Starter coral

[HawaiianReef]

I would STRONGLY suggest starting off with soft corals.
Zoas, leathers, Mushrooms, etc.
The selection is so vast, you can get overwhelmed by just selecting those.
Soft Corals are just that. Soft. They don't need calcium, alkalinity and magnesium like Stoney corals (lps and sps) do to biild their skeleton. Because they don't have one.
You can get away with just normal maintenance that you're doing to keep the fish alive. You don't even need to measure the Ca or KH or ALK with them. They'll even Help you existing tank by using up some of the nutrients already in the tank. So they're pretty much, put 'em and watch them grow.
Then once you get the itch, you can get into the stoneys and start measuring and dosing 2 part.
Beautiful set up BTW.

 

[Reef-junky]

I would STRONGLY suggest starting off with soft corals.
Zoas, leathers, Mushrooms, etc.
The selection is so vast, you can get overwhelmed by just selecting those.
Soft Corals are just that. Soft. They don't need calcium, alkalinity and magnesium like Stoney corals (lps and sps) do to biild their skeleton. Because they don't have one.
You can get away with just normal maintenance that you're doing to keep the fish alive. You don't even need to measure the Ca or KH or ALK with them. They'll even Help you existing tank by using up some of the nutrients already in the tank. So they're pretty much, put 'em and watch them grow.
Then once you get the itch, you can get into the stoneys and start measuring and dosing 2 part.
Beautiful set up BTW.

Very helpful information

 

[i_declare_bankruptcy]

Strongly recommend switching to a refractometer from a hydrometer.. they calibrate better and are typically more accurate. You will need that as you start looking after corals IMO.

My first coral was a Neon Green Sinularia. They look awesome and are pretty tough

 

[clownvalk3]

Is the purple algae ok or do I need to get rid of it?

 

[Sod Buster]

Yes. That is coralline algae. A good thing till it takes over the glass and plastic pieces. I don't see any coral yet. What coral did you decide to seed the tank with?

 

[clownvalk3]

Why is that algae good? I have not pulled the trigger yet I was on vacation for a week.

 

[KrisReef]

Why is that algae good? I have not pulled the trigger yet I was on vacation for a week.

Coralline algae does not grow over living corals and it tends to keep other bad algae from growing in the tank. Some coral drift larvae recognize chemical produced by coralline algae and that induces these larvae to settle on the hard, clean rock surface. It is also said to mean that your system is healthy.
Beautiful tank btw.

 

[clownvalk3]

Thank you, I don’t know how healthy my tank is though...I think I lost a fish while I was on vacation..can’t find it.

 

[KrisReef]

Thank you, I don’t know how healthy my tank is though...I think I lost a fish while I was on vacation..can’t find it.

I guess you looked around the floor near the tank?
Do you know what ate those snails that left their shells out front? Did you start this tank with live rock? You might have a predatory animal that hitchhiked in on the live rock?

 

[clownvalk3]

I was told that having hermit’s will eat the snails if they fall of the glass and land up side down, so I assumed that was it. Yes I started the tank 2.5 years ago with the same live rock that is currently in the picture.

 

[clownvalk3]

I am afraid to get more fish

 

[Sod Buster]

I am afraid to get more fish

What are you afraid of? You are giving the little fella a good home in your tank in comparison to a small crowded tank at the pet store. The fish will appreciate the adoption.

 

[clownvalk3]

Because I have lost every fish I have put in the tank besides my clowns.

 

[clownvalk3]

So I bought so new fish on Friday and I think I lost one already.

 

[clownvalk3]

And I think I already lost one.