New to Coral parameters help!

[pandilla]

Hello All! I have a 75-gallon that's been up and running for over a year now with a few Clowns, gobies, and a couple of firefish. I have a GSP that was attacked by a hermit crab (no longer with us RIP) but is now recovering. It's looking pretty nice actually. I have recently purchased a ZOA frag and it's not looking the same as it was in the store. Can someone help? Actually, I really want a great coral tank but I don't even know where to start. Also, I'm trying to be frugal. I've been working from home. Now that I can gaze at my tank I wanted to improve it but we just got pay cuts at work. How can I keep a successful coral tank on a low budget?

Here are my parameters:
Ca = 450
Alkalinity = 12.10 dhk
Salinity = 30
Temp = 78 - 80 F
pH = 8.20
Magnesium = 1320
Ammonia = 0

 

[Doctorgori]

you might get other input but its possible you might rue the day when that GSP decides it likes your tank LOL
...anyway, IME GSP and zoas to a lesser extent can grow in low-mid light. Whats your lighting & flow like?
When you say budget, is a $200 light a possibility. How bout a decent skimmer? (another 200ish)
BTW, softies can look funky and retracted for days even weeks. I’d bet given time the zoas will be OK ...post a pic, lets see

 

[pandilla]

you might get other input but its possible you might rue the day when that GSP decides it likes your tank LOL
...anyway, IME GSP and zoas to a lesser extent can grow in low-mid light. Whats your lighting & flow like?
When you say budget, is a $200 light a possibility. How bout a decent skimmer? (another 200ish)
BTW, softies can look funky and retracted for days even weeks. I’d bet given time the zoas will be OK ...post a pic, lets see

I have a protein skimmer and Fluvval light, filter and a flow pump. Here is my tank and the 3 coral I have.

 

[Doctorgori]

that tank ain’t bad. T5’ might be the cheapest path to lighting 4ft ... One strategy on a budget is rather than try and blanket the tank with temporary budget lights like Chines blackboxes, I’d perhaps buy some better quality $200 AI’s one light at a time, maybe 3-4 depending on SPS dom, mixed reef, et

 

[pandilla]

that tank ain’t bad. T5’ might be the cheapest path to lighting 4ft ... One strategy on a budget is rather than try and blanket the tank with temporary budget lights like Chines blackboxes, I’d perhaps buy some better quality $200 AI’s one light at a time, maybe 3-4 depending on SPS dom, mixed reef, et

brand lighting suggestions? how are my parameters? anything else i can do to get my corals happy?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Some are off or too high or too low
Here is where you want to be:

temp. 76-79
Salinity. 1.025
Ph. 8.1 - 8.3
Ammonia. <. .04
Nitrate. .05
Ca. 450
Mag. 1300
Alk. 8-9

 

[pandilla]

Some are off or too high or too low
Here is where you want to be:

temp. 76-79
Salinity. 1.025
Ph. 8.1 - 8.3
Ammonia. <. .04
Nitrate. .05
Ca. 450
Mag. 1300
Alk. 8-9

I'll be doing a water change this weekend. How do you suggest I go about adjusting the alkalinity and magnesium? I'll have to check my nitrate but I can adjust my salinity during my water change.

 

[Alchameth]

If that is a fluval marine light, it should be fine for softies and even some LPS. I started with the 3.0 on my 90G which is the same footprint, but a little deeper and I had a fair mix of softies and LPS.

 

[pandilla]

If that is a fluval marine light, it should be fine for softies and even some LPS. I started with the 3.0 on my 90G which is the same footprint, but a little deeper and I had a fair mix of softies and LPS.

thank you!! what are your water parameters?

 

[Reefing_addiction]

Carefully when adjust anything to quickly.

zoas tend to like dirty water.

As someone else stated, and this applies to all coral, they take time to adjust to your water and your lights.

always start coral off lower in the tank and move them up an inch or two every couple of weeks till they are where you’d like them.

 

[pandilla]

Carefully when adjust anything to quickly.

zoas tend to like dirty water.

As someone else stated, and this applies to all coral, they take time to adjust to your water and your lights.

always start coral off lower in the tank and move them up an inch or two every couple of weeks till they are where you’d like them.

so leave them be and just be patient! got it!

 

[Alchameth]

thank you!! what are your water parameters?

I've since upgraded my tank. Right now only has corals in it and I do feed daily either food, flakes, or reef roids to keep the bacteria fed.

ALK 9
CAL 430
MG 1330
PH 8-8.1
Phos 0
Nitrate 2.5
SG 1.025

 

[Nanorock1970]

so leave them be and just be patient! got it!

Yes patient is good...Zoas are funny, I have had some that open right up in the tank and others that take weeks to adjust. IDK if it is a water chemistry thing, light and water flow adjustment or what but some just take time to open and look happy.

 

[pandilla]

I have new parameters today and updated my coral lights to 54w 48” t5 blue plus - ati

KH = 10.8
NH3 = 0
Ca = 425
Mg = 1200
pH = 8.2
PO4 = .25
Salinity = 1.026

How am i doing?