems the least stressful approach to me. Others will chime in with their thoughts I am sure.

jamest0o0 · 01/31/2008, 08:48 PM

Oh right now I have a pair of perculas, royal gramma, yellow damsel, and a fire shrimp but thanks

dendro982 · 02/01/2008, 06:27 AM

You already have 2 months of experience and a fish alive - corals shouldn't be a problem. Tests are already listed above, and a fish is a good indicator, if something is wrong.
I would watch for ammonia first couple of weeks, just in case - it may rise fast, in hours, and fish will react on this.
If all tests results are all right, but corals reaction is not good - add fresh carbon.

How often to test - until you will feel sure:
- alkalinity 3x a week for a 3 weeks maybe, then once a week for a months, or as necessary. Some tanks require more frequent testing, some - are stable and once a month is enough.
- salinity - daily, until you catch up top off with evaporation rates,
- nitrates, phosphates, Ca - once a week at beginning, once a month or as feel necessary - later.

All additives, I'm using - raising Ca and Mg in newly prepared salt (if it is low in Ca and Mg), and alkalinity (Seachem dry Reef additives) a couple of times a week, but some tanks are holding alkalinity stable by themselves. Phosphate removing media is always in the sump.
HTH.

Good luck!

01/31/2008, 05:16 PM	#1
jamest0o0 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,325	question about corals Right now I have a 55gallon reef tank I only have one pink zoanthid.... I've been trying to add the fish and CUC I want first and start adding corals afterwards.... anyway what are the main things you should test for while keeping corals and how often? also what things do you use to add these things to the water and how often do you do that? I know about all the different tets just wasn't sure how often you should do all of this...

01/31/2008, 05:33 PM	#2
Savas Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Maryland / St. Thomas once a month Posts: 764	Test for the basics: salinity, pH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and calcium levels. I would also test for phosphates. Now as to levels you have some variance on salinity 1:021 - 1.026, pH can be from 8.2 - 8.4, ammonia, nitrites.nitrates should be as close to zero as possible. Calcium level will depend on exactly what you are raising in your tank. In the beginning, I tested daily, sometimes twice daily; now I test once a month. You will learn the signs of a healthy tank soon enough. __________________ If you can get your wife hooked into reef keeping, you can spend all the money you want! Current Tank Info: 24 gallon Aquapod Nanotuners 4.32 T-5 lighting upgrade; 24 gallon Aquapod with stock power compacts and actinic lighting; 12 gallon Aquapod with stock power compacts and actinic lighting.

01/31/2008, 05:35 PM	#3
Savas Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Maryland / St. Thomas once a month Posts: 764	I would actually add the clean up crew, then corals, and then some fish. You will have to feed the CUC for a while, but this seems the least stressful approach to me. Others will chime in with their thoughts I am sure. __________________ If you can get your wife hooked into reef keeping, you can spend all the money you want! Current Tank Info: 24 gallon Aquapod Nanotuners 4.32 T-5 lighting upgrade; 24 gallon Aquapod with stock power compacts and actinic lighting; 12 gallon Aquapod with stock power compacts and actinic lighting.

01/31/2008, 08:48 PM	#4
jamest0o0 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,325	Oh right now I have a pair of perculas, royal gramma, yellow damsel, and a fire shrimp but thanks __________________ Planning on new tank, been about 5-6 years since I've been in the hobby

02/01/2008, 06:27 AM	#5
dendro982 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 2,963	You already have 2 months of experience and a fish alive - corals shouldn't be a problem. Tests are already listed above, and a fish is a good indicator, if something is wrong. I would watch for ammonia first couple of weeks, just in case - it may rise fast, in hours, and fish will react on this. If all tests results are all right, but corals reaction is not good - add fresh carbon. How often to test - until you will feel sure: - alkalinity 3x a week for a 3 weeks maybe, then once a week for a months, or as necessary. Some tanks require more frequent testing, some - are stable and once a month is enough. - salinity - daily, until you catch up top off with evaporation rates, - nitrates, phosphates, Ca - once a week at beginning, once a month or as feel necessary - later. All additives, I'm using - raising Ca and Mg in newly prepared salt (if it is low in Ca and Mg), and alkalinity (Seachem dry Reef additives) a couple of times a week, but some tanks are holding alkalinity stable by themselves. Phosphate removing media is always in the sump. HTH. Good luck! __________________ Multiple Tank Syndrome: 15g shallow hi light - Xmas tree rocks, nps, sps, clams 6g shallow dark - sun corals collection 5g - sea apples NC12 - tube anemone 20g L - frogfish 125g - filefishes and lion Current Tank Info: 6 BB tanks: NPS, filter feeders and odd fish. LPS, sps and clams too