Newbie Stocking / aquascaping questions

[rvamarcel]

Hi! Newbie to the hobby here and looking for some stocking, aquascaping and general suggestions.

I have a Coralife 14 Gallon BioCube with stock lights (24w 10KWhite, 24w Actinic). All water values are good so far

My tank has been up and running for about a 6 weeks now. So far I have:

- removed the bioballs and false floors from chambers, replaced them with Eshopps Square foam, poly filter and Seachem Matrix Carbon.
- removed the elbow from the return pump. Installed mj900 pump.
- cut the tab between chambers 1 and 2
- removed the sponge from chamber 3 (pass between 2 and 3)
- installed Koralia Nano 240
- "Installed" a Coralife Biocube skimmer (probably not set correctly)

Stock (so far):
- 5 hermit crabs
- 3 snails
- 2 clown fish
- 1 Toadstool Mushroom (I think)
- 1 Frogspawn
- 1 Green Star Polyp
- 1 Banded Coral Shrimp

Questions:

- what corals would you add and where would you place them? (Current picture attached)
- would you move the powerhead? Where would you place it?
- what would you pick as your third fish?
- would you recommend moving the corals from their current spot?
- I need to keep the lid (toddler in the house). I'm considering gutting the lid and fitting a AI Prime HD. Any thoughts on this? Is it worth it?

All advise, comments and suggestions are welcome!!!

 

[kingston.buck]

Man looks awesome so far! I bet some candy canes, torches, branching hammer or acans would do well, maybe some zoas those are all fairly hardy corals. As far as the power head I wouldn't move it unless you have dead spots. If it's working where it's at leave it be. As far as a third fish what are you thinking anything stand out?

 

[rvamarcel]

Man looks awesome so far! I bet some candy canes, torches, branching hammer or acans would do well, maybe some zoas those are all fairly hardy corals. As far as the power head I wouldn't move it unless you have dead spots. If it's working where it's at leave it be. As far as a third fish what are you thinking anything stand out?

Thanks for the reply!!! It's great to have the support when starting something new like this!

I forgot to ask:
- how do I know that the corals are doing well? The polyps on the frogspawn look fat rather than long...
- how can I check for dead spots?

About he third fish: I have no idea! I've read about that the goby fish / pistol shrimp combo would be a good fit, but they are not too active and visible. I jumped the gun a bit with the clown fish and I wish I had gotten them a bit bigger and maybe a different kind. That's why I decided to ask and get suggestions.

 

[Pola0502ds]

If your corals are not happy they will close up, lose color, and just look sick overall. bleaching occurs and that's when the flesh turns white, that's another sign. You will know when you see it. A coral will close up and open through out the day if it is disturbed by whatever but when it stays closed for days and days that's when you know you have a problem.

 

[rvamarcel]

If your corals are not happy they will close up, lose color, and just look sick overall. bleaching occurs and that's when the flesh turns white, that's another sign. You will know when you see it. A coral will close up and open through out the day if it is disturbed by whatever but when it stays closed for days and days that's when you know you have a problem.

Thank you! I kept looking at them and trying to see any minor detail, now I know it would be pretty obvious

 

[helen ann]

Nice BC14!!!
I have successfully kept: Zoas, Mushrooms, Hammer and a torch on Stock Lighting in my BC29.

When your tank gets more established at least 6 months, you can add a BTA and Rock Nems.

Hi and ...

 

[rvamarcel]

Nice BC14!!!
I have successfully kept: Zoas, Mushrooms, Hammer and a torch on Stock Lighting in my BC29.

When your tank gets more established at least 6 months, you can add a BTA and Rock Nems.

Hi and ...

Thanks a lot Helen!

How often do you change the bulbs on you BC?

 

[kingston.buck]

I run ati bulbs and I change them about every 8 months, not sure about the bc brand bulbs though. And fat plump frogspawn is good that's how mine is. When it's not happy it's pretty obvious.

 

[helen ann]

Thanks a lot Helen!

How often do you change the bulbs on you BC?

No problem

I just changed my bulbs almost right at 1 year mark ... Noticed BTA stretching for the light!

 

[kingston.buck]

I forgot to comment on the fish. Fire fish are pretty easy fish and do well in small tanks and easy to find. I've got a yellow goby he's great but he's not very active most the time he's just sitting guarding and/or watching.
As far as the dead spots go just look around and see if there are spots you notice uneaten food or detritus builds up, like a stagnate spot in your tank where the water flow can't get to.

 

[helen ann]

I forgot to comment on the fish. Fire fish are pretty easy fish and do well in small tanks and easy to find. I've got a yellow goby he's great but he's not very active most the time he's just sitting guarding and/or watching.
As far as the dead spots go just look around and see if there are spots you notice uneaten food or detritus builds up, like a stagnate spot in your tank where the water flow can't get to.

+1 on the fire fish.
I'll throw out the starry blenny

 

[ahiggins]

I LOVE NEW TANKS!!! Love that cute little man in there hahaha

what corals would you add and where would you place them? (Current picture attached) You need some paly love in there or acans (obviously both are my favorites haha) palys can go towards the top and acans at the bottom.
- would you move the powerhead? Where would you place it? As long as your corals are all open and youre not seeing poop on the sand, I think youre power heads are in the right spot.
- what would you pick as your third fish? Depends, I like swimmers (ie not gobies/blennys) but its going to be a little harder to find something that will "fit" with the clowns and not overload your nutrients.
- would you recommend moving the corals from their current spot?-your corals look to be in amazing shape even the frogspawn is doing really well. Torches/frogspawn are really hard for me to keep for some reason.
- I need to keep the lid (toddler in the house). I'm considering gutting the lid and fitting a AI Prime HD. Any thoughts on this? Is it worth it? YASSSSSSS I have an AI prime HD on my 25 cube and 2 on my 40 gal frag tank. Best led light Ive seen so far. you can program it with your phone via wifi and its got acclimation mode for new corals-its just amazing.

Congrats-you really seem to have it all going so well!

 

[BrianReefer]

The tank looks great! Here's some suggestions from a relatively new reefer (started 116g tank 1.5 years ago, and had to do a few "do-overs" along the way because no one ever told me these tips:

1) Be careful of quick growing coral like xenia that sound great at first, but quickly take over the tank. And then when you want to eventually start buying nicer stuff, you can't because xenia is everywhere!
2) For coral that encrust like green star polyps, make sure you put them on a separate 'island' so they wont take over all of your rock and grow over your other corals. Once that happens there's no way to undo and you have to replace the rock
3) Palys and zoas are great but same rule applies as for #2
4) Torches, hammers, frogspawn are great. But they'll all kill other corals like acans, favias, etc. So keep them together on on side of the tank (hammers and frogspawn can touch, torches cannot touch these). If you spread them out too much you'll limit the other corals you can eventually add.

Hope that helps!

 

[His & Hers. 240 Reef]

I vote flame hawk! Small little fish with tons of personality. Would be perfect. [emoji108]

 

[ahiggins]

The tank looks great! Here's some suggestions from a relatively new reefer (started 116g tank 1.5 years ago, and had to do a few "do-overs" along the way because no one ever told me these tips:

1) Be careful of quick growing coral like xenia that sound great at first, but quickly take over the tank. And then when you want to eventually start buying nicer stuff, you can't because xenia is everywhere!
2) For coral that encrust like green star polyps, make sure you put them on a separate 'island' so they wont take over all of your rock and grow over your other corals. Once that happens there's no way to undo and you have to replace the rock
3) Palys and zoas are great but same rule applies as for #2
4) Torches, hammers, frogspawn are great. But they'll all kill other corals like acans, favias, etc. So keep them together on on side of the tank (hammers and frogspawn can touch, torches cannot touch these). If you spread them out too much you'll limit the other corals you can eventually add.

Hope that helps!

+100000 on xenia! lol
I know everyone has their own taste but personally I cant believe they actually sell it

 

[Frop]

Welcome!! Good luck on your journey. I'm half a year old at this. I'd recommend removing that 10k for another actinic. The lower kelvin has more reds which can cause algae easier. And just ask questions when you're at the store.

Some corals like low/high flow and some like low/high light. Usually after I buy anything I go google the name and look online. Some websites list recommendations as they sell the coral. For light intensity you can buy a $20 lux meter to estimate your light strength. So for a coral that likes stronger light, put him closer some times online will say they like one strength but then there are issues (I am experiencing this now I think..) when you give it the recommendations. I think the pet store could run lower levels of light and if you buy it and suddenly increase the lighting you may have issues. Have to ease it to a higher level if you're running stronger lights. Another thing is see what they do when you bought it.

 

[rvamarcel]

I LOVE NEW TANKS!!! Love that cute little man in there hahaha

what corals would you add and where would you place them? (Current picture attached) You need some paly love in there or acans (obviously both are my favorites haha) palys can go towards the top and acans at the bottom.
- would you move the powerhead? Where would you place it? As long as your corals are all open and youre not seeing poop on the sand, I think youre power heads are in the right spot.
- what would you pick as your third fish? Depends, I like swimmers (ie not gobies/blennys) but its going to be a little harder to find something that will "fit" with the clowns and not overload your nutrients.
- would you recommend moving the corals from their current spot?-your corals look to be in amazing shape even the frogspawn is doing really well. Torches/frogspawn are really hard for me to keep for some reason.
- I need to keep the lid (toddler in the house). I'm considering gutting the lid and fitting a AI Prime HD. Any thoughts on this? Is it worth it? YASSSSSSS I have an AI prime HD on my 25 cube and 2 on my 40 gal frag tank. Best led light Ive seen so far. you can program it with your phone via wifi and its got acclimation mode for new corals-its just amazing.

Congrats-you really seem to have it all going so well!

Thanks!!! So far, no poop on the sand!

I will look for the palys and acans that ara available in my LFS. I will def post pictures of whatever I get.

How did you put the AI Prime on your BC? Did you go topless or did you fit it on the lid?

 

[rvamarcel]

Welcome!! Good luck on your journey. I'm half a year old at this. I'd recommend removing that 10k for another actinic. The lower kelvin has more reds which can cause algae easier. And just ask questions when you're at the store.

Some corals like low/high flow and some like low/high light. Usually after I buy anything I go google the name and look online. Some websites list recommendations as they sell the coral. For light intensity you can buy a $20 lux meter to estimate your light strength. So for a coral that likes stronger light, put him closer some times online will say they like one strength but then there are issues (I am experiencing this now I think..) when you give it the recommendations. I think the pet store could run lower levels of light and if you buy it and suddenly increase the lighting you may have issues. Have to ease it to a higher level if you're running stronger lights. Another thing is see what they do when you bought it.

If I keep the stock lights I'll def look into changing that daylight for another actinic (I always have to double check the spelling on that one). Wouldn't it look too blue, though? I've read that the stock lights are good for most corals, but I've also read that getting LEDs make a huge difference... all the retrofit options are above $200, so I'm debating between making the investment on a AI Prime HD and somehow fitting it under the hood or keeping the stock lights, changing the day light for actinic and maybe adding the Coralife LED White LED Bar (which is like $20 or something)...

So many options... so much $$$ required... lol

 

[rvamarcel]

The tank looks great! Here's some suggestions from a relatively new reefer (started 116g tank 1.5 years ago, and had to do a few "do-overs" along the way because no one ever told me these tips:

1) Be careful of quick growing coral like xenia that sound great at first, but quickly take over the tank. And then when you want to eventually start buying nicer stuff, you can't because xenia is everywhere!
2) For coral that encrust like green star polyps, make sure you put them on a separate 'island' so they wont take over all of your rock and grow over your other corals. Once that happens there's no way to undo and you have to replace the rock
3) Palys and zoas are great but same rule applies as for #2
4) Torches, hammers, frogspawn are great. But they'll all kill other corals like acans, favias, etc. So keep them together on on side of the tank (hammers and frogspawn can touch, torches cannot touch these). If you spread them out too much you'll limit the other corals you can eventually add.

Hope that helps!

Thank you so much for the tips! So helpful!

I considered putting GSP in the back wall of the tank and after reading your post decided to google a bit more... yup, that thing would have taken over the tank!!!!

 

[ahiggins]

Thanks!!! So far, no poop on the sand!

I will look for the palys and acans that ara available in my LFS. I will def post pictures of whatever I get.

How did you put the AI Prime on your BC? Did you go topless or did you fit it on the lid?

I dont have a BC-I have an all in one cube, custom made.
Its a rimless but I had my LFS build me an acrilic cover to cover only the display portion. I got the mount for the prime HD: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/ai-prime-tank-mount-black.html?gclid=CP3r_crB5dACFdRMDQodQ8oKdA
and put it on the back of the sump portion of the tank. When I get home, Ill send you a few pics.
My other piece of advice is dont just buy anything you see. Shop around. I bought some all red acans for my tank, glued them in then realized how much I loved rainbow acans lol and I cant get it off my rock