New To Coral.. Few Questions

plowro8 · 01/04/2014, 10:48 AM

I recently purchased a new light for my 36 gal tank and I want to make sure I have my ducks in a row before adding my first corals (looking at a few Green Candy Cane heads)... Please help me out with these few questions. I know there are different parameters for different corals, but GENERALY SPEAKING, am I on the right track with:

1. Light is 96 watts with three channels.... Channel 1 is 10,000k from 8am til 5pm, channel 2 is 420/460 from 8am til 6pm and channel 3 is lunar lighting.

2. I have two powerheads positioned to give flow at different angles, circulating about 700 gallons per hour.

3. I do 10% water changes weekly, or 20% every other week. Will I need to add any supplements to the water?

4. SG kept at 1.024 to 1.025

Thanks for the advice!

thegrun · 01/04/2014, 11:39 AM

I would cut down the photo period of the 10K light to 7-8 hours which is optimum for coral growth. You need to test your water for alkalinity, calcium and magnesium to determine if you need to dose (I would not dose anything else at this time besides the big three unless you determine there is compelling reason to do so). Your salinity is best kept at 1.025 or 1.026 for corals. Setting up an ATO would be a good long term investment saving you from the grind of making manual daily water changes and adding stability to your system. Many corals are sensitive to salinity changes, so an ATO could move into the "must Have" category for you. The type and quantity or corals you keep will ultimately determine if you need to dose anything. Topping off with kalk will likely keep your parameters stable until you have a lot of stony corals or clams. Best of luck, keep us posted with your progress.

plowro8 · 01/04/2014, 11:58 AM

Thank you very much, thegrun

plowro8 · 01/09/2014, 06:18 AM

Any advice on positioning of powerheads? I have two heads, both on the right side of the tank. One is positioned at the top - achieving good ripples at water level. The other is placed a few inches down and pointed at a 45 degree angle down toward the live rocks. Is there a science to this positioning? Should I have the heads on opposite ends of the tank?

BlindZide · 01/09/2014, 06:46 AM

Positioning of your power heads is going to greatly depend on coral placement. Each coral has a different requirement for flow. You will have to adjust accordingly.

With both power heads on one side of the tank, your corals may lean in one direction without any randomness. So placing them across from each other may achieve random flow.

A wavemaker controller may make this easier for you, check out my video here to see my power head placement and this one to see how my corals move with 2 pumps on a wavemaker and 1 WP25.

dppitone · 01/09/2014, 08:00 AM

What is your phosphate level?

UMass14 · 01/09/2014, 10:09 AM

Sounds like you know what you are doing. After you have your livestock or coral in there, you will have a better idea of how to adjust your powerheads.

01/04/2014, 10:48 AM	#1
plowro8 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 88	New To Coral.. Few Questions I recently purchased a new light for my 36 gal tank and I want to make sure I have my ducks in a row before adding my first corals (looking at a few Green Candy Cane heads)... Please help me out with these few questions. I know there are different parameters for different corals, but GENERALY SPEAKING, am I on the right track with: 1. Light is 96 watts with three channels.... Channel 1 is 10,000k from 8am til 5pm, channel 2 is 420/460 from 8am til 6pm and channel 3 is lunar lighting. 2. I have two powerheads positioned to give flow at different angles, circulating about 700 gallons per hour. 3. I do 10% water changes weekly, or 20% every other week. Will I need to add any supplements to the water? 4. SG kept at 1.024 to 1.025 Thanks for the advice!

01/09/2014, 06:46 AM	#5
BlindZide Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 1,273	Positioning of your power heads is going to greatly depend on coral placement. Each coral has a different requirement for flow. You will have to adjust accordingly. With both power heads on one side of the tank, your corals may lean in one direction without any randomness. So placing them across from each other may achieve random flow. A wavemaker controller may make this easier for you, check out my video here to see my power head placement and this one to see how my corals move with 2 pumps on a wavemaker and 1 WP25. __________________ ~Trent Biocube 14 Mixed Reef 75G LPS Reef

01/04/2014, 11:39 AM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	I would cut down the photo period of the 10K light to 7-8 hours which is optimum for coral growth. You need to test your water for alkalinity, calcium and magnesium to determine if you need to dose (I would not dose anything else at this time besides the big three unless you determine there is compelling reason to do so). Your salinity is best kept at 1.025 or 1.026 for corals. Setting up an ATO would be a good long term investment saving you from the grind of making manual daily water changes and adding stability to your system. Many corals are sensitive to salinity changes, so an ATO could move into the "must Have" category for you. The type and quantity or corals you keep will ultimately determine if you need to dose anything. Topping off with kalk will likely keep your parameters stable until you have a lot of stony corals or clams. Best of luck, keep us posted with your progress.

01/04/2014, 11:58 AM	#3
plowro8 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 88	Thank you very much, thegrun

01/09/2014, 06:18 AM	#4
plowro8 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 88	Any advice on positioning of powerheads? I have two heads, both on the right side of the tank. One is positioned at the top - achieving good ripples at water level. The other is placed a few inches down and pointed at a 45 degree angle down toward the live rocks. Is there a science to this positioning? Should I have the heads on opposite ends of the tank?

01/09/2014, 08:00 AM	#6
dppitone Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Queen Village, Phila. Posts: 1,697	What is your phosphate level?

01/09/2014, 10:09 AM	#7
UMass14 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: SO CAL Posts: 197	Sounds like you know what you are doing. After you have your livestock or coral in there, you will have a better idea of how to adjust your powerheads.