help with adding coral!!

hamcam80 · 09/13/2007, 06:32 AM

I am a newbie, just trying to learn about keeping a reef. I have been slowly adding live rock, and all is going well so far. Things are growing and stuff. My question is.... When I buy coral, how do I put it in the tank? Do I attach it with epoxy, or will it attach itself? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have a toadstool leather and bubble coral on order from the internet. ( my first internet order, hoping it's not a disaster!)

currentking · 09/13/2007, 06:51 AM

they sont really need to be attached to a rock. what kind of lights are you using? Its good to start the coral out low and slowly move it up

hamcam80 · 09/13/2007, 06:56 AM

right now i am using a flourecent marine glo and a natural daylight, but have been looking up better lighting without the heat from mh. My tank also has quite a strong waterflow, should I protect them against it? TYVm for ur reply.

rlee81indy · 09/13/2007, 08:44 AM

I would definately upgrade lighting. PC would probablysuffice and be a less expensive option, although you will have to replace bulbs about every six months. I personally favor MH. Right now I have a PC dual 65 watt and dual atinic, but I will be adding pendulum MH to my new 75. As for the coral, Normally when I buy coral its already attatched to a small peice of rock and I just find a spot to fit into my aquascape. There are coral glues if not but if you set it in a low flow area it should attatch....just my 2 cents....good luck and post some pics when they are in

beaupierce · 09/13/2007, 09:18 AM

You lighting will def need to be upgraded. Probably ok for the softies, but is you want any sps or anything else you may want to think about getting MH. Get on the do it yourself forum and you can do it fairly cheap.
Also be careful with the skimmer you have as it is notorious for causing issues. One more thing you may need at least 4 powerheads to move the water around instead of two. You must "feed" the coral form all angles for it to be healthy. Think about sea swirls as they are the best. If you have any other questions Pm me and I can help. Post some pics too that would help!
Cheers

Avi · 09/13/2007, 10:38 AM

There are a lot of ways to place the coral in the rockwork...It depends on a number of things, though...like whether or not the coral is already mounted on a rock...how big that rock is...whether you want it to be on the top of a ledge or vertically mounted on the face of a rock. Some coral do best that way, like Blastomussa. But, in short, if the coral isn't mounted on a rock already, consider using a suitable epoxy and placing a dab of crazy glue gel on the places where the base of the coral meed the epoxy and where the epoxy meets the rockwork that it's being attached to.

hamcam80 · 09/13/2007, 10:40 AM

thank you all for your suggestions. It should be here soon. I will post some pics when it does.

hamcam80 · 09/14/2007, 07:12 AM

i put a few pics in my gallery, won't let me post them here for some reason. Have a look. The pics are about 10 hrs after getting them.

09/13/2007, 06:32 AM	#1
hamcam80 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Brunswick Posts: 12	help with adding coral!! I am a newbie, just trying to learn about keeping a reef. I have been slowly adding live rock, and all is going well so far. Things are growing and stuff. My question is.... When I buy coral, how do I put it in the tank? Do I attach it with epoxy, or will it attach itself? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I have a toadstool leather and bubble coral on order from the internet. ( my first internet order, hoping it's not a disaster!) __________________ I think a drug problem would be cheaper!!! Current Tank Info: 77 gal,marine and dayglo,seaclone skimmer, fluval fx5 filter, 2 powerheads, undergravel filter, 2 200 watt heaters, mixed(reef and fish) 50 lbs crushed coral, 30 lbs live rock(more coming) , turbo snails, shrimp, a few corals, starfish and a few fish

09/13/2007, 06:56 AM	#3
hamcam80 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Brunswick Posts: 12	right now i am using a flourecent marine glo and a natural daylight, but have been looking up better lighting without the heat from mh. My tank also has quite a strong waterflow, should I protect them against it? TYVm for ur reply. __________________ I think a drug problem would be cheaper!!! Current Tank Info: 77 gal,marine and dayglo,seaclone skimmer, fluval fx5 filter, 2 powerheads, undergravel filter, 2 200 watt heaters, mixed(reef and fish) 50 lbs crushed coral, 30 lbs live rock(more coming) , turbo snails, shrimp, a few corals, starfish and a few fish

09/13/2007, 10:38 AM	#6
Avi Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Westchester County, NY Posts: 7,327	There are a lot of ways to place the coral in the rockwork...It depends on a number of things, though...like whether or not the coral is already mounted on a rock...how big that rock is...whether you want it to be on the top of a ledge or vertically mounted on the face of a rock. Some coral do best that way, like Blastomussa. But, in short, if the coral isn't mounted on a rock already, consider using a suitable epoxy and placing a dab of crazy glue gel on the places where the base of the coral meed the epoxy and where the epoxy meets the rockwork that it's being attached to. __________________ I'd keep the whole ocean if my den were big enough Current Tank Info: 120 gallon reef with 210 lbs. of live rock, Aqua-C EV180 Skimmer, Aquactinic double 250W MH with blue plus t5 support; 58 gallon freshwater planted tank using CO2 and T5s; 30-gallon cube with a few fancy goldfish; and a 110 gallon FOWLR

09/13/2007, 10:40 AM	#7
hamcam80 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Brunswick Posts: 12	thank you all for your suggestions. It should be here soon. I will post some pics when it does. __________________ I think a drug problem would be cheaper!!! Current Tank Info: 77 gal,marine and dayglo,seaclone skimmer, fluval fx5 filter, 2 powerheads, undergravel filter, 2 200 watt heaters, mixed(reef and fish) 50 lbs crushed coral, 30 lbs live rock(more coming) , turbo snails, shrimp, a few corals, starfish and a few fish

09/14/2007, 07:12 AM	#8
hamcam80 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Brunswick Posts: 12	i put a few pics in my gallery, won't let me post them here for some reason. Have a look. The pics are about 10 hrs after getting them. __________________ I think a drug problem would be cheaper!!! Current Tank Info: 77 gal,marine and dayglo,seaclone skimmer, fluval fx5 filter, 2 powerheads, undergravel filter, 2 200 watt heaters, mixed(reef and fish) 50 lbs crushed coral, 30 lbs live rock(more coming) , turbo snails, shrimp, a few corals, starfish and a few fish

09/13/2007, 06:51 AM	#2
currentking Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Palm Bay Florida Posts: 868	they sont really need to be attached to a rock. what kind of lights are you using? Its good to start the coral out low and slowly move it up

09/13/2007, 08:44 AM	#4
rlee81indy Moved On Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Fort Carson, Co. Posts: 305	I would definately upgrade lighting. PC would probablysuffice and be a less expensive option, although you will have to replace bulbs about every six months. I personally favor MH. Right now I have a PC dual 65 watt and dual atinic, but I will be adding pendulum MH to my new 75. As for the coral, Normally when I buy coral its already attatched to a small peice of rock and I just find a spot to fit into my aquascape. There are coral glues if not but if you set it in a low flow area it should attatch....just my 2 cents....good luck and post some pics when they are in

09/13/2007, 09:18 AM	#5
beaupierce Moved On Join Date: May 2004 Location: Nipomo, CA Posts: 419	You lighting will def need to be upgraded. Probably ok for the softies, but is you want any sps or anything else you may want to think about getting MH. Get on the do it yourself forum and you can do it fairly cheap. Also be careful with the skimmer you have as it is notorious for causing issues. One more thing you may need at least 4 powerheads to move the water around instead of two. You must "feed" the coral form all angles for it to be healthy. Think about sea swirls as they are the best. If you have any other questions Pm me and I can help. Post some pics too that would help! Cheers