First coral ever in biocube 32

[Hetts]

I went and picked up 3 frags. I got a favia, candy cane/trumpet, and cyphastrea coral. Are these good beginner corals and easy to care for? Thanks! Also how long does it take them to fully open up? I’ve had them for a few days and they don’t look any different. (The one clownfish is very nosy and is always coming to the glass to greet people and want food lol, also sorry about blue light in tank, it’s hard to see in pics)

 

[Spare time]

Just make sure to watch alkalinity, calcium, and far distantly important magnesium! Keep them around what your salt mixes at and if you dose just do it in the first rear chamber of the cube.

 

[Hetts]

Just make sure to watch alkalinity, calcium, and far distantly important magnesium! Keep them around what your salt mixes at and if you dose just do it in the first rear chamber of the cube.

What can I use to check all that and where should my numbers be. I’m a newby

 

[reefiniteasy]

What can I use to check all that and where should my numbers be. I’m a newby

What salt are you using? You can pick up test kits from Red Sea, Salifert, Hanna, everyone has their preference.

 

[Hetts]

What salt are you using? You can pick up test kits from Red Sea, Salifert, Hanna, everyone has their preference.

I’m using Instant ocean sea salt and I have a api saltwater masters test kit but it doesn’t test the other stuff

 

[Uncle99]

Mixed reef
PH 7.8-8.3......I have 7.9-8.1
Alk 8-12 dkh......I use 11.5
CA.....420-460....I use 460
MG....1260-1360....I use 1360
iodide....0.03-0.06......I use 0.03

 

[Hetts]

Mixed reef
PH 7.8-8.3......I have 7.9-8.1
Alk 8-12 dkh......I use 11.5
CA.....420-460....I use 460
MG....1260-1360....I use 1360
iodide....0.03-0.06......I use 0.03

What you use to test all that

 

[Spare time]

It also may take a few days to open up but it all depends on the individual coral

 

[reefiniteasy]

I’m using Instant ocean sea salt and I have a api saltwater masters test kit but it doesn’t test the other stuff

Next time you mix up your salt, measure Ca, Mg, and Alk. Then try to keep the tank as close to that as you can. Either through water changes or dosing.

 

[Kris 2020]

Salifert test kits are good and don’t break the bank. Nyos are also good.

 

[Spare time]

What can I use to check all that and where should my numbers be. I’m a newby

I reall like red sea foundation pro test kit but there are plenty of options. Just try to keep them to what your salt mixes to. Water changes once a week may be able to keep them up when you have only a few corals but eventually it will drop too fast causing water changes to be really cost ineffective and leads to swings in the levels from really low to high. Alk and calcium will give you an indication of your corals growing since this is what they use to build their skeletons. Alk drains the fastest and if you dose just match whatever your tank uses in a day it becomes pretty easy to memorize overtime

 

[Spare time]

BTW bulk reef has great videos on these sorts of things

 

[Uncle99]

What you use to test all that

Salifert for all except Alk, then I use Hanna

 

[Bryn]

@Hetts Welcome to reefing. Great bunch of answers you have here, the hard part is picking one and sticking to it. This leads me to a suggestion, don't make sudden changes to your tank, always make slow smooth changes, unless it has become an emergency. I think my catch phrase on this site has become Hurry-Up-And-Wait, because that is what reefing becomes. One last thing, stability. Stability in your water level, temperature, parameters such as Alk, Ca, Mg, and nutrients.

Recap: Slow is smooth, smooth is fast, and Hurry-Up-And-Wait.

Best of luck.