Water stability w/ coral only

dahouck · 12/06/2009, 09:18 PM

This may be a stupid question, but...

I've only kept FOWLR tanks.

What are the considerations for coral only? I know they require stricter water parameters but aren't fish the inhabitants that cause all the chemical problems?

I know the basics regarding nitrates but don't fish generate the nitrates? Are water changes, sumps, prot. skimmers, etc necessary for coral only?

Thanks

bertoni · 12/06/2009, 09:24 PM

Water changes are definitely useful for keeping corals. Various compounds will build up in the water, and supplements, etc, will shift the ionic balance. That said, coral-only tanks are easier to keep, in my experience. I saw better results with skimming and carbon, which makes sense, and keeping nutrients under control is easier, too, with appropriate animal choices.

sedor · 12/06/2009, 09:26 PM

Nitrates don't affect fish unless very high, but they are deadly to corals. That is why we use so much more equipment on a full reef as opposed to a FOWLR. Fish among other things generate nitrates. Basically its just the organic material breaking down in your system.

I have kept softies in a skimmerless tank for a while, and even had small amounts of nitrates in that system, but if your going to be keeping SPS and most LPS you will need a little more equipment to try and keep those numbers as low as possible. In a mixed reef I think its best to shoot for under 10 and in an SPS reef you basically don't want to be able to detect it on your test kit.

mmopinc · 12/06/2009, 10:48 PM

Try to use an auto top off system for your tank to help stability

loosecannon · 12/07/2009, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dahouck

This may be a stupid question, but...

I've only kept FOWLR tanks.

What are the considerations for coral only? I know they require stricter water parameters but aren't fish the inhabitants that cause all the chemical problems?

I know the basics regarding nitrates but don't fish generate the nitrates? Are water changes, sumps, prot. skimmers, etc necessary for coral only?

Thanks

Yes still all necessary!

csueeman · 12/07/2009, 07:41 PM

You will probably still need to add some kind of food source to the tank every once in a while. Doesn't have to be much but most corals are going need something. But I have found doing only coral that you can do light to no skimming as long as you really aren't dumping lots of food in. But a little gives you some great growth!

12/06/2009, 09:18 PM	#1
dahouck Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Southern California Posts: 48	Water stability w/ coral only This may be a stupid question, but... I've only kept FOWLR tanks. What are the considerations for coral only? I know they require stricter water parameters but aren't fish the inhabitants that cause all the chemical problems? I know the basics regarding nitrates but don't fish generate the nitrates? Are water changes, sumps, prot. skimmers, etc necessary for coral only? Thanks

12/06/2009, 09:24 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Water changes are definitely useful for keeping corals. Various compounds will build up in the water, and supplements, etc, will shift the ionic balance. That said, coral-only tanks are easier to keep, in my experience. I saw better results with skimming and carbon, which makes sense, and keeping nutrients under control is easier, too, with appropriate animal choices. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/06/2009, 09:26 PM	#3
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,689	Nitrates don't affect fish unless very high, but they are deadly to corals. That is why we use so much more equipment on a full reef as opposed to a FOWLR. Fish among other things generate nitrates. Basically its just the organic material breaking down in your system. I have kept softies in a skimmerless tank for a while, and even had small amounts of nitrates in that system, but if your going to be keeping SPS and most LPS you will need a little more equipment to try and keep those numbers as low as possible. In a mixed reef I think its best to shoot for under 10 and in an SPS reef you basically don't want to be able to detect it on your test kit. __________________ Ryan

12/06/2009, 10:48 PM	#4
mmopinc Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 56	Try to use an auto top off system for your tank to help stability

12/07/2009, 07:41 PM	#6
csueeman Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fort Collins Posts: 55	You will probably still need to add some kind of food source to the tank every once in a while. Doesn't have to be much but most corals are going need something. But I have found doing only coral that you can do light to no skimming as long as you really aren't dumping lots of food in. But a little gives you some great growth!