3 months in, next steps??

[tescalante]

Well my tank has been up and running just short of 3 months. My stock listed below, the goby was just added 2 days ago I hear they are jumpers? I've had algae growth but my crew has done a good job to maintain. When should I expect to see coralline algae?

Also when do you think it would be safe to add any corals, any beginner recommendations?

Doing water changes every 7-10 days which seems to have helped my parameters stay consistent, and kept algae from over running tank. (14 Gallon Nuvo Peninsula)

3 Hermit crabs
3 Astrea snails
3 Margarita Snails
1 Mocha/Black Clown
1 Orange Spotted Goby

 

[firmefatboy799]

ive never been able to keep gobys even with a lid with slight exposed edges they find a way to jump it has really ruined the fish for me, ive started 2 small tanks 1st one I waited over a year but never had coral interest the 2nd I threw in some GSP and a mushroom at 1 month that have been growing great but its GSP, I did start with live sand and established rock from old tank and LFS all covered with coraline so my situation is different but if you've made it past the diatoms stage and everything is decently stable start with something stupid hearty and cheap like GSP just keep it away from anything you don't want it to grow on and take over, stay soft until the tank is growing coraline on its own, I also dose tropic marin all for reef all in one supplement about 3ml a day, and throw some pods in to help everything

 

[LesPoissons]

Stability is what its all about for corals. If your tanks levels are stable and you have good lighting to support corals- off you go. Green star polyps, candycanes, monitporas, brain corals, torches, hammers, mushrooms, duncans etc are all pretty good starter corals. To be honest- I think all corals require pretty much the same amount of care- its just on you to research your lighting/flow/and what parameters you are keeping your tank to give them the best opportunity to thrive. My advice is that you shouldnt put a lot of $ into them until you know a bit more about what you are doing and the stability requirements and future dosing etc. Its one thing when a $10 green star polyp coral dies off... its another if its a $75 frag. Google what you find asthetically pleasing (because with luck- you will be looking at it for a long time), make a list that works with your tank parameters or adjust parameters so you can get what you do like, and start with the cheapest end of it. =)

 

[tescalante]

I'm running AI Prime 16 HD, and have been doing some research on settings for the lights. Need to learn more about corals, stability requirements and dosing. Thanks