Selecting Corals

[William Morris]

I have a 32gal Biocube and have been adding polyps to get started.
I am at the point now where I realize this can end up being just a hodgepodge of stuff if I don't have a plan.
Does anyone have a reference as to how to plan which corals to place on the reef to create a functioning work of art?
Thanks

 

[JoshH]

I'm in the same boat and it's the main reason why I'm lacking corals righ now. I kind of know what I want but as for placement, what will get along with What, which will grow more or less, what will fight with each other and what won't. No idea lol I would say start with a list of what you really want in your tank and go from there compatibility wise. Which is the stage I'm at

 

[John3]

If you plan to stick with the stock led lighting you can grow most lps and softies(zoas shroom) and some of the easy sps like some montiporas. In a smaller tank like a 32 biocube it will limit you a little on what can go in and work around other corals. First place I would start is pick out 4-5 corals that really appeal to you and post them up and see what others will say. You can research each type by searching the forums but I have most members like the conversion and lending a helping hand. Try to really look at what’s out there because if you take care of your tank they could be with you for a very long time.

Chances are some of those corals you will be told to stay away from for one reason or another. I started out just buying some corals that I liked without researching and it almost always leads to some kind of issue. So always research what you want and then find it. I know it’s always way tempting to just buy that frag because it looks awesome.

I have a 29 biocube which is very similar and one of the trickier things I think with this type of tank is getting the correct flow to keep your corals happy and to keep things clean. I’m boarder line too much flow which makes placement of certain corals an issue. Still I would rather have the extra flow because I think it helps keep the tank cleaner and of course some of the corals need that higher flow.

 

[William Morris]

I upgraded the lighting with Steve's lighting kit.
Thanks for the input - I appreciate it.

 

[JC Slater]

Take a look at some tanks you really like and/or underwater photos is live reefs and try to mimic those corals placements. Here is my BC29. It’s not the best but I’m happy with it good luck!

 

[William Morris]

Did you do a lighting upgrade? Looks really nice.

 

[JoshH]

I upgraded the lighting with Steve's lighting kit.
Thanks for the input - I appreciate it.

Let me know how the upgrade goes, debating between Steve's and nanobox for my RSM 130

 

[JC Slater]

Did you do a lighting upgrade? Looks really nice.

I did! About a year and a half ago I installed Steve’s LED retrofit 14k light. Thanks for the comment!

Josh H - the install was fairly easy as I got the 99% completed kit. Had to hack up the old lid some. Nothing like how I had to hack up to install my overflow box though lol. I didn’t really look into the Nano box light, but I would recommend Steve’s kit. I’m running blues @100% and whites around 58% I think. Ramped up to that over th course of about 8 months or so. That green monti cap has exploded with growth it was fairly small when I got it and now it takes up so much space lol even after I’ve broken off so many pieces. Good luck!