Thinking of coral

brushman · 02/25/2007, 10:36 PM

I love how corals look, but I am not sure if I should go soft corals or not. Could I mix them up? Also, how easy are they to take care of?
I will be upgrading my tank to at least 100 gallon in the near future.

theatrus · 02/25/2007, 10:46 PM

Quite possible to mix both stony and soft corals. In general, soft corals are easier to take care of due to lower tank demands.

All corals require lighting far beyond normal output fluorescent strip lamps. Compact fluorescent lighting (amount depending on size and depth of tank) is adequate for most soft corals and some hard corals. They also require stable water parameters (pH, Alk, Ca, temperature).

What is your current setup? Water parameters?

What corals specifically are you interested in?

brushman · 02/25/2007, 10:55 PM

The tank is a 20 gal high..I just had the water tested from a local shop and they told me everything was fine. I checked it tonight and the ammonia was a little up, but I did about a gallon or so water change.

Not really sure of the names of the corals...but I really like your Crocea.

kau_cinta_ku · 02/25/2007, 10:58 PM

what type of lights do you have?

not sure about trusting the LFS to do your testing anymore if they told you that your fine but you said you still have ammonia. if you would have put stuff in with ammonia they would not survive. i would start testing things yourself

magdelan · 02/25/2007, 11:02 PM

I would wait until your water parameters are spot on ie, no amonia before getting a clam. They need good lighting and very good water quality. As for corals, you could start out with anthellia, maybe some zoos, mushrooms, or leathers. Good luck!

brushman · 02/25/2007, 11:08 PM

I have a new light system arriving Tuesday. It is a Coralife Lunar Aqualights Compact Fluorescent Strip Lights

Features:

* Silent built-in electronic ballasts
* Powerful cooling fan (2 in the 72")
* Highly-polished reflector
* Acrylic lens cover
* 3 on/off switches
* 3 power cords for convenient independent timer operation
* Remote LED ballast
* Mounting legs
* Appropriate number of Lunar Blue-Moon-Glow LEDs with Actinic and 10000Â°K bulbs

Length Wattage Base Moon Light
24" 130 watt
(2-65 watt) 21"Straight Pin 2-3/4-watt

cyclops23 · 02/25/2007, 11:51 PM

i'd start with some zoo's. they come in a ton of different colors. some can be kinda expensive, but they are pretty hardy.

brushman · 02/25/2007, 11:59 PM

Do you have any photos of zoo's?

theatrus · 02/25/2007, 11:59 PM

Zoo/zoanthids are a popular choice. So are mushrooms (except for ricordas).

brushman · 02/26/2007, 12:00 AM

What are their growth rate?

Radioheed · 02/26/2007, 12:10 AM

i have the same lights and same size tank...i've had mine set up since August with only LR and cleanup crew while i figure out my alk/Ca balance, keeping my SG stable, and dealing with algae...there's a lot you need to consider before putting corals in there, and you should never go by your LFS tests....get you some salifert (at least) and test regularly

also if you're planning on moving to a larger tank, i'm 99.9% sure you're going to have at least a mini-cycle...which might kill corals.

IMO i would keep the 20 as a reef and make the 100 a FOWLR...that's what i'm going to do with my 20g and 75g

jpa0741 · 02/26/2007, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Radioheed
i have the same lights and same size tank...i've had mine set up since August with only LR and cleanup crew while i figure out my alk/Ca balance, keeping my SG stable, and dealing with algae...there's a lot you need to consider before putting corals in there, and you should never go by your LFS tests....get you some salifert (at least) and test regularly

also if you're planning on moving to a larger tank, i'm 99.9% sure you're going to have at least a mini-cycle...which might kill corals.

IMO i would keep the 20 as a reef and make the 100 a FOWLR...that's what i'm going to do with my 20g and 75g

Many people have upgraded to a larger tank succesfully.

brushman · 02/26/2007, 12:17 AM

what is a fowlr tank?

Radioheed · 02/26/2007, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jpa0741
Many people have upgraded to a larger tank succesfully.

just saying "noobs" like myself might find it difficult...

FOWLR = Fish Only With Live Rock

brushman · 02/26/2007, 12:25 AM

am I limited to the amount of coral I can have in the 20 gallon?

Radioheed · 02/26/2007, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by brushman
am I limited to the amount of coral I can have in the 20 gallon?

not by the size of your tank but rather by your light (also depends on your flow and of course params). i have done a lot of research on what i can keep (again same light/tank) and feel pretty sure that someday, when my tank is ready, i can keep shrooms, zoanthids, LPS like frogspawn and hammers, but no SPS, er clams......different types of coral need different amounts of light

brushman · 02/26/2007, 12:57 AM

thanks for the heads up...wish me luck

hmello@bermexin · 02/26/2007, 07:20 AM

If you want to know about Zoanthids a little a good site is zoaid.com

reefworm · 02/26/2007, 12:24 PM

brushman - pick up a copy of Borneman's Aquarium Corals before you buy anything. It's a terrific source of info on the corals, plus Eric writes from a keeper's point of view. Unless you're willing to shell out the bucks and effort for MH, don't even think about sps [Small Polyp Stony] corals or clams. If you stay with power compact lighting, you can keep soft corals, mushrooms and lps [Large Polyp Stony] corals. I'd place the latter higher up for max light exposure.

A bit of advice in this hobby - don't allow your enthusiasm [a Great Thing] drive you to move quickly [a Bad Thing]. Follow the perspective that good things happen slowly and bad things happen quickly and you'll save lots of $$ and heartache.

brushman · 02/26/2007, 12:26 PM

thanks for the advise...I will see if I can find a copy of that book

02/25/2007, 10:46 PM	#2
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	Quite possible to mix both stony and soft corals. In general, soft corals are easier to take care of due to lower tank demands. All corals require lighting far beyond normal output fluorescent strip lamps. Compact fluorescent lighting (amount depending on size and depth of tank) is adequate for most soft corals and some hard corals. They also require stable water parameters (pH, Alk, Ca, temperature). What is your current setup? Water parameters? What corals specifically are you interested in? __________________ Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics

02/25/2007, 11:02 PM	#5
magdelan Fish? Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Gananda, NY Posts: 3,785	I would wait until your water parameters are spot on ie, no amonia before getting a clam. They need good lighting and very good water quality. As for corals, you could start out with anthellia, maybe some zoos, mushrooms, or leathers. Good luck! __________________ "Excuses are the tools of the weak and incompetent, used to build monuments of nothingness. Those who specialize in them, are seldom capable of anything else."

02/25/2007, 11:59 PM	#9
theatrus 100-mile-commuter Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: almost nevada Posts: 4,721	Zoo/zoanthids are a popular choice. So are mushrooms (except for ricordas). __________________ Custom electronics purveyor. blueAcro.com Current Tank Info: 90g SPS+mixed reef (10 yrs): LEDBrick LEDs, 40g custom sump, Ca reactor, chiller, Vortech, lots of custom electronics

02/26/2007, 12:10 AM	#11
Radioheed Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: St. Petersburg, Fl Posts: 275	i have the same lights and same size tank...i've had mine set up since August with only LR and cleanup crew while i figure out my alk/Ca balance, keeping my SG stable, and dealing with algae...there's a lot you need to consider before putting corals in there, and you should never go by your LFS tests....get you some salifert (at least) and test regularly also if you're planning on moving to a larger tank, i'm 99.9% sure you're going to have at least a mini-cycle...which might kill corals. IMO i would keep the 20 as a reef and make the 100 a FOWLR...that's what i'm going to do with my 20g and 75g __________________ 26g AGA Bow, Current Orbit LED, Tunze 9002, Tunze Nano Osmolator, 200gph HOB, Koralia 425, MJ400, 25 lbs Real Reef LR, 10 lbs base.

02/26/2007, 07:20 AM	#18
hmello@bermexin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,205	If you want to know about Zoanthids a little a good site is zoaid.com __________________ Henry Somewhere something incredible is waiting to be known. Current Tank Info: 29g BioCube, AI SOL 12" Super Blue

02/25/2007, 10:55 PM	#3
brushman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Maine Posts: 33	The tank is a 20 gal high..I just had the water tested from a local shop and they told me everything was fine. I checked it tonight and the ammonia was a little up, but I did about a gallon or so water change. Not really sure of the names of the corals...but I really like your Crocea.

02/25/2007, 10:58 PM	#4
kau_cinta_ku Moved On Join Date: May 2005 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 8,669	what type of lights do you have? not sure about trusting the LFS to do your testing anymore if they told you that your fine but you said you still have ammonia. if you would have put stuff in with ammonia they would not survive. i would start testing things yourself

02/25/2007, 11:08 PM	#6
brushman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Maine Posts: 33	I have a new light system arriving Tuesday. It is a Coralife Lunar Aqualights Compact Fluorescent Strip Lights Features: * Silent built-in electronic ballasts * Powerful cooling fan (2 in the 72") * Highly-polished reflector * Acrylic lens cover * 3 on/off switches * 3 power cords for convenient independent timer operation * Remote LED ballast * Mounting legs * Appropriate number of Lunar Blue-Moon-Glow LEDs with Actinic and 10000Â°K bulbs Length Wattage Base Moon Light 24" 130 watt (2-65 watt) 21"Straight Pin 2-3/4-watt

02/25/2007, 11:51 PM	#7
cyclops23 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milton, WI Posts: 613	i'd start with some zoo's. they come in a ton of different colors. some can be kinda expensive, but they are pretty hardy.

02/26/2007, 12:00 AM	#10
brushman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Maine Posts: 33	What are their growth rate?

02/26/2007, 12:17 AM	#13
brushman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Maine Posts: 33	what is a fowlr tank?

02/26/2007, 12:25 AM	#15
brushman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Maine Posts: 33	am I limited to the amount of coral I can have in the 20 gallon?

02/26/2007, 12:57 AM	#17
brushman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Maine Posts: 33	thanks for the heads up...wish me luck

02/26/2007, 12:24 PM	#19
reefworm Registered Member Join Date: May 2000 Location: Waxhaw, NC USA Posts: 2,139	brushman - pick up a copy of Borneman's Aquarium Corals before you buy anything. It's a terrific source of info on the corals, plus Eric writes from a keeper's point of view. Unless you're willing to shell out the bucks and effort for MH, don't even think about sps [Small Polyp Stony] corals or clams. If you stay with power compact lighting, you can keep soft corals, mushrooms and lps [Large Polyp Stony] corals. I'd place the latter higher up for max light exposure. A bit of advice in this hobby - don't allow your enthusiasm [a Great Thing] drive you to move quickly [a Bad Thing]. Follow the perspective that good things happen slowly and bad things happen quickly and you'll save lots of $$ and heartache. __________________ "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." - Thomas Jefferson Current Tank Info: 29 gal. reef/assist with 75 gal. at the school

02/26/2007, 12:26 PM	#20
brushman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Maine Posts: 33	thanks for the advise...I will see if I can find a copy of that book