First Corals for 55 gal

Katie3G · 09/13/2010, 12:20 PM

I am about to take the plunge into buying livestock online. In this order I will be purchasing coral for my 55 gal. I am looking for advice/suggestions regarding what I might purchase. First, the tank specs.

55 gal - the standard 48" x 12" x 22(?)" - has AquaC Remora skimmer, four 54 watt T5 lights, canister filter (which is cleaned weekly), Vortec MP10 powerhead. This tank was set up in mid June and has now been running for 3 months. Over the past 3 months it has gone through what I believe is part of the algae cycle of a new tank. The algae is now under control and the rock is beginning to get coralline algae. Livestock right how is about 20 snails (10 turbo, 2 astrea, 5 nassarius, 3 cerith) all added over the past 6 to 8 weeks. Two ocellaris clowns (about one month in tank) and one neon goby (in tank for one week). Corals so far are 2 red mushrooms (added about 3 weeks ago) and a torch coral (added last Thursday). Water tests are all good and have been for many weeks - NH3, NO2, NO3 and PO4 all zero; salinity 1.024; Ca 420; KH 8. I recognize that the KH could be a bit higher. I have ordered a 2 part dosing system as well as a magnesium test kit and magnesium additive (in case it is needed) and these will arrive before the livestock.

My plan for the tank is to keep a mixture of soft and LPS corals. I have been considering a finger leather, mushroom leather, candy cane and hammer corals. Also some zoanthids and ricordia mushrooms. Any thoughts on this list? Any other suggestions? As well, what would be the limit in terms of how many corals I can add at once to the tank? Shipping costs actually decline with an increased cost of the order - in short, I am not paying per box - so I am inclined to place a larger rather than smaller order.

shifty51008 · 09/13/2010, 12:25 PM

if all your corals are doing fine now, you can order all of the corals on your list and add them at the same time. corals and inverts don't really impact the bioload so you shouldn't have to worry about any ammonia spikes. otherwise your list of corals looks good. I would also try to raise the SG up to 1.025 or 35ppt.

Katie3G · 09/13/2010, 12:28 PM

Thanks Shifty. I have also ordered a refractometer and am waiting for that to arrive before I adjust salinity - just in case the hydrometer is reading low.

shifty51008 · 09/13/2010, 12:31 PM

good call on the refractometer, hopefully you got the calibration fluid for the refractometer also. I used to think calibration with rodi water was good enough but until I got the calibration fluid I noticed it was reading 33ppt rather than 35ppt like I thought.

good luck. and post pics of the corals when they come in. always enjoy looking at pics

Katie3G · 09/13/2010, 12:49 PM

The refractometer does not come with calibration fluid - I was told that I need to use distilled water which I can purchase locally. I will try the pics - I am not so good with the photos, or at least I have not tried taking pics of the tank yet.

09/13/2010, 12:20 PM	#1
Katie3G Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NL Canada Posts: 104	First Corals for 55 gal I am about to take the plunge into buying livestock online. In this order I will be purchasing coral for my 55 gal. I am looking for advice/suggestions regarding what I might purchase. First, the tank specs. 55 gal - the standard 48" x 12" x 22(?)" - has AquaC Remora skimmer, four 54 watt T5 lights, canister filter (which is cleaned weekly), Vortec MP10 powerhead. This tank was set up in mid June and has now been running for 3 months. Over the past 3 months it has gone through what I believe is part of the algae cycle of a new tank. The algae is now under control and the rock is beginning to get coralline algae. Livestock right how is about 20 snails (10 turbo, 2 astrea, 5 nassarius, 3 cerith) all added over the past 6 to 8 weeks. Two ocellaris clowns (about one month in tank) and one neon goby (in tank for one week). Corals so far are 2 red mushrooms (added about 3 weeks ago) and a torch coral (added last Thursday). Water tests are all good and have been for many weeks - NH3, NO2, NO3 and PO4 all zero; salinity 1.024; Ca 420; KH 8. I recognize that the KH could be a bit higher. I have ordered a 2 part dosing system as well as a magnesium test kit and magnesium additive (in case it is needed) and these will arrive before the livestock. My plan for the tank is to keep a mixture of soft and LPS corals. I have been considering a finger leather, mushroom leather, candy cane and hammer corals. Also some zoanthids and ricordia mushrooms. Any thoughts on this list? Any other suggestions? As well, what would be the limit in terms of how many corals I can add at once to the tank? Shipping costs actually decline with an increased cost of the order - in short, I am not paying per box - so I am inclined to place a larger rather than smaller order.

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09/13/2010, 12:25 PM	#2
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	if all your corals are doing fine now, you can order all of the corals on your list and add them at the same time. corals and inverts don't really impact the bioload so you shouldn't have to worry about any ammonia spikes. otherwise your list of corals looks good. I would also try to raise the SG up to 1.025 or 35ppt.

09/13/2010, 12:28 PM	#3
Katie3G Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NL Canada Posts: 104	Thanks Shifty. I have also ordered a refractometer and am waiting for that to arrive before I adjust salinity - just in case the hydrometer is reading low.

09/13/2010, 12:31 PM	#4
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	good call on the refractometer, hopefully you got the calibration fluid for the refractometer also. I used to think calibration with rodi water was good enough but until I got the calibration fluid I noticed it was reading 33ppt rather than 35ppt like I thought. good luck. and post pics of the corals when they come in. always enjoy looking at pics

09/13/2010, 12:49 PM	#5
Katie3G Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NL Canada Posts: 104	The refractometer does not come with calibration fluid - I was told that I need to use distilled water which I can purchase locally. I will try the pics - I am not so good with the photos, or at least I have not tried taking pics of the tank yet.