do u think i can keep corals in this????

[aquakid1]

Hi can i keep corals in a 55 gallon tank with natural seawater that a filter extensively untill there is no particles of stuff, finely crushed coral substate, 3 36 watt daylight white bulbs and 2 36 watt sylvania coral blue lights, 2 canister filters conected to a sump/refugeum 2 UG filters 15 kg LR and there will be a protein skimmer in there soon. i have 1 regal tang,1 rabbit fish, 2 ocellaris clowns, 2 neon gobies, 3 green chromis and a cleaner wrasse plus a bunch of tiny starfish and hermitts and snails ammonia 0 , nitrite 0, nitrate 25ppm , pH 8.3 i am also planning to start dosing kalk when i introduce my hard corals like golfballs. there is no hair algae but there is a fair bit of coraline algae....... so what do u think tell me honestly. plz i am grateful for any advice ppl can give me.
from brendan :wink:

 

[wade1]

If you are interested in the long term health of the fish and corals you should try to knock down the nitrates, although they aren't terrible, they are not good. I am guessing that the cannister filters are providing a great deal of aerobic waste breakdown leading to the high nitrates. If you get a _good_ skimmer, you can then remove the cannisters one at a time until you do not need them and then the tank should be ok. I would not try any sps corals, although some of the LPS might survive under that low light (modern brain corals, etc). I would stick to soft corals and some of the hardy lps with your lighting and current setup.

Your fish load is maxed out for the 55g too, I would not add any more of you will create even more troubles.

Depending on where you are located, the filtered seawater is a great option, and if you replace 25% a week, you will not need to dose additives unless you want to drip kalk as topoff.

Keep working with it... it should work out.

Wade

 

[aquakid1]

Ive come to this conclusion..... me and dad are making a large downdraft skimmer ...... mum and i are going to the city on saturday to get a wavemaker powerhead for more circulation in the tank also i have many spare bulbs for the tank so i think i will put in an extra 2 lights to lights it up a bit...... what colour blue or white :lol: and i just started siliconing a refugeum to go under the tank about 5 mins ago. i use the canisters to pump water through this........ im still going to dose kalk when it is set up. all will be good and 1 other question can i add some type of sand to the top of my crushed coral substate and how do i do it with fish in there ive heard of opening a bag underwater with sand in it a little at a time.... will the DSB help with my prob????
thanx again
p.s- nitrates are 15 ppm now?!?