My 20gal marine tank!

[Emma_fish]

You should be able to get coral any time you have your lights. if your light is stronger than what they use you'll just need to make sure to set your light lower and slowly ramp it up to whatever setting you want to use over a couple of days with the coral instead of all at once. This should keep it from being bleached. But yes if you have the light you are good!

I can’t get the light connected to my phone so it might be to bright

 

[CrimsonTide]

I can’t get the light connected to my phone so it might be to bright

Hope you got the light set up on your phone!

 

[Emma_fish]

Hope you got the light set up on your phone!

Thank you I managed to get it sorted but it took a while lol

 

[Emma_fish]

Ok so yesterday I went to my lfs and picked up a Maxspect jump light and some basic corals I got a Duncan , some GSP and an Acan also are the settings on my light right because I didn’t know how to do it properly
Help is appreciated

 

[Aqua Man]

Nice corals! Congratulations. Acan is a favorite of mine. They all look happy with your light choice.

Not familiar with the jump light to offer much help.

 

[Emma_fish]

Nice corals! Congratulations. Acan is a favorite of mine. They all look happy with your light choice.

Not familiar with the jump light to offer much help.

Thank you I’m just glad that I haven’t killed them yet lol next week I want to get a candy cane coral , hammer coral and maybe a flower pot coral but I just love the fluorescent colours so what would you recommend ?

 

[Aqua Man]

I would go with a Hammer coral or frogspawn!!

Now that you have corals that have skeletons that grow, what is your plan for keeping up the elements? Alkalinity will start going down before you know it!

 

[Emma_fish]

I would go with a Hammer coral or frogspawn!!

Now that you have corals that have skeletons that grow, what is your plan for keeping up the elements? Alkalinity will start going down before you know it!

Honestly the thought scared me so I haven’t thought about it yet but i guess I should start now I have coral so what do you recommend ?

 

[Emma_fish]

Here is a full tank shot of my tank now

 

[Aqua Man]

First get a quality test kit. Salifert is good for Alkalinity testing. Then practice. Do a couple tests in a row and see if you get consistent reading. Practice this every couple days till you feel comfortable and get repeatable results, within reason.

Example, 8.2 and 8.4 close enough I’d feel that I’m doing test correctly. Majority of reefers keep Alk around 8.0 dkh

For the supplement? Do shop online or does your LFS carry what you need? Powder or liquid? Sounds like you have a good LFS, see what they have and use for their tanks. Basically, baking soda is what is used to raise Alkalinity.

 

[Emma_fish]

First get a quality test kit. Salifert is good for Alkalinity testing. Then practice. Do a couple tests in a row and see if you get consistent reading. Practice this every couple days till you feel comfortable and get repeatable results, within reason.

Example, 8.2 and 8.4 close enough I’d feel that I’m doing test correctly. Majority of reefers keep Alk around 8.0 dkh

For the supplement? Do shop online or does your LFS carry what you need? Powder or liquid? Sounds like you have a good LFS, see what they have and use for their tanks. Basically, baking soda is what is used to raise Alkalinity.

I was told to invest in the API one as it it high quality ?

 

[Aqua Man]

API is ok. It will give you a number. I was actually using that brand for a long time. Price is good and easy to use. Good kit to get comfortable with testing!

So I thought my tank was at 8.0 dkh according to the API test. When I switched to Salifert my tank was actually 9.8 dkh. Salifert Alk test is just more accurate/precise. There was a question of the day recently and most choose salifert or Hanna for Alk tests.

IMO, the important thing is to not let your Alk drop to low. The API test is good enough for that. Coral and coralline algae use up Alk and helps to keep PH stable.

 

[Emma_fish]

API is ok. It will give you a number. I was actually using that brand for a long time. Price is good and easy to use. Good kit to get comfortable with testing!

So I thought my tank was at 8.0 dkh according to the API test. When I switched to Salifert my tank was actually 9.8 dkh. Salifert Alk test is just more accurate/precise. There was a question of the day recently and most choose salifert or Hanna for Alk tests.

IMO, the important thing is to not let your Alk drop to low. The API test is good enough for that. Coral and coralline algae use up Alk and helps to keep PH stable.

I’m just making sure Alk is like alkalinity isn’t it ? According to my research it is but I’m just checking lol

 

[Aqua Man]

I’m just making sure Alk is like alkalinity isn’t it ? According to my research it is but I’m just checking lol

Yes! And also carbonate hardness, dkh

 

[Emma_fish]

Yes! And also carbonate hardness, dkh

Ok thank you

 

[Aqua Man]

How are the new additions doing?

 

[Emma_fish]

How are the new additions doing?

My Clowns and CUC are doing great as for corals they are also doing really well thank you !
Here are some pictures that I just took my Green star polyps have just closed up I’m not sure why though maybe one of my hermit crabs was bothering it ?

 

[Aqua Man]

Looking good! Yeah probably the crab if they are usually open.

Green star polyps have just closed up

 

[Emma_fish]

What is all of that on my tank? Algae? Is this the ugly stage?

 

[Aqua Man]

What is all of that on my tank?

Yup, algae. See if you can find some more snails. Astrea and trochus are really great grazers. For your tank, 4 or 5 snail in total is a good amount.