Corals for Beginners

[saltyfilmfolks]

So what lighting, exactly, is recommended?

I do see one National Geo Led that is reef capable... Yea good light is very important to sucess. Double check you dont have the fresh water version.
@BoneXriffic its not marked marine but has the correct spectrum it seems.
http://www.petsmart.com/fish/lights...ed-track-hood-zid36-27508/cat-36-catid-300073


With light like that you probably dont want a very deep tank 22-24in. Current orbit marine are similar(i have one), for a standard 20 or 30 gal it probably pretty good. The version one is wildly unpopular(snobbery) and can be picked up pretty cheap if if you need to replace yours.

With the current in a 20 gal your ok to get almost anything. with your assuming it is marine Id say and low to med light corals.

I like this article too.It tells you more why and not all what.
It does say Zoas, but they are referring to hardier strains. The fancy ones are tricky.
http://successfulreefkeeping.com/learn/about-corals/best-beginner-coral-choices/

 

[BoneXriffic]

I believe this was a 55gal. Ill read back. Thats a relativley deep tank for those sorts of lights imo.

 

[Pamela]

There seems to be a little confusion about my tank. I understand that it's impossible to keep up with everybody and not confuse different threads while checking in on the forum. Anyway, mine isn't a 20g. It's a 55g. I'll try to figure out whether the lighting fixture I have is FW or marine. I did read up on lighting requirements, and basically learned that there are fluorescent (no good), metal halide, and LED lights. The articles I read said that LED lighting is new, but well liked so far. I certainly don't have hundreds of bucks lying around, so this one is going to have to get it done for now. I think I will start with some mushrooms that have low lighting needs and see how they do in my aquarium. If that doesn't go so well, I'll have to save up for some stronger lights. This one really does seem nice, though - very bright and pretty, so I'm hoping for the best. Thank you all for your time and suggestions and for the link to the great article on beginner corals with pictures. Oh, I forgot to mention that my 55g is 18" tall.

My next order of business is to get a couple of QTs set up. I'll start a new thread about that....

 

[BoneXriffic]

There seems to be a little confusion about my tank. I understand that it's impossible to keep up with everybody and not confuse different threads while checking in on the forum. Anyway, mine isn't a 20g. It's a 55g. I'll try to figure out whether the lighting fixture I have is FW or marine. I did read up on lighting requirements, and basically learned that there are fluorescent (no good), metal halide, and LED lights. The articles I read said that LED lighting is new, but well liked so far. I certainly don't have hundreds of bucks lying around, so this one is going to have to get it done for now. I think I will start with some mushrooms that have low lighting needs and see how they do in my aquarium. If that doesn't go so well, I'll have to save up for some stronger lights. This one really does seem nice, though - very bright and pretty, so I'm hoping for the best. Thank you all for your time and suggestions. Oh, I forgot to mention that my 55g is 18" tall.

My next order of business is to get a couple of QTs set up. I'll start a new thread about that....

Agreed, give it a shot. But go slow. I dont believe those lights are strong enough for many coral. But they may keep them alive. What you want to read is spectrum and watts x how many leds. Compare them to a light you know is good like a radion. Also....depth is a big issue. The lights seem bright enough but may not put off the right kind of light. Id get a cheap shroom and maybe a leather or some xenia and see how it acts over a few weeks if you didnt live so far id give you my leather and shrooms lol. They need to go. Anyways. Good luck and keep us updated on progress

 

[BoneXriffic]

Side note. Theres a company on here, ati i think. Selling scratch and dent special t5 units for a great price....might want to check it out...

 

[Pamela]

Agreed, give it a shot. But go slow. I dont believe those lights are strong enough for many coral. But they may keep them alive. What you want to read is spectrum and watts x how many leds. Compare them to a light you know is good like a radion. Also....depth is a big issue. The lights seem bright enough but may not put off the right kind of light. Id get a cheap shroom and maybe a leather or some xenia and see how it acts over a few weeks if you didnt live so far id give you my leather and shrooms lol. They need to go. Anyways. Good luck and keep us updated on progress

That is so nice! I wish I lived close enough to take you up on that. I will definitely go slow. If I've learned anything at all about saltwater aquaria, it's that everyone agrees that nothing good happens fast. What do you think it would cost to ship me some of your excess leather and mushrooms?

 

[cmcoker]

If your ever down in dfw area, I would give you some Kenya tree and pulsing xenia to try out

 

[BoneXriffic]

Far more than they are worth lol. Do you have a local fish store?

 

[Pamela]

If your ever down in dfw area, I would give you some Kenya tree and pulsing xenia to try out

Aren't you sweet! Thanks. I will let you know if I'm ever headed that way....

 

[cmcoker]

Aren't you sweet! Thanks. I will let you know if I'm ever headed that way....

No problem, my first tank most of my corals came from frags my buddy gave me to try out. Just paying it forward.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

yea kinda bummed here too. I think we could all load you up.

 

[Pamela]

Far more than they are worth lol. Do you have a local fish store?

Oklahoma City is about 1 1/2 hours north of me. I visited a great store there (called Steve's) a few weeks ago. I knew even less than I know now, then. It was pretty much a case of, "Oooooooh, pretty!!" so I couldn't even really tell you what they had. I do remember that in addition to fishes, they had aquariums filled with tiny pieces of corals mounted on little round rocks for sale. I definitely need to go back....

 

[cmcoker]

Oklahoma City is about 1 1/2 hours north of me. I visited a great store there (called Steve's) a few weeks ago. I knew even less than I know now, then. It was pretty much a case of, "Oooooooh, pretty!!" so I couldn't even really tell you what they had. I do remember that in addition to fishes, they had aquariums filled with tiny pieces of corals mounted on little round rocks for sale. I definitely need to go back....

Are you closer to Denton, TX there's a couple good stores there I believe

 

[Pamela]

yea kinda bummed here too. I think we could all load you up.

Geez, SOMEBODY needs to invent a transporter. Where's Scotty when you need him? Thanks, though.

 

[Pamela]

Are you closer to Denton, TX there's a couple good stores there I believe

Norman (OKC) and Denton are about equidistant from me. I will look them up though, and see when hubby might want to indulge me in a little road trip (or I could go myself I suppose, but that's no fun). I should've thought of Denton! Do you happen to know the names of the places? The day we searched OKC for LFSs, we found 3, and one was mainly pond fish like koi, one was GREAT (this Steve's I was talking about) and one was smelly with lots of dead fishes in their tanks.

Of course there's always my local Petco!! (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

 

[cmcoker]

Blue pins are the LFS in dfw, if you do make it this way check out dfwmas.org for this map and some local input on which stores to visit.

Reef remedies is the one in Denton. They have a good reputation on the local forum

 

[morpheas]

I would look to see if there is any local reef club close to you. Usually fellow reefers are mostly interested in helping out rather than making money so I'm sure they'd be more than happy to hook you up with some beginner corals, all of us in here would if you were close. [emoji4]

 

[scardall]

The Best beginner coral ever:Starlet coral. I have had this one for over 18 years.

 

[Pamela]

[QUOTE="cmcoker, post: 2930356, member:

Blue pins are the LFS in dfw, if you do make it this way check out dfwmas.org for this map and some local input on which stores to visit.

Reef remedies is the one in Denton. They have a good reputation on the local forum[/QUOTE]
Thanks! I will look up Reef Remedies and get started sweet talking my husband into taking me there.

 

[Pamela]

I would look to see if there is any local reef club close to you. Usually fellow reefers are mostly interested in helping out rather than making money so I'm sure they'd be more than happy to hook you up with some beginner corals, all of us in here would if you were close. [emoji4]

Okay, yeah, this is a great idea! I'll check into that. Thanks!