what do I need to add

kaddy522 · 01/21/2009, 09:40 PM

So my aquarium is only a 55 gallon, and has only had fish and an anemone in it. I have a 130 watt on one side and a 99 watts on the other. The anemone has been in there for three years and has been doing really good. So I wanted to start a coral tank, and I had bought some green star polyps. The stars will not come out. When I test my water I have only tested for ph, nitrate, and ammonia. So if my levels are correct and the temp in my tank is at 82 like the guy told me then what else do I need to do with this tank. Is there other chemicals such as iodine that I should be adding and testing for. Please help.

Thank you

dalston · 01/21/2009, 09:56 PM

When did you add the polyps? they take a while to acclimate to your tank and open

46FiatYamaha · 01/21/2009, 09:57 PM

How long have you had the star polyps? I've bought live rock from a LFS before, and didn't realize it had star polyps until about three days after it was in my tank. If it hasn't been very long I would just wait without adjusting anything yet, they are incredibly hardy and not very many circumstances that they won't open and grow

ahullsb · 01/21/2009, 10:09 PM

You need to test for Alkalinity, Calcium and Magnesium. The first two are more important IMO than the ones you mentioned in an established tank. It could be the reason your polyps will not extend. My opinion is not to add Iodine. It can cause just as much harm as good. Frequent water changes and decent salt will have enough iodine for your needs. I think a good rule of thumb is: Not to dose anything you don't test for.

texhorns98 · 01/21/2009, 10:17 PM

My Green Stars didn't really start to look good until about 3 weeks after I put them in. Give it some time and you should be fine. What did you mean by 130 watts on on side and 99 on the other though? Heaters?

kaddy522 · 01/22/2009, 12:21 AM

I got the star polyps on friday. I noticed tonight that they have been moving toward another rock. I don't know if they can do that or if the fish have bothered them.

Lighting question is that i have two 30" lights one is 130 watts and the other is 99 watts. I do have one heater in the tank right now thought about adding another.

Thank you for telling what else I need to test for because I will do that this week.

Thank you

01/21/2009, 09:40 PM	#1
kaddy522 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 113	what do I need to add So my aquarium is only a 55 gallon, and has only had fish and an anemone in it. I have a 130 watt on one side and a 99 watts on the other. The anemone has been in there for three years and has been doing really good. So I wanted to start a coral tank, and I had bought some green star polyps. The stars will not come out. When I test my water I have only tested for ph, nitrate, and ammonia. So if my levels are correct and the temp in my tank is at 82 like the guy told me then what else do I need to do with this tank. Is there other chemicals such as iodine that I should be adding and testing for. Please help. Thank you

01/21/2009, 09:56 PM	#2
dalston Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 1,336	When did you add the polyps? they take a while to acclimate to your tank and open __________________ The trouble with quotes on the internet is that you can never know if they are genuine - Abraham Lincoln An Englishman, even if he is alone, forms an orderly queue of one - George Mikes

01/21/2009, 10:09 PM	#4
ahullsb Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: sacramento, ca Posts: 2,729	You need to test for Alkalinity, Calcium and Magnesium. The first two are more important IMO than the ones you mentioned in an established tank. It could be the reason your polyps will not extend. My opinion is not to add Iodine. It can cause just as much harm as good. Frequent water changes and decent salt will have enough iodine for your needs. I think a good rule of thumb is: Not to dose anything you don't test for. __________________ Andy Sacramento, CA Current Tank Info: 55 gallon reef w/20 gallon sump/ER135/ 75 pounds of live rock, 4 in sandbed, 2 b&w ocellaris clowns, yellow watchman/pistol, rosy scaled wrasse, Mystery wrasse, Copperbanded Butterfly, Lighting 48" outer orbit 2 150 mh/ 4 t5 actinics

01/21/2009, 09:57 PM	#3
46FiatYamaha Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Matthews NC Posts: 990	How long have you had the star polyps? I've bought live rock from a LFS before, and didn't realize it had star polyps until about three days after it was in my tank. If it hasn't been very long I would just wait without adjusting anything yet, they are incredibly hardy and not very many circumstances that they won't open and grow

01/21/2009, 10:17 PM	#5
texhorns98 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 732	My Green Stars didn't really start to look good until about 3 weeks after I put them in. Give it some time and you should be fine. What did you mean by 130 watts on on side and 99 on the other though? Heaters?

01/22/2009, 12:21 AM	#6
kaddy522 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 113	I got the star polyps on friday. I noticed tonight that they have been moving toward another rock. I don't know if they can do that or if the fish have bothered them. Lighting question is that i have two 30" lights one is 130 watts and the other is 99 watts. I do have one heater in the tank right now thought about adding another. Thank you for telling what else I need to test for because I will do that this week. Thank you