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It’s funny, the longer I work with corals, the more I realize how little I actually know about them…Does that make sense? I hope so! When you think about it, we have tons and tons of technology. products, additives, and exotic care regimens to make our corals look good. However, in the grand scheme of things, it seems to me that you can actually distill what coral need down to a few elements…Sure, from there you can split hairs and make things as complicated as possible, trying to figure out every last thing that corals need to thrive.
Being a simple, straightforward kind of guy, I tend to take simple, straightforward approaches to reef keeping in general, and coral care in particular. In my opinion, the more exotic and daunting that you make coral care, the greater the chance for problems- and the less enjoyable keeping them becomes! I am not saying that you should turn your head on what corals need to be happy and healthy just because some of their needs may be complex or require a higher level of care. What I AM saying is that, in my opinion, us reefers tend to make things a bit more complicated than they need to be.
With that in mind, and with my personal experiences to draw upon, I present to you 6 simple things that you can do (or should I say, 6 simple things that I have done) to grow healthy, happy corals.
1) Maintain Stable environmental parameters: Sure, you need to have sufficient calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium levels in order for corals to prosper. Most hobbyists can generally agree on these. However, more important than any specific number, IMO, is stability. That’s right- better to have consistent, known parameters in your coral systems than to obsess over a specific target number. Fluctuations in temperature, pH, alkalinity, and other parameters are just not good for corals. Remember, they come from the ocean- the most stable environment on earth, and swings in basic parameters can only spell trouble for organisms not ecologically evolved to cope with them.
So, the next time you’re about to freak out because your magnesium level is not exactly 1250ppm, take a deep breath and look at the big picture. Are the corals looking good? If not, before you obsess over a number on a test kit, see if there is some obvious reason. Test, then tweak- but not just to hit a target number…Tweak until your corals respond favorably. Obviously, if your magnesium is 850ppm or your alkalinity is 6Dkh, you’d need to make some changes! But think through what is going wrong in your system to have caused such depletion. Often, it’s a very simple thing, like lax maintenance, high coral population, or simple oversight. Just don’t panic. Make adjustments gradually, and observe the animals before you run off headless into the night buying reactors, additives, and therapy!
Keep it together, man! It's just a hobby!
2) Feed. Feed a lot. Feed often…Feed like mad!: Yup, seriously…not rocket science, but so often overlooked that I’ll wax on about it here. You’d be surprised how many problems with coral can be solved by just feeding your corals. Many of ‘em need to eat! And they need to be fed often. Much of their nutrition is derived from external food sources, and you’ll notice a huge difference between corals that are fed and corals that are just provided “moderate to bright light.†I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen reefers’ tanks that have anemic, pallid-colored corals, because- well- they’re STARVING! There are so many great coral feeds out there that there is no excuse for a hungry coral these days!
Oh, and while we’re on the subject of feeding your corals, think about WHEN you feed them…Don’t just blast food into your water column any old time and expect the corals to pull it all in and chow down. Most corals extend polyps to feed at night, and during periods of more “slack†flow. So, when you’re thinking about feeding, be sure to take this into consideration. Most high tech electronic pumps and aquarium controllers offer “feed modesâ€, when flow can be substantially reduced to allow food to remain in the water column, with a higher likelihood of capture rather than a rapid trip down the overflow. Also, consider feeding your corals at night or in the early A.M., after or before the lights are on. This is the most likely time for corals to be engaged in natural feeding behavior. Develop- and stick to- a feeding plan that suits you and your corals. Trust me, it’s one of the best practices you can engage in as a reefer to assure success with your corals!
Shameless plug for our friends at Reef Nutrition- one of many purveyors of excellent coral feeds!
3) Embrace water movement. Or, should I say, “Embrace intelligent water movement.â€: Seems like a no brainier right? Yet, you’d be surprised how may reefers have systems that have too little water movement, creating not only “dead†spots in the system, but issues like varying pH “layersâ€, accumulations of detritus and coral mucus, and mats of nuisance algae. I won’t go into all the scientific mumbo-jumbo explaining just why water movement is so important to corals. I won’t talk in detail about “boundry layersâ€, nutrient export, allopathic issues, etc. What I will tell you is that I subscribe to the school of thought that asserts that flow is as important as- if not MORE IMPORTANT than light.
Proper flow (not too much and not too little) ensures that gas exchange occurs both within coral tissues, but within the reef system itself. With controllable electronic pumps, we’re able to create flow patterns that benefit our animals in a variety of ways. We no longer worry about putting 13 powerbeads in the tank in every direction to create “random, chaotic flow…†Rather, we talk about things like “horizontal gyreâ€, “ebb tidesâ€, “wave patternsâ€, etc. when thinking of flow. Suffice it to say that with the large amount of information now available about natural reef environments and how corals grow, there should be no excuse for a reef system built with too little flow, or with “dumb†laminar flow blasting the tissues off corals. The era of “intelligent†water movement is here to stay.
The EcoTech Marine Vortech MP60- Just awesome. If it were a person, you'd marry it...
4) Stock intelligently.: Seems like another “no brainerâ€, but in today’s hobby, with it’s “I want this- and I want it NOW!†mindset, we tend to mix a little of this and a little of that together in just about any system, sometimes with not-so-good-outcomes. I mean, we love to collect and maintain all sorts of corals, which is totally understandable, given our million-year evolution as hunter-gatherers. However, it’s a bit problematic in the confines of the small (or even large) closed system, when you mix corals like Sarcophyton with, say, Acropora, or Echinophyllia with Acanthastrea or Favia.
It’s no secret that every coral has some form of defense (or offense, as the case may be) to protect it’s turf- securing it’s spot on the reef. Sometimes it’s with “sweeper tentaclesâ€, other times it’s with toxic exudates, mucus nets, or just plain old fast growth. The situation is known as known as “allelopathyâ€, and it’s a real issue with real impact on reef animals. Regardless, you need to take this into consideration when stocking, and you’d be surprised how many reefers just don’t! Many, many anomalous “my corals just aren’t doing well†situations have their basis in allopathic competition. We even see the results of this phenomenon in our large culture raceways from time to time! To combat this, consider the available space, water movement, and the use of chemical filtration media, such as activated carbon, PolyFilter, or other products to help remove some of these substances from the water physically. And of course, water changes won’t ever hurt in a crowded mixed reef, right?
I wouldn't put that Montipora undata right next to this guy, but that's just me...Or is it? "Coral aggression", anyone?
5) Observe keenly.: Like so many other things in reefing, coral care requires one of the most readily available tools to every reefer- his or her eyes. I only half-jokingly tease reefers all the time in my talks to get their heads out of their controller readouts and spend some quality time casting a critical eye on their reef! With all of the other tasks we have in reef keeping, and even in our overall lives, it’s surprising how little time we spend just gazing at our displays. My advanced suggestion? Spend more time just enjoying your tank! By looking at your corals for extended periods each day, you’ll begin to notice patterns, trends, problems, growth, reproduction, etc.
Once you establish a “baseline†for what is normal with your reef and your corals, you’ll be able to detect when something is amiss with tremendous ease and the confidence that can only come by knowing what “normal†actually means for your corals! Learn as much as you can about the corals you kep! Keen observation can result in early intervention when something not-so-good strikes. Sure, technical props can clue you in when a parameter is off, but corals will tell you visually that something is wrong almost simultaneously, if not earlier! Lots of mucus, closed polyps, loss of color…all are easy visual clues about something not being “rightâ€, and early detection can limit the damage.
6) Don’t overly tamper with your corals.: In other words, every time a coral looks less than perfect, don’t feel the need to move it, do a major system revamp, or spontaneous 80% water change! The aforementioned practice of regular observation is a key here. By Be patient and consistent. Work your plan. I’ve seen plenty of great coral collections go south because the hobbyist read on a forum somewhere that “XYZ†was having amazing success with his Acro tank by adding ________ every three days…And the hobbyist’s reef, which was doing pretty darned well, suddenly starts declining. You need to free your self from the mindset that says you MUST have this gadget or use this additive in order to grow corals successfully.
The best coral propagators in the world, like Dan Rigle, Mark Poletti, Joe Yaiullo, and Justin Credebal, will tell you that it’s all about doing the same little things consistently, and tweaking slightly on occasion when the circumstances dictate. You won’t see these guys making knee-jerk wholesale changes to their systems and practices. Rather, coral growing to them is a series of observations, repetitive practices, and occasional small adjustments as warranted over time based on THEIR observations of THEIR corals. If you take nothing else away from today’s column, it’s that you need to observe your corals regularly and make the adjustments that YOUR corals need over time to continue heathy, regular growth.
Joe is REALLY into his reef, but he's not revamping it every single day- that's for darned sure!
So their you have my top five keys to growing happy, healthy corals. Not exactly the technical formula you may have expected for this type of article, right? Exactly. More like “talking points†here. Because it’s not about me or someone else throwing out an exacting formula for coral growing success, or recommending a specific product that will be the “magic bullet†for your reef. Rather, it’s all about behaviors, attitudes, observations, and practices that you should be utilizing every day to create a workable, achievable set of tasks to succeed.
In the end, this stuff is supposed to be fun. It’s not supposed to be a source of frustration and economic strain (unless your in the coral growing biz, which is a different animal entirely, trust me..LOL!) so why make it a burden with self-administered torture? Enjoy!
No doubt you have dozens of other suggestions for growing and caring for corals, and we want to hear them! What are some of your recommended “best practices?â€
As always, thanks for your ideas, your criticisms, your participation.
Happy Holidays…
Stay Wet!
Scott Fellman
Unique Corals
Being a simple, straightforward kind of guy, I tend to take simple, straightforward approaches to reef keeping in general, and coral care in particular. In my opinion, the more exotic and daunting that you make coral care, the greater the chance for problems- and the less enjoyable keeping them becomes! I am not saying that you should turn your head on what corals need to be happy and healthy just because some of their needs may be complex or require a higher level of care. What I AM saying is that, in my opinion, us reefers tend to make things a bit more complicated than they need to be.
With that in mind, and with my personal experiences to draw upon, I present to you 6 simple things that you can do (or should I say, 6 simple things that I have done) to grow healthy, happy corals.
1) Maintain Stable environmental parameters: Sure, you need to have sufficient calcium, alkalinity, and magnesium levels in order for corals to prosper. Most hobbyists can generally agree on these. However, more important than any specific number, IMO, is stability. That’s right- better to have consistent, known parameters in your coral systems than to obsess over a specific target number. Fluctuations in temperature, pH, alkalinity, and other parameters are just not good for corals. Remember, they come from the ocean- the most stable environment on earth, and swings in basic parameters can only spell trouble for organisms not ecologically evolved to cope with them.
So, the next time you’re about to freak out because your magnesium level is not exactly 1250ppm, take a deep breath and look at the big picture. Are the corals looking good? If not, before you obsess over a number on a test kit, see if there is some obvious reason. Test, then tweak- but not just to hit a target number…Tweak until your corals respond favorably. Obviously, if your magnesium is 850ppm or your alkalinity is 6Dkh, you’d need to make some changes! But think through what is going wrong in your system to have caused such depletion. Often, it’s a very simple thing, like lax maintenance, high coral population, or simple oversight. Just don’t panic. Make adjustments gradually, and observe the animals before you run off headless into the night buying reactors, additives, and therapy!
Keep it together, man! It's just a hobby!
2) Feed. Feed a lot. Feed often…Feed like mad!: Yup, seriously…not rocket science, but so often overlooked that I’ll wax on about it here. You’d be surprised how many problems with coral can be solved by just feeding your corals. Many of ‘em need to eat! And they need to be fed often. Much of their nutrition is derived from external food sources, and you’ll notice a huge difference between corals that are fed and corals that are just provided “moderate to bright light.†I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen reefers’ tanks that have anemic, pallid-colored corals, because- well- they’re STARVING! There are so many great coral feeds out there that there is no excuse for a hungry coral these days!
Oh, and while we’re on the subject of feeding your corals, think about WHEN you feed them…Don’t just blast food into your water column any old time and expect the corals to pull it all in and chow down. Most corals extend polyps to feed at night, and during periods of more “slack†flow. So, when you’re thinking about feeding, be sure to take this into consideration. Most high tech electronic pumps and aquarium controllers offer “feed modesâ€, when flow can be substantially reduced to allow food to remain in the water column, with a higher likelihood of capture rather than a rapid trip down the overflow. Also, consider feeding your corals at night or in the early A.M., after or before the lights are on. This is the most likely time for corals to be engaged in natural feeding behavior. Develop- and stick to- a feeding plan that suits you and your corals. Trust me, it’s one of the best practices you can engage in as a reefer to assure success with your corals!
Shameless plug for our friends at Reef Nutrition- one of many purveyors of excellent coral feeds!
3) Embrace water movement. Or, should I say, “Embrace intelligent water movement.â€: Seems like a no brainier right? Yet, you’d be surprised how may reefers have systems that have too little water movement, creating not only “dead†spots in the system, but issues like varying pH “layersâ€, accumulations of detritus and coral mucus, and mats of nuisance algae. I won’t go into all the scientific mumbo-jumbo explaining just why water movement is so important to corals. I won’t talk in detail about “boundry layersâ€, nutrient export, allopathic issues, etc. What I will tell you is that I subscribe to the school of thought that asserts that flow is as important as- if not MORE IMPORTANT than light.
Proper flow (not too much and not too little) ensures that gas exchange occurs both within coral tissues, but within the reef system itself. With controllable electronic pumps, we’re able to create flow patterns that benefit our animals in a variety of ways. We no longer worry about putting 13 powerbeads in the tank in every direction to create “random, chaotic flow…†Rather, we talk about things like “horizontal gyreâ€, “ebb tidesâ€, “wave patternsâ€, etc. when thinking of flow. Suffice it to say that with the large amount of information now available about natural reef environments and how corals grow, there should be no excuse for a reef system built with too little flow, or with “dumb†laminar flow blasting the tissues off corals. The era of “intelligent†water movement is here to stay.
The EcoTech Marine Vortech MP60- Just awesome. If it were a person, you'd marry it...
4) Stock intelligently.: Seems like another “no brainerâ€, but in today’s hobby, with it’s “I want this- and I want it NOW!†mindset, we tend to mix a little of this and a little of that together in just about any system, sometimes with not-so-good-outcomes. I mean, we love to collect and maintain all sorts of corals, which is totally understandable, given our million-year evolution as hunter-gatherers. However, it’s a bit problematic in the confines of the small (or even large) closed system, when you mix corals like Sarcophyton with, say, Acropora, or Echinophyllia with Acanthastrea or Favia.
It’s no secret that every coral has some form of defense (or offense, as the case may be) to protect it’s turf- securing it’s spot on the reef. Sometimes it’s with “sweeper tentaclesâ€, other times it’s with toxic exudates, mucus nets, or just plain old fast growth. The situation is known as known as “allelopathyâ€, and it’s a real issue with real impact on reef animals. Regardless, you need to take this into consideration when stocking, and you’d be surprised how many reefers just don’t! Many, many anomalous “my corals just aren’t doing well†situations have their basis in allopathic competition. We even see the results of this phenomenon in our large culture raceways from time to time! To combat this, consider the available space, water movement, and the use of chemical filtration media, such as activated carbon, PolyFilter, or other products to help remove some of these substances from the water physically. And of course, water changes won’t ever hurt in a crowded mixed reef, right?
I wouldn't put that Montipora undata right next to this guy, but that's just me...Or is it? "Coral aggression", anyone?
5) Observe keenly.: Like so many other things in reefing, coral care requires one of the most readily available tools to every reefer- his or her eyes. I only half-jokingly tease reefers all the time in my talks to get their heads out of their controller readouts and spend some quality time casting a critical eye on their reef! With all of the other tasks we have in reef keeping, and even in our overall lives, it’s surprising how little time we spend just gazing at our displays. My advanced suggestion? Spend more time just enjoying your tank! By looking at your corals for extended periods each day, you’ll begin to notice patterns, trends, problems, growth, reproduction, etc.
Once you establish a “baseline†for what is normal with your reef and your corals, you’ll be able to detect when something is amiss with tremendous ease and the confidence that can only come by knowing what “normal†actually means for your corals! Learn as much as you can about the corals you kep! Keen observation can result in early intervention when something not-so-good strikes. Sure, technical props can clue you in when a parameter is off, but corals will tell you visually that something is wrong almost simultaneously, if not earlier! Lots of mucus, closed polyps, loss of color…all are easy visual clues about something not being “rightâ€, and early detection can limit the damage.
6) Don’t overly tamper with your corals.: In other words, every time a coral looks less than perfect, don’t feel the need to move it, do a major system revamp, or spontaneous 80% water change! The aforementioned practice of regular observation is a key here. By Be patient and consistent. Work your plan. I’ve seen plenty of great coral collections go south because the hobbyist read on a forum somewhere that “XYZ†was having amazing success with his Acro tank by adding ________ every three days…And the hobbyist’s reef, which was doing pretty darned well, suddenly starts declining. You need to free your self from the mindset that says you MUST have this gadget or use this additive in order to grow corals successfully.
The best coral propagators in the world, like Dan Rigle, Mark Poletti, Joe Yaiullo, and Justin Credebal, will tell you that it’s all about doing the same little things consistently, and tweaking slightly on occasion when the circumstances dictate. You won’t see these guys making knee-jerk wholesale changes to their systems and practices. Rather, coral growing to them is a series of observations, repetitive practices, and occasional small adjustments as warranted over time based on THEIR observations of THEIR corals. If you take nothing else away from today’s column, it’s that you need to observe your corals regularly and make the adjustments that YOUR corals need over time to continue heathy, regular growth.
Joe is REALLY into his reef, but he's not revamping it every single day- that's for darned sure!
So their you have my top five keys to growing happy, healthy corals. Not exactly the technical formula you may have expected for this type of article, right? Exactly. More like “talking points†here. Because it’s not about me or someone else throwing out an exacting formula for coral growing success, or recommending a specific product that will be the “magic bullet†for your reef. Rather, it’s all about behaviors, attitudes, observations, and practices that you should be utilizing every day to create a workable, achievable set of tasks to succeed.
In the end, this stuff is supposed to be fun. It’s not supposed to be a source of frustration and economic strain (unless your in the coral growing biz, which is a different animal entirely, trust me..LOL!) so why make it a burden with self-administered torture? Enjoy!
No doubt you have dozens of other suggestions for growing and caring for corals, and we want to hear them! What are some of your recommended “best practices?â€
As always, thanks for your ideas, your criticisms, your participation.
Happy Holidays…
Stay Wet!
Scott Fellman
Unique Corals
