New to corals

mcmc1717 · Jan 27, 2016

So I want to get corals but I don't know how long my system has to be running in order to maintain them, my aquarium has been running for 4 months. (also I know I need a better lighting any help with that?)

saltyfilmfolks · Jan 27, 2016

yea its ready. check your params and look at "easy" corals. What kind of light do you have?
I am from the school of"you can grow a lot of corals under Home depot lights"

Most folks, better or worse, put them in way too soon. 3 to 5 weeks.

phish2277 · Jan 27, 2016

I would say you are ready. I put some Zoas in after 4 weeks. I have had the tank for 3 months now and they are doing just fine. I have a great local shop that helped me get started. I have a Bio cube and that is enough lighting for the Zoas and few other corals that I have.

Humblefish · Jan 27, 2016

What size tank do you have? Dimensions? Knowing that will help with the light recommendations.

phish2277 · Jan 27, 2016

Right now I have a 29 gal nano. I'm finalize setting up my 93 g corner tank. The 93g is 30wx30dx25h. I'm using the AI 1-1-hydra 52. I hope this helps.

saltyfilmfolks · Jan 27, 2016

phish2277 said:
I'm using the AI 1-1-hydra 52.

yea. youll be fine

2xal · Jan 27, 2016

in my experience water parameters are more important than lighting in the 'is my tank ready enough' line of questioning...

mcmc1717 · Jan 28, 2016

My parameters are fine they are at 0, my lighting is a weak fluorescent, my aquarium is 75 gallons it has dimensions of 18."H x 48."L x 21."W

Humblefish · Jan 28, 2016

mcmc1717 said:
My parameters are fine they are at 0, my lighting is a weak fluorescent, my aquarium is 75 gallons it has dimensions of 18."H x 48."L x 21."W

So this is just one example of what you'd need to grow corals: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+23758&pcatid=23758

You can sometimes get these a lot cheaper second hand and/or there are better brands (but more expensive) like ATI. There's also LED fixtures, but I don't know much about those. Do a lot of research before settling on one.

mcmc1717 · Jan 28, 2016

What would be some corals that you guys would recommend?

mcmc1717 · Jan 28, 2016

Yeah those lights are better but I was thinking maybe a starfire, would those be good with an anemone/giant clam?

Humblefish · Jan 28, 2016

mcmc1717 said:
What would be some corals that you guys would recommend?

Stay away from invasive soft corals (xenia, mushrooms, anthelia, kenya tree, etc.) and also any SPS for now (until you get more experienced). Leathers, euphyllia, trumpets, favia, etc. is what I would recommend to start. Basically, any non spreading softies and LPS. You want softies that grow bigger, not spread themselves onto other rocks (although star polyps & zoas can be nice if isolated away from the main rock work.)

mcmc1717 said:
Yeah those lights are better but I was thinking maybe a starfire, would those be good with an anemone/giant clam?

A 4 bulb T5 would be good enough for a BTA, but not certain clams IMO. Might work for a Derasa, but probably not for a Maxima. You'd need either MH or possibly LEDs for that.

2xal · Jan 28, 2016

I had a maxima clam under T5 for a while and it seemed happy. I knew that it wasn't the 'right' light and traded it for some other corals but I think you could do it.