Need ideas to make my tank look lively!

[merlberg]

I love my tank and all my fish but i find it looking so blaaaa... It needs color... Like pink blue green, anything but black lol. Idk what else to add to my tank to make colors pop out. Is it ok to put fake things in a saltwater tank like ppl do in fresh water? Is it ok to put these fake marbles and shell? Please let me knw and shoot me any other ideas to make my tank look colorful. Thanks!

 

[FL_Reefer]

Add some coral to that thing, lol some gorgonians will add some movement in there

 

[cloak]

What kind of lighting do you have? You could try putting a Kenya Tree coral up top somewhere. These are pretty hardy and it will add some movement to the tank as well.

They're pink btw.

 

[merlberg]

Add some coral to that thing, lol some gorgonians will add some movement in there

Lol im scared to add corals because im afraid they are going to die. I knw the water quality has to be superb with them and some of the fish i keep eat corals. Like my puffer and angel n trigger lol so i dnt think I can.

 

[Rattooth]

Google INSTAREEF?
Your shell is safe. Probably will grow algae. The marbles probably safe. Again lots of things get covered with algae after a while.

 

[Rattooth]

instareef photo

 

[merlberg]

What kind of lighting do you have? You could try putting a Kenya Tree coral up top somewhere. These are pretty hardy and it will add some movement to the tank as well.

They're pink btw.

The light i have is the Current USA Orbit Marine Aquarium LED Light. But im worried about my fish eating the coral?! Wont they especially my valentini puffer who is small but very inquisitive As well as my flame angel?

 

[merlberg]

Google INSTAREEF?
Your shell is safe. Probably will grow algae. The marbles probably safe. Again lots of things get covered with algae after a while.

Instareef! Thanks i will do it now lol yes i see alot of my rocks are started to have algae all over

 

[merlberg]

instareef photo

Thank you will try tht site now!

 

[merlberg]

Google INSTAREEF?
Your shell is safe. Probably will grow algae. The marbles probably safe. Again lots of things get covered with algae after a while.

Hmm so does it even make sense to put the marbles? Lol

 

[Eaj1001]

Flame is reef safe, trigger not reef safe and not sure about a puffer..I've had 2 but not in a reef tank. Maybe Anthelia or Xenia to give you some color and movement but research it first! I know triggers will go for Stoney corals but not sure if they would bother a soft coral.

 

[cloak]

The light i have is the Current USA Orbit Marine Aquarium LED Light. But im worried about my fish eating the coral?! Wont they especially my valentini puffer who is small but very inquisitive As well as my flame angel?

I don't know if they'll eat the coral, but they might pick at it. This coral in particular is very common and extremely durable though, so it would be worth the risk IMO.

 

[Rattooth]

Flame Angel is safe with corals except clams.
Puffer , I have no experience with.
The hardiest corals are leather corals, zoanthids , and mushroom corals. The things most likely for fish to pick at is clams, and open brain coral. I do not recconend starting with SPS as a first try.
Try to contact reefers in your hometown. Some might give you extra mushrooms or other fast growing coral, plus advise on lighting and water parameters.
Some corals grow so fast that they can take over a tank. Like xenia or green star polyps.
I doubt your puffer could eat that once it got a foothold.
Seems like I'm remembering puffers like feather dusters.

 

[FL_Reefer]

You will be good with some soft corals like
Xenia, toadstools, ect. Start off with something cheep and then go from there. Monitor your fish and see if there picking at anything. I don't think you will have an issue with those corals.

 

[briancarterkc]

Yeah, that pretty white shell will not be super white after a while. It'll either get covered with coralline or turn green or yellow.

I second the other thoughts about some nice leather corals. Most fish don't seem to go after them. I actually have one of the lights you mentioned sitting on standby for my QT tank, but it used to be my main light. Grew some nice LPS so it's probably plenty for softies.

I would not do zoas...lots of fish find them the perfect size for a nice amuse-bouche.

 

[Waters]

Flame Angel is safe with corals except clams.

Unfortunately that is only true about half of the time lol. There is no dwarf angel that is 100% reef safe....varies from fish to fish.

 

[merlberg]

Thanks for all the help guys!! I guess ill be trying the cheapest coral tht some of u recommended so I can see how it does with my fish. Wish me luck but i do think my puffer n trigger will have fun, thts y ill go the cheaper route now lol

 

[merlberg]

Ok guys remember ive never done corals n never thought about doing corals because i hear u have to dose them w/ certain things which is too much for me.

Ive checked out some of the corals you guys mentioned and I love the toadstool as well as the zoanthids.. My concern is do they have to get dosed? Do they need special lighting and would i need a 2nd powerhead? I have 1 now which is pretty strong. I wouldnt want to get the 2 and they die :/. I want to try and get them today if possible so need to knw some more before i purchase them. @cloak @Rattooth @FL_Reefer @Eaj1001 and anyone else i missed lol

 

[FL_Reefer]

The zoas may get munched on, I would start with the toadstool, they like flow so you could place it close to the powerhead you have. Also you will not have to dose anything with these types of corals so you will have no worries there

 

[merlberg]

The zoas may get munched on, I would start with the toadstool, they like flow so you could place it close to the powerhead you have. Also you will not have to dose anything with these types of corals so you will have no worries there

Thank you! Im excited to now purchase my 1st one esp. after hearing i dnt have to dose anything.