Looking to get my first toadstool leather. What will I need to test for?

[willisd]

i would suggest large palys or zoas for a coral that the clowns can host in and not kill.

my clowns were so aggressive they have killed smaller RBTAs and countless frogspawn heads (50+) in their day before finally finding their paly grandis and eventually the large RBTAs.

they seem to get the same sting reaction from large palys and they don’t actually kill the coral. They will get darker spots on their body from being stung by non-anenomes

i have TONS of large leather corals and while you would think they look like carpet anenomes without the actual sting component and with their typical skin release reaction they are not something my clowns have ever wanted to host in. They also get massive BTW.

attaching some photos of my clowns in the grandis as well as their anenome now

 

[SharkRacer]

Hello,

I think when it comes to testing you should test for all the main ones. This is what I test for and the levels I like:

temp: approx 78 degrees

Salinity 1.025- 1.026- best tool is a refractometer

ph: 7.8-8.3+ - for me I like 8 and above.

alkalinity- I shoot for 9- some for less but I think most important is stability with alk. Never raise it more then 1 dkh at a time

calcium: 420-450

magnesium i shoot for 1350

nitrate- I shoot for 10ppm

phosphates i shoot for .01 ppm

once cycled you won’t need to test Ammonia or nitrite.

if your planning on keeping most corals- you should be testing these parameters regularly.

good luck my friend and happy reefing!

Seems I need to up my testing game!

What would you all suggest I buy to test (and maintain proper levels for):

alk
Phosphate
Magnesium
PH

Should I go with a kit like this? Salifert Master Reef Testing Combo Kit - Saltwater Aquariums https://a.co/d/7ezaZVy

Trying to be budget conscious when possible.

 

[Spare time]

I’m not testing Alkalinity yet. And thanks for the tip on the trumpet needing more light. I’m adding one this weekend. Does it matter if it’s white or blue to get the trumpet to grow?

Either works, but blue is known to stimulate calcification (I haven't read the source paper yet so I don't know the details).

I think it's a good idea to test alk since you have stony corals. Alk is the only thing I test at least weekly.

 

[SharkRacer]

So clowns are definitely weird. I had my bonded pair before I had coral. Since added a decent amount, they have attempted to be hosted by the purple monster zoa "colony" (~8 polyps), my 4 headed duncan, and my medium green goni. All of them initialy would close up when rubbed, but eventually got used to them and don't flinch anymore.

They have NOT attempted to be hosted by my BTA. Possibly because its small, possibly because my midas blenny guards that area, and possibly because they are weird.

As for the toadstool, you can almost certainly add it already. But don't expect the clowns to care, but possibly when its huge.

More importantly, it doesn't seem like anyone has mentioned what looks like some massive algae growth; possibly GHA? Are you doing anything about that currently?

Yep! I am tackling the algae this weekend (ripping it off by hand) and have a CUC on the way with an emerald crab to help take care of what I miss. Might get a pincushion as well.


And thanks for the clown stories!

 

[Spare time]

Yep! I am tackling the algae this weekend (ripping it off by hand) and have a CUC on the way with an emerald crab to help take care of what I miss. Might get a pincushion as well.


And thanks for the clown stories!

Btw, one thing you can do with that algae is scrub it off and siphon it. That will trim it down. It's pretty normal to see something like that in a young tank, but you can always mow the lawn haha

 

[willisd]

Yep! I am tackling the algae this weekend (ripping it off by hand) and have a CUC on the way with an emerald crab to help take care of what I miss. Might get a pincushion as well.


And thanks for the clown stories!

If you take that rock out to scrub it it will be a more complete removal. You don’t want any of that stuff spreading around.

i use a steel brush or dental tools when I have a patch like that and would maybe even paint on some hydrogen peroxide something that big.The advanced way to kill it in the tank is with Kalk paste but if you’re worried about your levels that’s not something you want to do now.

For your size tank I’d suggest a devils hand over a toadstool, they’re easier to keep small and don’t slime up as bad. The slime toadstools will be a bit of an issue for you without filter socks or carbon running. still say palys are your best option

As far as testing you should be doing:

alk - stabilizes ph aim for 8-10 dhk… stability is almost more important than the value over 8
Calcium - component of alk, coraline and hard coral growth. Aim for 450
Nitrates - end of nitrogen cycle, want 5ish
Phosphates - want super low but non zero
Ph - looking for 8.4 also stability is key

magnesium is a good to test as well but you don’t have much consuming it.

 

[Nemosis]

One of my clowns got kicked out of the BTA and moved next door to my toadstool leather. Now they’re neighbors instead of roommates. They swim together during the day and sleep in separate bedrooms at night.

 

[Bfragale]

Seems I need to up my testing game!

What would you all suggest I buy to test (and maintain proper levels for):

alk
Phosphate
Magnesium
PH

Should I go with a kit like this? Salifert Master Reef Testing Combo Kit - Saltwater Aquariums https://a.co/d/7ezaZVy

Trying to be budget conscious when possible.

I think the Salifert kits are great. I would stay away from API brand. I use Salifert tests or Hanna checkers. The Hanna checkers make thing easier but are a bit pricy. The Salifert kits in my opinion are priced ok, and fairly reliable.

For PH I use a cheap tester from Amazon + apex probe. This cheap ph tester has been surprisingly reliable and quick and easy to use.

Digital PH Meter,Backlight PH Meter 0.01 High Accuracy Water Quality Tester,PH Range is 0-14,Suitable for Drinking Water Swimming Pool and Aquarium Water PH Tester Design,with ATC https://a.co/d/aSML4vh

 

[Tcook]

Mine host in my large colt coral. Almost lights out so it's closing up but is fully open in the day not bothered at all by the clowns.

 

[willisd]

I think the Salifert kits are great. I would stay away from API brand. I use Salifert tests or Hanna checkers. The Hanna checkers make thing easier but are a bit pricy. The Salifert kits in my opinion are priced ok, and fairly reliable.

For PH I use a cheap tester from Amazon + apex probe. This cheap ph tester has been surprisingly reliable and quick and easy to use.

Digital PH Meter,Backlight PH Meter 0.01 High Accuracy Water Quality Tester,PH Range is 0-14,Suitable for Drinking Water Swimming Pool and Aquarium Water PH Tester Design,with ATC https://a.co/d/aSML4vh

+1 to Hanna checker for alkalinity.
also salifert or redsea are my tests of choice. I only use API to detect ammonia or nitrate since on both of those I don’t care as much on the resolution (just want some nitrate and no ammonia)

 

[Spare time]

For test kits, I like the Red Sea combo kit with alk, calcium, and magnesium. Alk tests are too simple and easy to read for me to spend money on a Hanna alk checker. For pH, I use an apera pH pen (sx 620?). It's important to get one with a reasonable error range (mine is 0.01 I believe)

 

[dwest]

You are good to go. Buy a healthy coral and I think you’ll be successful.

 

[Jubei2006]

Good strong light, moderate flow to keep the cap clean and you shall be rewarded. Mine went from the size of a quater to this in about a year. It's about the size of my hand. Second picture its the coral in the top right (29gallon biocube). First picture was today in my 500gallon.

 

[Thunder_reef]

This pair hosted my toadstool , coral did not mind at all

 

[dado150]

As mentioned clowns are weird, here is mine:

Speaking of weird, here's mine hosting a Featherduster. The Featherduster doesn't mind at all.