Am i ready for corals????

fishfreak1242 · 06-23-2008, 08:16 AM

So for the past few months, I have been trying to turn my 55 gal FOWLR into a Reef tank. Let me give you the run down on my tank. I have a 55 gal fowlr tank that has been running for about 7 months now. I have about 800gph of flow in my tank. For lighting I have 2x175w metal halides w/ 2x54 t-5 actinic supplement. I don't dose anything because I dont have the test kits for it. So right now, I am thinking that with the condition of my tank, I can sustain some easy soft corals. So my questions are, am I ready to get my first coral? What kind of corals are easy to take care of? How do I feed them?

**Chiefmcfuz** · 06-23-2008, 10:40 AM

What are your water parameters?

mandown123 · 06-23-2008, 11:06 AM

with that kind of lighting you could sustain a whole lot more than some easy soft corals. however, like chief says - your water is the most important factor. post parameters.

fishfreak1242 · 06-23-2008, 12:38 PM

I only have a test kit with the basic tests. So here ya go:
Ammon-0
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-0
pH-8.0
Salinity-1.023
Temp-79

mandown123 · 06-23-2008, 12:44 PM

some corals and inverts really prefer salinity closer to natural seawater (1.027), I keep my tank at 1.025.

other than that, and your tank at a mature 7 months, i'd say go ahead and pick out what you want... shouldn't be a problem under that intense lighting you have. what were you thinking of starting with?

to feed corals, they mostly get their nutrition from your lighting, but also zoo plankton, marine snow, cyclopeeze, mysis... anything else you feed your fish... it all feeds the corals.

fishfreak1242 · 06-23-2008, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mandown123


	some corals and inverts really prefer salinity closer to natural seawater (1.027), I keep my tank at 1.025. other than that, and your tank at a mature 7 months, i'd say go ahead and pick out what you want... shouldn't be a problem under that intense lighting you have. what were you thinking of starting with? to feed corals, they mostly get their nutrition from your lighting, but also zoo plankton, marine snow, cyclopeeze, mysis... anything else you feed your fish... it all feeds the corals.

Right now, I am not exactly sure what I want to start with. I was thinking of some zoas or a colt coral or something like that. How often should I feed the corals? Do I need to spot feed it or anything like that?

mandown123 · 06-23-2008, 12:53 PM

you don't NEED to. I do spot feed twice or 3 times a week depending on how I feel just to see the extra growth benefit. I'm learning, so I'm not sure how much it helps but they seem to really appreciate it. It really isn't all that hard. Keep your water excellent, good lighting like you have, supplemental feedings twice or 3 times a week and you're golden.

Zoos and Colt coral are hard to kill, you should have excellent luck with those types, among others.

mandown123 · 06-23-2008, 01:10 PM

what kind of fish are you keeping?

fishfreak1242 · 06-23-2008, 01:19 PM

Right now I have a Percula Clown, Pajama Cardinal (i've been trying to get rid of him because I dont really like him), a Sixline Wrasse, and a Firefish. I also have a cleaner shrimp and a fire shrimp.

**KathyC** · 06-23-2008, 01:22 PM

It would be a good idea to purchase Calcium, Alk and Magnesium test kits first so that you can be certain of all of your water parameters before purchasing corals (especially the more sensitive types)

Neither zoas or colt corals need to be fed anything.

06-23-2008, 08:16 AM	#1
fishfreak1242 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Rochelle Posts: 99 Reefer Ratings: (0) Friends: (2)	Am i ready for corals???? So for the past few months, I have been trying to turn my 55 gal FOWLR into a Reef tank. Let me give you the run down on my tank. I have a 55 gal fowlr tank that has been running for about 7 months now. I have about 800gph of flow in my tank. For lighting I have 2x175w metal halides w/ 2x54 t-5 actinic supplement. I don't dose anything because I dont have the test kits for it. So right now, I am thinking that with the condition of my tank, I can sustain some easy soft corals. So my questions are, am I ready to get my first coral? What kind of corals are easy to take care of? How do I feed them?

06-23-2008, 10:40 AM	#2
Chiefmcfuz Big Nosed Lazy Reef Dummy Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Westchester, NY Posts: 11,810 Reefer Ratings: (21) Friends: (30)	What are your water parameters? __________________ Brendan Condo For Sale Northern Westchester Click here, My reef tank 24 gallon Aquapod

06-23-2008, 01:22 PM	#10
KathyC Rafflemeister Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Barnum Island Posts: 4,711 Reefer Ratings: (80) Friends: (53)	It would be a good idea to purchase Calcium, Alk and Magnesium test kits first so that you can be certain of all of your water parameters before purchasing corals (especially the more sensitive types) Neither zoas or colt corals need to be fed anything. __________________ Don't just treat the symptom, remedy the cause!

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06-23-2008, 11:06 AM	#3
mandown123 Reefer = ) Join Date: May 2008 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 169 Reefer Ratings: (4) Friends: (3)	with that kind of lighting you could sustain a whole lot more than some easy soft corals. however, like chief says - your water is the most important factor. post parameters.

06-23-2008, 12:38 PM	#4
fishfreak1242 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Rochelle Posts: 99 Reefer Ratings: (0) Friends: (2)	I only have a test kit with the basic tests. So here ya go: Ammon-0 Nitrite-0 Nitrate-0 pH-8.0 Salinity-1.023 Temp-79

06-23-2008, 12:44 PM	#5
mandown123 Reefer = ) Join Date: May 2008 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 169 Reefer Ratings: (4) Friends: (3)	some corals and inverts really prefer salinity closer to natural seawater (1.027), I keep my tank at 1.025. other than that, and your tank at a mature 7 months, i'd say go ahead and pick out what you want... shouldn't be a problem under that intense lighting you have. what were you thinking of starting with? to feed corals, they mostly get their nutrition from your lighting, but also zoo plankton, marine snow, cyclopeeze, mysis... anything else you feed your fish... it all feeds the corals.

06-23-2008, 12:53 PM	#7
mandown123 Reefer = ) Join Date: May 2008 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 169 Reefer Ratings: (4) Friends: (3)	you don't NEED to. I do spot feed twice or 3 times a week depending on how I feel just to see the extra growth benefit. I'm learning, so I'm not sure how much it helps but they seem to really appreciate it. It really isn't all that hard. Keep your water excellent, good lighting like you have, supplemental feedings twice or 3 times a week and you're golden. Zoos and Colt coral are hard to kill, you should have excellent luck with those types, among others.

06-23-2008, 01:10 PM	#8
mandown123 Reefer = ) Join Date: May 2008 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 169 Reefer Ratings: (4) Friends: (3)	what kind of fish are you keeping?

06-23-2008, 01:19 PM	#9
fishfreak1242 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Rochelle Posts: 99 Reefer Ratings: (0) Friends: (2)	Right now I have a Percula Clown, Pajama Cardinal (i've been trying to get rid of him because I dont really like him), a Sixline Wrasse, and a Firefish. I also have a cleaner shrimp and a fire shrimp.