help with coral selection

dawaterboy · 06/17/2009, 07:57 AM

I have a 46g bow front that I changed from brackish to full salt last week. I will not be adding coral for at least another 60 to 90 days but I want to make sure I learn all I can before I make costly mistakes.
I have about 4 watts per gallon of lighting and was thinking of doing a mixture of hard and soft coral but am unsure if this is safe. I've read some things that say it is not but have seen pics with both fairly close to each other.

Sugar Magnolia · 06/17/2009, 08:17 AM

To Reef Central

What type of lighting is it? PC's?

greggnyce · 06/17/2009, 10:19 AM

Start with softies like mushrooms, zoanthids, toadstools, and others. It is better to learn with these then move to hard(sps) corals when you get the husbandry down.

Also what equipment do you have or plan to purchase?

+1 what kind of lights? they are not all created equal, watts per gallon is not a great way of measuring.

SL38 · 06/17/2009, 12:43 PM

Mushrooms and zoanthids will survive on almost any kind of lighting. Easiest to keep and very low maintenance

dawaterboy · 06/17/2009, 04:38 PM

lighting is a 36" current 96wx2 pc unit. i have a tetra tech ph500 with "custom" elbows on the blower out puts, and one koralia 2. the tank has 30pounds of sand in it, about 40 pounds of base rock, and 25 of lr. i have to move the tank at the end of the month and will be adding at least 20 pounds of live sand.

RWITT · 06/17/2009, 08:21 PM

im a little over 4 watts per g , 4- 65 watt current pc's on a 55g. I have both the softies and mushes and zoa's are middle to bottom and all the hard corals are middle and up

i was skepetical on the hards but they are doing fine right on the top,

Frenchcrkcorals · 06/17/2009, 10:35 PM

Mushrooms and green star polyps are both hardy corals. Zoanthids are tough too.

otrlynn · 06/18/2009, 06:54 AM

I started with mushrooms and wish that I hadn't. They grow easily in almost any type of light, but they spread all over the tank. It is almost impossible to remove them. So--particularly for a small tank, I'd encourage you to think about what your long term goal is. If it is a "softie" tank, then maybe you want to start with the mushrooms. If it is an LPS or SPS tank, then maybe you want to hold off on the mushrooms. Also, GSP is another coral that spreads easily. Best to isolate it on its own rock, unless you are looking for a tank covered in GSP. It will spread on sand also, although it is more easily removed from there.

Candy cane is a fairly hardy, moderate light LPS that you might want to look into.

otrlynn · 06/18/2009, 06:57 AM

Also, here is a great site with info about many types of coral.

http://www.asira.org/caresheets

06/17/2009, 07:57 AM	#1
dawaterboy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: waterford, mi Posts: 214	help with coral selection I have a 46g bow front that I changed from brackish to full salt last week. I will not be adding coral for at least another 60 to 90 days but I want to make sure I learn all I can before I make costly mistakes. I have about 4 watts per gallon of lighting and was thinking of doing a mixture of hard and soft coral but am unsure if this is safe. I've read some things that say it is not but have seen pics with both fairly close to each other.

06/17/2009, 08:17 AM	#2
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	*To Reef Central* What type of lighting is it? PC's? __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

06/17/2009, 10:19 AM	#3
greggnyce Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bellport, New York Posts: 1,782	Start with softies like mushrooms, zoanthids, toadstools, and others. It is better to learn with these then move to hard(sps) corals when you get the husbandry down. Also what equipment do you have or plan to purchase? +1 what kind of lights? they are not all created equal, watts per gallon is not a great way of measuring. __________________ What you talkin about Mrs Lime. Current Tank Info: 120 gl oceanic tech, 30 gallon fuge, 40 gallon sump, Itech 200 skimmer, LED Lighting . Mixed reef.

06/18/2009, 06:54 AM	#8
otrlynn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chester County PA Posts: 1,508	I started with mushrooms and wish that I hadn't. They grow easily in almost any type of light, but they spread all over the tank. It is almost impossible to remove them. So--particularly for a small tank, I'd encourage you to think about what your long term goal is. If it is a "softie" tank, then maybe you want to start with the mushrooms. If it is an LPS or SPS tank, then maybe you want to hold off on the mushrooms. Also, GSP is another coral that spreads easily. Best to isolate it on its own rock, unless you are looking for a tank covered in GSP. It will spread on sand also, although it is more easily removed from there. Candy cane is a fairly hardy, moderate light LPS that you might want to look into. __________________ Lynn 1 horse, 1 dog, 2 cats, small pond with a few koi. The fish tank is gone.

06/18/2009, 06:57 AM	#9
otrlynn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Chester County PA Posts: 1,508	Also, here is a great site with info about many types of coral. http://www.asira.org/caresheets __________________ Lynn 1 horse, 1 dog, 2 cats, small pond with a few koi. The fish tank is gone.

06/17/2009, 12:43 PM	#4
SL38 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Pasadena Area Posts: 85	Mushrooms and zoanthids will survive on almost any kind of lighting. Easiest to keep and very low maintenance

06/17/2009, 04:38 PM	#5
dawaterboy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: waterford, mi Posts: 214	lighting is a 36" current 96wx2 pc unit. i have a tetra tech ph500 with "custom" elbows on the blower out puts, and one koralia 2. the tank has 30pounds of sand in it, about 40 pounds of base rock, and 25 of lr. i have to move the tank at the end of the month and will be adding at least 20 pounds of live sand.

06/17/2009, 08:21 PM	#6
RWITT Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Fl Keys Posts: 47	im a little over 4 watts per g , 4- 65 watt current pc's on a 55g. I have both the softies and mushes and zoa's are middle to bottom and all the hard corals are middle and up i was skepetical on the hards but they are doing fine right on the top,

06/17/2009, 10:35 PM	#7
Frenchcrkcorals Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Redding, CA Posts: 45	Mushrooms and green star polyps are both hardy corals. Zoanthids are tough too.