Hopefully getting first coral today

[Glass Algae]

Wish me luck! Going to go check out my lfs and see if they have any cool toadstools. Maybe a tiny nip of xenia I can exile to its own rock.


Should I maybe do a 10% change before or after putting the coral in?

I'm very excited and don't wanna mess it up haha

Have my dip (The Dip) cutters, frag plugs, 2 qt Tupperware, super glue gel and 15ml dosers for the dip.

Looking good or am I forgetting something?

 

[New&no clue]

Looks good. I wouldn't worry about a water change. Softies are hardy so they are a great start.

 

[Barnabie Mejia]

sounds like you have everthing ready to go! I would do the water change a few hours after putting the coral in.... but IME I bring coral home, float them, little bit of acclimation, dip them, and place them in the tank. I don't glue them right away because they may want different flow or lighting that is in the tank. I don't worry about water changes until my schedule says its time for one....

 

[Glass Algae]

sounds like you have everthing ready to go! I would do the water change a few hours after putting the coral in.... but IME I bring coral home, float them, little bit of acclimation, dip them, and place them in the tank. I don't glue them right away because they may want different flow or lighting that is in the tank. I don't worry about water changes until my schedule says its time for one....

So after you float you give them a Little bit of your own tank water?

I figured I was going to get the coral home, float it while I prepare the Tupperware and dip then let them sit in untreated DT tank water for a bit, then dip em inspect, rinse, maybe dip again if needed, then place on new frag plug (idk of this is possible with softies I've only seen acro demonstrations) I don't have a qt so I don't wanna introduce any pests. Didn't plan to glue the frag down till I saw it happy somewhere

Am I sounding like I'm on the right track?

 

[Glass Algae]

Looks good. I wouldn't worry about a water change. Softies are hardy so they are a great start.

That's what I was thinking. I have to learn to trust my instinct and numbers more lolol.

You think I should try to place it in a shady less flow spot of the tank or maybe indirect flow? Don't wanna irritate it.

Although as a noob I do resgin my self to the fact that my first coral could very well die. Very happy stressful finally putting all that learning to the test

 

[gallow3]

As a fellow newbie i put my first ones in about 3 weeks ago. I was very stressed about it too. it worked out great. floated it for 30, dipped, and put it on sand in medium flow area. skipped the fragging this time as I just didn't think my heart could take all the newness at once

First ones are doing great, may take a few days to start showing life. Got a GSP a few days ago that still isn't opening.

it will be great!

 

[Glass Algae]

T

As a fellow newbie i put my first ones in about 3 weeks ago. I was very stressed about it too. it worked out great. floated it for 30, dipped, and put it on sand in medium flow area. skipped the fragging this time as I just didn't think my heart could take all the newness at once

First ones are doing great, may take a few days to start showing life. Got a GSP a few days ago that still isn't opening.

it will be great!

This makes me even more happy excited haha. Thankfully I'm going against all urge to ball out and buy a 200 dollar frag pack as I don't wanna watch them all just melt away from lack of nutes I think max is 2 smaller frags today again hopefully xenia and toadstool

I hope your gsp opens up beautiful and vivacious! Thanks for the encouragement I needed it!

 

[Barnabie Mejia]

So after you float you give them a Little bit of your own tank water?

I figured I was going to get the coral home, float it while I prepare the Tupperware and dip then let them sit in untreated DT tank water for a bit, then dip em inspect, rinse, maybe dip again if needed, then place on new frag plug (idk of this is possible with softies I've only seen acro demonstrations) I don't have a qt so I don't wanna introduce any pests. Didn't plan to glue the frag down till I saw it happy somewhere

Am I sounding like I'm on the right track?

you're right on track, I think its a good plan

 

[gallow3]

T

This makes me even more happy excited haha. Thankfully I'm going against all urge to ball out and buy a 200 dollar frag pack as I don't wanna watch them all just melt away from lack of nutes I think max is 2 smaller frags today again hopefully xenia and toadstool

I hope your gsp opens up beautiful and vivacious! Thanks for the encouragement I needed it!

I feel the same way about the frag pack - i read a lot of people that just go for it. Props to you guys!
I have committed to scouring LFS close to me and checking out $10-$15 frags for the first few, just so that I don't make them all suffer as i learn.

 

[samnaz]

I think you are good to go with that list. Great that you are dipping from the get go. I’m excited for you!

 

[New&no clue]

That's what I was thinking. I have to learn to trust my instinct and numbers more lolol.

You think I should try to place it in a shady less flow spot of the tank or maybe indirect flow? Don't wanna irritate it.

Although as a noob I do resgin my self to the fact that my first coral could very well die. Very happy stressful finally putting all that learning to the test

I always place my frags on a frag rack at the bottom of my tank in low flow. For starters I like them on a frag rack because they are right next to the glass and you can see them really well. Also you can easily move your rack around as needed. After they have been in for a week I will start by placing them on the rocks, I don’t always glue down right away.

 

[mermaid_life]

How exciting! I just wanted to share my first experience. My first coral was a decent sized frogspawn that I bought from another reefer. When I first put it in the tank, it opened up right away. Then after an hour, it decided to close up. Not sure why. I freaked and did a water change. No change. It opened back up a few hours later. Next day, exact same thing. All open then all of a sudden really upset. This time I just watched and did nothing. Few hours, it opened up again. I've had that coral for 6 years now and it's always been temperamental.

Long story short, if something isn't perfect right away but you know your water parameters are good, don't panic like i did! I have learned that corals have feelings too and sometimes they just don't want to play.

 

[MThorne]

That's what I was thinking. I have to learn to trust my instinct and numbers more lolol.

You think I should try to place it in a shady less flow spot of the tank or maybe indirect flow? Don't wanna irritate it.

Although as a noob I do resgin my self to the fact that my first coral could very well die. Very happy stressful finally putting all that learning to the test

Low in tank to start..definitely indirect flow for a softie

 

[Glass Algae]

How exciting! I just wanted to share my first experience. My first coral was a decent sized frogspawn that I bought from another reefer. When I first put it in the tank, it opened up right away. Then after an hour, it decided to close up. Not sure why. I freaked and did a water change. No change. It opened back up a few hours later. Next day, exact same thing. All open then all of a sudden really upset. This time I just watched and did nothing. Few hours, it opened up again. I've had that coral for 6 years now and it's always been temperamental.

Long story short, if something isn't perfect right away but you know your water parameters are good, don't panic like i did! I have learned that corals have feelings too and sometimes they just don't want to play.

Thank you for this advice I would've done the same thing!!

 

[Glass Algae]

Low in tank to start..definitely indirect flow for a softie

Tyty!

 

[Glass Algae]

I think you are good to go with that list. Great that you are dipping from the get go. I’m excited for you!

Tysm! You specifically have been a great help!

 

[Glass Algae]

I feel the same way about the frag pack - i read a lot of people that just go for it. Props to you guys!
I have committed to scouring LFS close to me and checking out $10-$15 frags for the first few, just so that I don't make them all suffer as i learn.

Yes I have expendable income so it's very hard it to just go for it. I have to remember all the tanks I see that people just pack with stuff off the bat and are covered in bryopsis pests and all sorts of crazy critters you didn't pay for

 

[rwreef]

 

[Palegic]

Yes I have expendable income so it's very hard it to just go for it. I have to remember all the tanks I see that people just pack with stuff off the bat and are covered in bryopsis pests and all sorts of crazy critters you didn't pay for

Expendable income means you have income left over after saving and paying bills. To me that would mean you have money to go for it! lol I know what you mean though!. First time I introduced corals I got some cheapo frags from the LFS. Problem is some took off some didnt. So dont just discount it if your coral dies. Certain corals do well in some tanks, some dont. Its just the way it is. Get a couple of different kinds and go from there.

I always just float for 30 min, and add a bit of water every 20-30 min until the volume doubles-ish. I have also just tossed some corals in without dipping most of the time it was perfectly fine. Couple times I wound up with unwanted critters. So dipping aint a bad thing.

 

[samnaz]

Tysm! You specifically have been a great help!

Me?! Gosh thanks I’m always happy to help ;-) Let us know how it goes.