Am i ready for corals????

[fishfreak1242]

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]

What are your water parameters?

 

[mandown123]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

what kind of fish are you keeping?

 

[fishfreak1242]

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]

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.

 

[fishfreak1242]

Ok so Ill go and get one of those instant ocean reef test kits. I was also gonna get one more powerhead, probably a koralia 3. I have one more question, what is this freshwater dip i have been hearing about that you do to corals? Is it completely necessary?

 

[mandown123]

some people do freshwater dips, but from what I understand it is a kind of dated practice. I wouldn't do it, especially to my corals. Best to instead purchase specimens you can see look very healthy with nothing wrong from trusted vender or from someone who sells on here.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Dipping the coral is to get rid of pests and hitchhikers. Lugols solution or other coral prep dips are better to use and they come with instructions.

Test your system like kath said and then add corals very slowly. Make sure you acclimate them they will die if they aren't.

 

[KathyC]

Dipping the coral is to get rid of pests and hitchhikers. Lugols solution or other coral prep dips are better to use and they come with instructions.

Test your system like kath said and then add corals very slowly. Make sure you acclimate them they will die if they aren't.

Great added advice Chief!!

Most of us use either Elos, Salifert or LaMotte test kits for the 3 I mentioned. I've never used the IO kits so I cannot comment on their accuracy, but it may be more difficult to determine your levels if they are based on 'color cards'.

Stay away from FW dips..many folks have discovered in a bad way that some corals totally melt when dipped in FW..

 

[johnmaloney]

Get the tests! Some zoas are real easy to care for, the cheaper ones especially, try your luck with a few of those first.

 

[fishfreak1242]

Thanks for all of the help and opinions. So heres my list of things that I need to get:
-Koralia 3
-Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Reef test kit
-Small colony of zoos, probably from someone on these message boards

 

[mandown123]

what size tank you have?

 

[fishfreak1242]

Its a 55 gal w/ a 20 gal sump so a 75 gal system.

 

[mandown123]

koralia 3 should be fine then... sounds good i wish you luck with your first corals. let the addiction begin!

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Get better test kits than the API ones please. Speaking from experience the salifert kits even though more expensive are much better.