Coral

[tjbrownie]

Any advice about starting and maintaining corals? Before I go at it myself.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Welcome to the forum!
How old is the tank? That determines when you can add corals and what kinds can safely go in.
Research what you get before you buy it, not all corals are the same and care varies greatly between different species.

 

[N1tew0lf1212]

Slow and steady wins the race do research on everything your getting from flow to light needs. Also make sure if you are able to get 2 you buy both and send one my way lol jkjk. On a serious note start with some softies and lps it will help you make sure you understand parameter stability. Hope for the best for whatever you get. What kind of corals are you interested in?

 

[Rick's Reviews]

I'm starting corals myself stable parameters (not swinging up and down) good flow and lighting for starters, research each requirement for the coral you want to add,
good luck and will be following

 

[Unitylover]

How old is the tank? if it is stable enough (at least 5 months old) you can start with some zoas, toadstools, kenya trees, leathers, or GSP to name a few. Xenia is not recommended unless you want it to take over your tank.
If it is over 7 months old (like my tank) you can get some LPS, Only easy ones though, such as duncans or a frogspawn, even a hammer, but that would be kinda on the riskier side.

 

[Cali Reef Life]

Just don't put GSP on your main rock but on an island if not at all. Fast coral growth is awesome but soon you will look at the easiest coral and think I want better coral. I wish I didn't buy this green zoa because now I have a big rock with green zoa and some other colorful zoas. I now think that would of been a great rock for some SPS or only the best colored zoas. Get some cheap frags and place them in a controlled rock area and one day you will thank me.

 

[Rick's Reviews]

Just don't put GSP on your main rock but on an island if not at all. Fast coral growth is awesome but soon you will look at the easiest coral and think I want better coral. I wish I didn't buy this green zoa because now I have a big rock with green zoa and some other colorful zoas. I now think that would of been a great rock for some SPS or only the best colored zoas. Get some cheap frags and place them in a controlled rock area and one day you will thank me.

I agree and yes definitely good advice. I have all mine on separate rocks as they started to grow, all beginner corals I think GSP looks great on a little island that I'm working towards. definitely research the corals you want to add and ask reef2reef members also

 

[Unitylover]

GSP is fine, because it doesnt grow too fast. Its not too hard to remove either. Xenia is the problem though, as it is almost impossible to erradicate it.

 

[Sharkbait19]

Xenia looks really good though, so it’s worth it to me.

 

[Unitylover]

Xenia looks really good though, so it’s worth it to me.

true, but its not the best if you dont only want xenia, as it will prob block out everything that doesnt have sweepers, but if you're only going corals with sweepers, xenia isnt too bad

 

[vetteguy53081]

The most important thing you’ll need to do is perfecting the tank and water conditions. Take some time to get parameters just right and let the environment cycle for a few months. This ensures that conditions are stable and safe. Monitor water conditions regularly to avoid any major changes. Use a good quality test kit and Not API either.
Here are some water parameters to follow.

• Water temperature: 77°F - 80°F (stay close to the middle of this range)
• pH level: 8.1 to 8.3
• Alk: 8 to 11 dKH
• Salinity: 1.024 to 1.025
• Nitrate < .10
• Phosphate < .04 - .06
• CA 400 - 440
• Mag 1300 - 1350

 

[Unitylover]

The most important thing you’ll need to do is perfecting the tank and water conditions. Take some time to get parameters just right and let the environment cycle for a few months. This ensures that conditions are stable and safe. Monitor water conditions regularly to avoid any major changes. Use a good quality test kit and Not API either.
Here are some water parameters to follow.

• Water temperature: 77°F - 80°F (stay close to the middle of this range)
• pH level: 8.1 to 8.3
• Alk: 8 to 11 dKH
• Salinity: 1.024 to 1.025
• Nitrate < .10
• Phosphate < .04 - .06
• CA 400 - 440
• Mag 1300 - 1350

I keep nitrate at 3 or 5, so should It be fine for him to have 3-5 nitrates?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I keep nitrate at 3 or 5, so should It be fine for him to have 3-5 nitrates?

Yes…. Even up to 10 is fine

 

[Unitylover]

Yes…. Even up to 10 is fine

because it should be hard for a beginner like him or me to actually keep nitrates that close to zero

 

[Sharkbait19]

because it should be hard for a beginner like him or me to actually keep nitrates that close to zero

Keeping up with water changes is all you need to do to keep nitrates near zero.
Of course, corals do best with slightly elevated nitrates, so you want them in the 5-10 range.