Question about Corals.

[Alec Meacham]

Hi guys, im ordering a large amount of corals possibly today or tomorrow, Zoa's, Brain Worm Platygyra, Orange Ricordea, Acan's, and red gorgonian trees, Overall probably about 50 polips of zoa's, a few inches worth of platy, 2 1" gorgonians, and 1 2" ricordea,
I currently have a 55 gallon system that has been running for about 6 months, i have a healthy anemone, green mushrooms, zenia, starpolyps, and all of my fish are in great shape with water parameters all testing okay. Will this over bioload my system? Should i do a water change prior or right after? Should i not purchase as much? Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[AcroNem]

You're totally fine. Your Gorgonians will likely need to be fed multiple times daily but you still shouldn't have too much of a bioload. With most corals, unless predatory/non photosynthetic, won't add much of a bioload.

 

[Waters]

You can pretty much fully stock a tank overnight with coral without causing any issues (assuming you don't start target feeding them a bunch of meaty foods)......it will be fine

 

[AcroNem]

Assuming your system is stable and you can deal with the sudden increase in carbonate uptake with stony corals, that is.

 

[Alec Meacham]

I believe i should be fine in that case I usually just feed benepets once a week and it seems to work wonders. Thank you guys for the advice!

 

[AcroNem]

Can I ask what Gorgonians you have coming?

 

[Alec Meacham]

2 Red Gorgonian trees.

 

[BestMomEver]

Once you get them, post some photos!

 

[AcroNem]

2 Red Gorgonian trees.

You'll have to increase how frequently you feed, they need pretty consistent feeding throughout the day to be healthy.

 

[Alec Meacham]

I think i can do that All together 2 White Polyp Acropora 1-2" Frags, 30 Polyp Radioactive Dragoneye Zoa, 30 Polyp Fire&Ice Zoa, 10 Polyp eye of rah zoa, 1 tricolor orange ricordea 1-2" 2 2" Platy and a purple green lord acan.

Its been a couple months since i bought anything so.. I kinda went overboard

I will increase feeding! My LFS recommended once a week with what i had, i suppose i can do 2-3 times a week.

 

[AcroNem]

Most photosynthetic Gorgonians average 7+ food particles per polyp per day, non photosynthetic ones such as Diodogorgia nodulifera/red trees average easily twice that. Please feed as often as you can

 

[Alec Meacham]

So like, in the morning before work, after work and before bed? would that be enough?

 

[AcroNem]

That would be much better as long as the polyps are open to feed of course.

 

[Alec Meacham]

So is https://benepetsfoods.com/products/benereef Okay to feed? Or should i get microvert aswell?

 

[PDR]

Most photosynthetic Gorgonians average 7+ food particles per polyp per day, non photosynthetic ones such as Diodogorgia nodulifera/red trees average easily twice that. Please feed as often as you can

Do you have a source for this info? I am starting to keep a wider variety of gorgonians and would like to learn more about their feeding habits.

 

[AcroNem]

Can't attach the paper, but it's

"Heterotrophic feeding by gorgonian corals with symbiotic zooxanthella

Marta Ribes, Rafel Coma, and Josep-Maria Gili
Institut de Ciències del Mar, Passeig Joan de Borbó s/n, 08039 Barcelona, Spain"

That paper is specific to photosynthetic Gorgonians. Non photosynthetic are much more demanding.