beginner corals

marschgator · 12/27/2006, 12:35 PM

My tank has been up for just about a year now and I've finally gotten a skimmer that I trust and I think I'm ready to make the plunge into corals. My problem is I am running power compacts and I'm not putting out enough light for alot of corals (75 gallon tank 260 watts of light) and I am still a bit green on the whole saltwater tank thing and real green when it comes to corals. Also I have a 4 year old and a 9 month old that keep me extremely busy so there are times when my husbandry skills on my tank take a back seat. So basically my question is what kind of corals should I be looking at that don't need alot of light or a whole lot of attention? Also, what type of chemicals should I buy for my tank and the corals? Right now I'm adding an all purpose chemical that's supposed to re introduce minerals into the water that get used up but I don't know if this is enough. Any suggestions?

papagimp · 12/27/2006, 12:50 PM

chemicals that reintroduce minerals and trace elements in the water can be done away with if you do proper water changes with quality salt mix. for that amount of lighting, and depending upon how high up your rockwork will be, you can keep a large selction of different softies, leathers, shrooms, zoo's. The higher up spots in the tank can probably handle some LPS just fine as well. Avoid any HIGH LIGHT corals until you upgrade though. One thing to keep in mind, alot of the lower light corals that are very hardy and can stand a bit of abuse will usually grow very fast and can overtake a tank easily, like some shrooms, xenia, and green star polyps.
Avoid any small polyp stoney corals for now, most require high lighting. and avoid any non-photosynthetic corals, they dont' require lighting at all, but will require daily feedings, and if your tank takes a back seat once in awhile, this could easily effect these types.

fwiw, when I first set up my 55g, I had a similar light fixture (260watt PC) and I kept lot's of frogspawns, hammers, and other LPS as well. But some of these will need a little more TLC than some softies/leathers may.

hope all the babblering helps.

bertoni · 12/27/2006, 01:18 PM

Most soft corals are fine with lower light. I'd raise the salinity to 1.027-1.027 over a couple of weeks or so. You'll likely need to start supplementing calcium and alkalinity. Test kits for both parameters would be a very good idea. B-Ionic or a similar 2-part would be a good supplement system. This article might help:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm

There's a DIY recipe to save some money, too.

This article covers all the water parameters:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

It also discusses supplementation. I don't know what product you're using, so I can't comment on its safety or usefulness.

papagimp · 12/27/2006, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bertoni
You'll likely need to start supplementing calcium and alkalinity.

Unless you go softies and leathers, they really don't use alot of either. I have lot's of LPS and my tank has been up a year, they are just NOW starting to use enough calcium and alk to warrant dosing my tank. Only dose chemicals if you need to.

BurntOutReefer · 12/27/2006, 03:16 PM

Only Dose if you can test for them.....and agree with B-Ionic....

Swanwillow · 12/27/2006, 03:53 PM

softies AWAY!

sorry, had to, but low light corals, softies are great. you can keep zoanthids as long as you read the forum down below and understand thier toxicity. that said, I have a 5 year old and a 9 month old and zoanthids.

tube anemones and sun corals would be great, they don't need ANY light, but do need individual feedings, at least 3x a week. Tube anems are fun, so I'd say go for that.. they are planktivores, non photosynthetic. that means, no need for light, and the LOVE mysis shrimp, I can stick my hand in mine without a sting, and they aren't real sticky. and contrary to popular belief, they don't eat fish. Thats the other anemones.

mushrooms are fun, a rock anemone would be ok higher up on the rock. some macro algaes (I have a juge red kelp thing) are good.

oh, I have a 24 inch deep tank, with 2 62watt pc's on it.

12/27/2006, 12:35 PM	#1
marschgator Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Springfield Mo Posts: 95	beginner corals My tank has been up for just about a year now and I've finally gotten a skimmer that I trust and I think I'm ready to make the plunge into corals. My problem is I am running power compacts and I'm not putting out enough light for alot of corals (75 gallon tank 260 watts of light) and I am still a bit green on the whole saltwater tank thing and real green when it comes to corals. Also I have a 4 year old and a 9 month old that keep me extremely busy so there are times when my husbandry skills on my tank take a back seat. So basically my question is what kind of corals should I be looking at that don't need alot of light or a whole lot of attention? Also, what type of chemicals should I buy for my tank and the corals? Right now I'm adding an all purpose chemical that's supposed to re introduce minerals into the water that get used up but I don't know if this is enough. Any suggestions?

12/27/2006, 12:50 PM	#2
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	chemicals that reintroduce minerals and trace elements in the water can be done away with if you do proper water changes with quality salt mix. for that amount of lighting, and depending upon how high up your rockwork will be, you can keep a large selction of different softies, leathers, shrooms, zoo's. The higher up spots in the tank can probably handle some LPS just fine as well. Avoid any HIGH LIGHT corals until you upgrade though. One thing to keep in mind, alot of the lower light corals that are very hardy and can stand a bit of abuse will usually grow very fast and can overtake a tank easily, like some shrooms, xenia, and green star polyps. Avoid any small polyp stoney corals for now, most require high lighting. and avoid any non-photosynthetic corals, they dont' require lighting at all, but will require daily feedings, and if your tank takes a back seat once in awhile, this could easily effect these types. fwiw, when I first set up my 55g, I had a similar light fixture (260watt PC) and I kept lot's of frogspawns, hammers, and other LPS as well. But some of these will need a little more TLC than some softies/leathers may. hope all the babblering helps. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

12/27/2006, 01:18 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Most soft corals are fine with lower light. I'd raise the salinity to 1.027-1.027 over a couple of weeks or so. You'll likely need to start supplementing calcium and alkalinity. Test kits for both parameters would be a very good idea. B-Ionic or a similar 2-part would be a good supplement system. This article might help: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/feb2003/chem.htm There's a DIY recipe to save some money, too. This article covers all the water parameters: http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php It also discusses supplementation. I don't know what product you're using, so I can't comment on its safety or usefulness. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/27/2006, 03:53 PM	#6
Swanwillow goby girl Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Bemidji MN Posts: 2,025	softies AWAY! sorry, had to, but low light corals, softies are great. you can keep zoanthids as long as you read the forum down below and understand thier toxicity. that said, I have a 5 year old and a 9 month old and zoanthids. tube anemones and sun corals would be great, they don't need ANY light, but do need individual feedings, at least 3x a week. Tube anems are fun, so I'd say go for that.. they are planktivores, non photosynthetic. that means, no need for light, and the LOVE mysis shrimp, I can stick my hand in mine without a sting, and they aren't real sticky. and contrary to popular belief, they don't eat fish. Thats the other anemones. mushrooms are fun, a rock anemone would be ok higher up on the rock. some macro algaes (I have a juge red kelp thing) are good. oh, I have a 24 inch deep tank, with 2 62watt pc's on it. __________________ my advice:walk away. do nothing. til tomorrow. if its still alive, it will hopefully be fine. If you do not see it, do not try to find it. it may be hiding. just LEAVE it alone Current Tank Info: starting over! 125 gallon. Soon to be home to Blackfoot clowns, A. nigripes

12/27/2006, 03:16 PM	#5
BurntOutReefer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Granada Hills Posts: 4,376	Only Dose if you can test for them.....and agree with B-Ionic....