Best Beginner Corals

[Michael W.]

I have always cycled with lights off, no sand and ammonia method. After I see the nitrates starting to shoot up, around 4 weeks I do a 50% water change and then continue the cycle. Once the cycle is complete, I do a 95% water change and then add sand. This entire process take about 6 weeks. Slowly ramp lights and keep up with water changes for the next few weeks. Light on feeding.

I never had major issues with algae, small patches of Cynao here and there and having a goby solved that. Ofcourse I use RODI, bi weekly changes and a lot of methods to extract nutrients, in the first 6-8 months. Then things can taper off slowly.

To me It’s all about water chemistry. Not 0 nutrients, but consistent methods to maintain a low nutrients tank.

I may do a version of that but with sand and rock in the tank to start, just so I can start my biological filter earlier. I don't think I would mind algae growing, just because sometimes it means you have a healthy tank, but the look of algae on sand bothers me to no end. Will a goby keep the sand clean all around the tank? or just in its territory? Gobies are definitely on my short list for stocking.

 

[Yvonne Wong]

Thanks for all the info! What you have laid out is the basic plan I had in mind, start slow and go from there. I am planning on getting the AI Prime light so lighting shouldn't be a big problem. ATO is also going to be one of my first purchases, along with the tank and light and rock.

Question: If I cycle with the lights off will I have less of a chance for the beginning-tank algae blooms that sometimes occur? Or are those bound to happen anyways?

You will still get a diatom bloom, it’s part of the cycle. What will you be using for your wave maker? Nutrient export?

 

[ether]

Get easy cheap stuff to start with. If you kill it, no big deal. I think xenia and GSP are nice and definitely cheap/easy. I have both in my tank on islands, no issues. You can also get some cheap zoas, toadstool, etc. Start with things that don't require dosing. Lots of good comments so far.

 

[mahindra.dev]

I may do a version of that but with sand and rock in the tank to start, just so I can start my biological filter earlier. I don't think I would mind algae growing, just because sometimes it means you have a healthy tank, but the look of algae on sand bothers me to no end. Will a goby keep the sand clean all around the tank? or just in its territory? Gobies are definitely on my short list for stocking.

I had a diamond goby. He went around the entire tank, mine was a JBJ 45. I dont have experience with larger tanks, but I assume they will clean and go all around.

 

[Michael W.]

Get easy cheap stuff to start with. If you kill it, no big deal. I think xenia and GSP are nice and definitely cheap/easy. I have both in my tank on islands, no issues. You can also get some cheap zoas, toadstool, etc. Start with things that don't require dosing. Lots of good comments so far.

I'm not an expert in any way, but isn't there some problems that can be caused by trying to frag zoas? I read something about that which was why I wanted to stay away from them and go more the favites and acan route.

 

[Michael W.]

You will still get a diatom bloom, it’s part of the cycle. What will you be using for your wave maker? Nutrient export?

I'm still not caught up on all the reefing language but I assume by wavemaker you mean circulation for the tank. If so I'd just be doing some cheaper hydor pumps (one maybe two depending on what I need for the tank.

Also, can you quickly explain what you mean by nutrient export? Is that just filtration?

 

[mahindra.dev]

I'm still not caught up on all the reefing language but I assume by wavemaker you mean circulation for the tank. If so I'd just be doing some cheaper hydor pumps (one maybe two depending on what I need for the tank.

Also, can you quickly explain what you mean by nutrient export? Is that just filtration?

Yes wavemakers = circulation in the tank.

If you are going the Hydor route, check out DrFostersmith. They have the big ones on sale for 80$ and they have 10% off till tomorrow.
By this I mean 2 pumps and their controller.

This is the cheapest I have found so far.