to reef or not to reef?

solastsummer · 05/07/2008, 10:01 PM

I have had only a few months of Saltwater experience. Just a few, i found a great deal on a t5 fixture with 4x54 watt bulbs for 100 dollars. I would like to reef but im so scared of like... maitanace, I would have no idea of what to do. I would buy a book... of course. But if i were to, what are some suggestons of easy to keep corals and such to keep. Thank you!

Aquarist007 · 05/07/2008, 10:15 PM

so has your tank been fowlr to this point--if so what kind of fish to you have--some of them might not be coral or invertebrate safe--eg they might eat them

I would start with some easy to keep LPS
leathers
colt coral
kenya tree
torch coral
zoos
bubble corals

Once you start to add corals then you need to be concerned with levels of the following: calcium, magnesium, alkalinity, phosphates and pH
It sounds daunting but if you go on a two part dosing system it takes about 2 mins a night to take care of your tank parameters

solastsummer · 05/07/2008, 10:17 PM

well all my fish are coral safe, i have a baby baby porc that wont be invert safe but everyone im talking to says that he probably wont bother corals, yeah its been fowlr up until now

solastsummer · 05/08/2008, 01:53 AM

ok so as of now i check my paramaters once a week, would i have to change to daily, and if then there is no way im going to do test tube kits... Are there dip tests for them?

Playa-1 · 05/08/2008, 02:22 AM

Weekly testing should be sufficient. Corals just require that you keep track of more water parameters. Your tank needs proper flow and lighting. The water quality needs to be stable. Maintenance is not that big of an issue. Some corals have special feeding requirements that your going to want to be aware of before acquiring them.
As far as the t-5 fixture that you mentioned. You need to make sure the t-5 lighting would be sufficient for your tank before you jump on something like that. Consideration should be given to how deep the tank is and what type of livestock you intend to keep.
You also have to be more aware of what you put in the tank. You don't want fish eating the cleanup crew when you need the clean up crew to help you maintain the tank.
If you want to keep corals then I would say go for it. Just make sure you do all your home work before you jump in. I think once you do the homework you will realize it's not that complicated.

solastsummer · 05/08/2008, 09:21 AM

the thing is, i have a porcupine puffer and i have heard alot of people that have great sucsess with them and some that have no sucsess with it, are having shrimp to cleanup absolutly nessasary. I know he will be good with corals but its the inverts im worried about

bgkingd340 · 05/08/2008, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by solastsummer
well all my fish are coral safe, i have a baby baby porc that wont be invert safe but everyone im talking to says that he probably wont bother corals, yeah its been fowlr up until now

this dosing system would this be all one needed if not all that experienced in dosing

bgkingd340 · 05/08/2008, 09:27 AM

this dosing system would this be all one needed if not all that experienced in dosing

Quote:

Originally posted by capn_hylinur
so has your tank been fowlr to this point--if so what kind of fish to you have--some of them might not be coral or invertebrate safe--eg they might eat them

I would start with some easy to keep LPS
leathers
colt coral
kenya tree
torch coral
zoos
bubble corals

Once you start to add corals then you need to be concerned with levels of the following: calcium, magnesium, alkalinity, phosphates and pH
It sounds daunting but if you go on a two part dosing system it takes about 2 mins a night to take care of your tank parameters

solastsummer · 05/08/2008, 09:52 AM

the thing is, i have a porcupine puffer and i have heard alot of people that have great sucsess with them and some that have no sucsess with it, are having shrimp to cleanup absolutly nessasary. I know he will be good with corals but its the inverts im worried about

kyelr · 05/08/2008, 10:00 AM

Like you said, some people have luck with them, some don't. Our porcupine puffer is fine with corals and inverts, but other people can't keep them in their tanks... It's up to you, make a choice, or test it out with something cheap... It's your call!

kyelr · 05/08/2008, 10:01 AM

Oh and FYI, I wish we'd never started corals -- kind of a hastle and I enjoy the fish more by themselves...

Aquarist007 · 05/08/2008, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by kyelr
Like you said, some people have luck with them, some don't. Our porcupine puffer is fine with corals and inverts, but other people can't keep them in their tanks... It's up to you, make a choice, or test it out with something cheap... It's your call!

good point --throw some xenia in with it now and see what happens

solastsummer · 05/08/2008, 10:24 AM

does xenia not need improved lighting

Playa-1 · 05/08/2008, 11:39 AM

Xenia is like a weed. My experience is that it grows like crazy.

Kalk is a good inexpensive way to dose when your starting out. It is all you would need along with your regular water changes. You can always upgrade later if necessary.

The Puffer issue is hit or miss I would say. You don't necessarily need ornamental shrimp but your not going to want fish that nip at corals or eat your snails.

05/07/2008, 10:01 PM	#1
solastsummer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 419	to reef or not to reef? I have had only a few months of Saltwater experience. Just a few, i found a great deal on a t5 fixture with 4x54 watt bulbs for 100 dollars. I would like to reef but im so scared of like... maitanace, I would have no idea of what to do. I would buy a book... of course. But if i were to, what are some suggestons of easy to keep corals and such to keep. Thank you!

05/07/2008, 10:15 PM	#2
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	so has your tank been fowlr to this point--if so what kind of fish to you have--some of them might not be coral or invertebrate safe--eg they might eat them I would start with some easy to keep LPS leathers colt coral kenya tree torch coral zoos bubble corals Once you start to add corals then you need to be concerned with levels of the following: calcium, magnesium, alkalinity, phosphates and pH It sounds daunting but if you go on a two part dosing system it takes about 2 mins a night to take care of your tank parameters __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

05/07/2008, 10:17 PM	#3
solastsummer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 419	well all my fish are coral safe, i have a baby baby porc that wont be invert safe but everyone im talking to says that he probably wont bother corals, yeah its been fowlr up until now

05/08/2008, 01:53 AM	#4
solastsummer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 419	ok so as of now i check my paramaters once a week, would i have to change to daily, and if then there is no way im going to do test tube kits... Are there dip tests for them?

05/08/2008, 02:22 AM	#5
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	Weekly testing should be sufficient. Corals just require that you keep track of more water parameters. Your tank needs proper flow and lighting. The water quality needs to be stable. Maintenance is not that big of an issue. Some corals have special feeding requirements that your going to want to be aware of before acquiring them. As far as the t-5 fixture that you mentioned. You need to make sure the t-5 lighting would be sufficient for your tank before you jump on something like that. Consideration should be given to how deep the tank is and what type of livestock you intend to keep. You also have to be more aware of what you put in the tank. You don't want fish eating the cleanup crew when you need the clean up crew to help you maintain the tank. If you want to keep corals then I would say go for it. Just make sure you do all your home work before you jump in. I think once you do the homework you will realize it's not that complicated.

05/08/2008, 09:21 AM	#6
solastsummer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 419	the thing is, i have a porcupine puffer and i have heard alot of people that have great sucsess with them and some that have no sucsess with it, are having shrimp to cleanup absolutly nessasary. I know he will be good with corals but its the inverts im worried about

05/08/2008, 09:52 AM	#9
solastsummer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 419	the thing is, i have a porcupine puffer and i have heard alot of people that have great sucsess with them and some that have no sucsess with it, are having shrimp to cleanup absolutly nessasary. I know he will be good with corals but its the inverts im worried about

05/08/2008, 10:00 AM	#10
kyelr Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: In between St. Louis and Columbia Posts: 51	Like you said, some people have luck with them, some don't. Our porcupine puffer is fine with corals and inverts, but other people can't keep them in their tanks... It's up to you, make a choice, or test it out with something cheap... It's your call!

05/08/2008, 10:01 AM	#11
kyelr Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: In between St. Louis and Columbia Posts: 51	Oh and FYI, I wish we'd never started corals -- kind of a hastle and I enjoy the fish more by themselves...

05/08/2008, 10:24 AM	#13
solastsummer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Idaho Posts: 419	does xenia not need improved lighting

05/08/2008, 11:39 AM	#14
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	Xenia is like a weed. My experience is that it grows like crazy. Kalk is a good inexpensive way to dose when your starting out. It is all you would need along with your regular water changes. You can always upgrade later if necessary. The Puffer issue is hit or miss I would say. You don't necessarily need ornamental shrimp but your not going to want fish that nip at corals or eat your snails.