First Frag Swap - 6 month old tank, ready to stock her up! Suggestions?

[SonRK]

Hey all

My fish went inside my tank in June, which cycled for 2 whole months prior to their addition.

I've only added two mushroom frags, and a Duncan Coral but with that's all I added in the past 4 months or so.

Anyways, I'll assume I can purchase frags at the frag swap right?


I have this: http://reefradiance.com/old-dm-155e.html

Over a Nuvo Fusion 30L (so it's a pretty shallow tank). It doesn't hit the edges as brightly, so anything that has high light requirements would have to go in the middle.

Anyone have some suggestions on what I should pick up? I'll bring my wallet prepared for the beating :p

 

[thirty6]

Walk around and see what jumps out at you and
talk to the vendors. Personally I would stay away from some delicate things unless your comfortable with attempting them. Your tank sounds like it's good to go, how are your levels?
Any fish?

 

[SonRK]

Hey hey

Well the Ammonia/Nitrites are 0, Nitrates are at 5ppm at the moment

Fish went in about 6 months ago, cycle started 8 months ago. so an 8th month old tank.

As for the calcium/alkalinity/etc. levels. I don't have a test for them yet, but I do use Red Sea Coral Pro Salt which contains a lot of useful stuff for coral growths apparently. I have an auto top off, so my salinity is (should) always be constant. Weekly water changes of about 15% because I don't have a skimmer. Putting in a reactor over the weekend though.

 

[marko]

reactors are nice. but skimmers are fantastic. invest in a skimmer, if you want my advice.

until you are testing Ca KH and Mg, its best not to attempt SPS corals, except may some very hardy ones, like monti digi or monti cap.

vendors are great. but if you can arrange to get something from a hobbyist, its usually cheaper. check the FS threads.

 

[Samsreef]

before you add corals, you should invest in a decent skimmer and at minimum KH and CA test kits. Saliferts are the best.

assuming you have done that, add corals slowly - add what looks good but is not super difficult to keep. Also, stay away from temptations of named corals or cheap corals, which grows like weed.

 

[SonRK]

I had a CAD-Lights PLS-50, but it never stopped putting micro bubbles in the display, even after like 3 months of waiting for it to calm down.

I'm thinking about getting the Elite version, which people say they had better luck with. Pretty turned off though by my experience.

 

[jr973]

I think u are more then ready to stock up if it's an 8month old tank I'm sure you will have fun at the swap checking out a variety of vendors all under one roof

 

[marko]

Yeah all skimmers put out some microbubbles, at least all the ones I had. But if positioned right in a sump or in the back of the all in one tanks, they can be kept out of the display.
My sump is the generic 3 baffles then fuge then return pump, and I get no microbubbles making it past the first 2 baffles and never into my display.

But you should be ok without a skimmer based off your NO3. Would be nice to know the PO4.
But any coral that is ok with "dirtier" water should do great. Acans and zoas should love it.

 

[edd]

first thing to get at the swap Red Sea pro, alk, cal and mag test kit.
good luck, you will enjoy it.

 

[SonRK]

Thanks guys, I'll totally pick up the tests.

Might as well just place an order on Amazon for my skimmer then. I know the Tunze skimmers are well liked and the CL - PLS-50 Elite


hmm

 

[thirty6]

Thanks guys, I'll totally pick up the tests.

Might as well just place an order on Amazon for my skimmer then. I know the Tunze skimmers are well liked and the CL - PLS-50 Elite


hmm

Check here first, you may score nice skier for less money which means more frags at the swap! You may even be able to arrange to meet someone at the swap to make the deal. Have fun at the swap, haven't made one yet. Someday...