new to LPS/upgrading from softies recommendations

[drheacock]

My questions:

What do i need to change if i am going to start adding LPS corals?

What group or specific LPS should i try first



My 225G acrylic mixed reef recently went through a polishing to remove scratches. Had some drama with fish as they came back into the system and lost queen angel, mappa puffer, and Aussie Tusk. Now that I no longer have the bioload and potential invert and polyp eaters I am reconsidering my choral choices. Up to now it has been all softies; leather, Zoas, mushrooms. I run a Waveline DC 1200 for circulation, Bubble Magus curve 9 skimmer, Hydor Koralia 2250 and two 1500 with smart wave controller, a two little fishes 550 reactor with RoPhos and Aquatic Life T5HO (4) 36" 39W Actinic(2) 36" 39W 10,000°K(2) 36" 39W Purple. Currently only additive is Brightwell A/B that I mix and monitor 1-2 times per week. I also mix Brightwell Calk plus calcium/magnesium and strontium in ATO that I mix with a power head. Fairly simple system.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Might want to upgrade your lighting, T5 54w bulbs, that would span the tank.
Then throw in your wish for LPS.
Torch
Hammer
Duncans
Acans
FOx Coral
Favites
Brain Corals

 

[Tab28]

Might want to upgrade your lighting, T5 54w bulbs, that would span the tank.
Then throw in your wish for LPS.
Torch
Hammer
Duncans
Acans
FOx Coral
Favites
Brain Corals

Agree may need some more wattage on bulbs. That is a large tank, and probably deep. Your aquascaping will help determine what will look good. Trachy, elegance, lobo, goniopora and favia on the sand. Duncan, fox corals and Euphyllia puttied onto rock formations. Many LPS do not need the nitrate levels as low as SPS. So don't have to go crazy with way over sized skimmers and back to back reactors. Some SPS actually look better with a small bit of nitrates. I have mixed tank so i keep nitrates less than 5.

 

[drheacock]

Checked nitrates last night and they are 20. (May have a missing goby). I hate tearing apart the aquascape looking for a dead fish, but it may be necessary. What is nitrate maximum before I start adding LPS? BTW the display is only 24 inches deep with a 3-4 inch sand bed.

 

[Tab28]

I have had tiny fish die i could not get out. If your system is working it should not be an issue in a tank of that size. 20 is a bit pushing it for LPS. If they are use to that high they will stress. If you are just going the LPS route then you can get away with 5-10. I have had LPS in 20, or that was as high as the test would read. They just never looked as good. There is a difference between thriving and surviving. They also went into system when it was low and over years raised to 20, so they slowly got use to it. New LPS would die within months.

As for the lighting. Since you know the size you can get answer on wattage you will need for LPS. To penetrate 24" and the length and width for number of bulbs. You can subtract for sand depth but then add for distance from bulbs to tank.

 

[drheacock]

Nitrates

I am in no hurry to add the LPS. I can wait until the nitrates get under 5 or 10. Couple other questions as i read other listings....

What is up with hermit crabs and some reefers? Do I need to move them to my sump? I see several postings where people are adamant against having hermit crabs in their display areas.

Also, with regards to flow within the tank. I have the Koralias on opposite ends of the tank and alternating flow every 5 minutes. With LPS i see the words "low and slow" often used with circulation. How do i achieve that? Do you have your wavemakers turned off overnight or for extended periods?

 

[NanaReefer]

Hermit crabs are bully's. They'll kill snails for their shells or food, they'll take food from the corals. I have 1 in my 40B and it is a Scarlet (red) Legged Hermit. These guys are mainly nocturnal and sand sifters.
As for flow. Low/med is fine. You should be good with the way you have yours running. Many LPS put out sweepers at night to feed. So some flow is necessary.