Starting corals, dosing foods and supplements?

[rueric]

Planning to start getting into corals for my 32g flex.
Looking and reading into the multitudes of different options for dosing..

Some things I have my eyes on so far from I've read..
All For Reef powder (When it becomes available) for maintaining stability
AB+ for vitamins (Amino acids?)
Reef chili for the other stuff..

It's 2021, what is the go-to regimen for established mixed reef tanks?

 

[SpudGunn]

There's tons of ways to go about it now. I know the Red Sea AB+ is a solid product to use. I would imagine listing what kind of corals you plant to keep could help get you a better answer on what you should plan out if I'm being honest. I know you said mix reef but which coral species really helps!

 

[Jekyl]

Coral frenzy, reef chili and other foods are good in moderation. As far as dosing goes, don't dose anything you're not testing for. Your parameters will let you know what is needed. If just starting out with a few beginners it won't even be necessary at first. Once you have a bunch of lps and sps things will be different.

 

[blasterman]

Worry about keeping your nutrients stable first. You can dose all the magic unicorn stuff you want. You want a stable tank to start or things will go south fast.

And jekyl is 10000% correct. You dont need to dose anything other than maybe alk with beginner frags.

 

[rueric]

Great tips everyone, thank you for the quick feedback.
I’m not sure what type of corals I’ll have yet, I’m hoping for lots of variety but maybe not acros as I’ve heard those might be the hardest to keep.
Definitely some frogspawns and zoas and maybe some mushrooms

What is classified as “coral food”?
If I get AB+, do I need things like reef chili or reef roids?

 

[Greg P]

You didn't mention what fish you'll keep. Fish poop is my first go-to for coral food

 

[SpudGunn]

Great tips everyone, thank you for the quick feedback.
I’m not sure what type of corals I’ll have yet, I’m hoping for lots of variety but maybe not acros as I’ve heard those might be the hardest to keep.
Definitely some frogspawns and zoas and maybe some mushrooms

What is classified as “coral food”?
If I get AB+, do I need things like reef chili or reef roids?

I would say the ab+ is an amino acid added to the tank and it can be dosed. Coral foods like others said was coral frenzy. You can also use frozen foods to feed corals like fish eggs. Sounds like you want an lps/softy tank from what you said. As was also stated dosing without testing is a bad idea. You could start off with some mushrooms cause they give super color to a tank and usually easy to keep. Use a good salt mix and things should be stable if you stick to a schedule. AS things get more complex and as the corals get more complex you can add a dosing system IF you're testing your water.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

U wont need to dose anything. U can monitor ur alkalinity and ph but should hold steady.
In 2021 ppl dose everything and anything. Lol. Ive about seen or read it all.
D

 

[rueric]

Totally understandable on the point with only dosing what I’m testing for and what I need. My question is, outside of a good light (ai 16hd). Do I NEED food like coral frenzy?

fish I have now are just two clowns but plan to get a goby

 

[Jekyl]

Totally understandable on the point with only dosing what I’m testing for and what I need. My question is, outside of a good light (ai 16hd). Do I NEED food like coral frenzy?

fish I have now are just two clowns but plan to get a goby

No, you don't. Keep everything alive and healthy a few months. Get used to your parameters. After comfortable, go from there with dosing and food.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

No. Coral will grow from nutrients already present. Ppl do report better coral growth and over all health with target feedings.
E.g. turning flow off or low and using a pipette to broadcast small foods over corals. Let them sit for idk how long and than start the tank back up.

Ive yet to practice this but like i said ppl report good results.
D

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Reef chili and barrier labs glo formula are two i can think of rn.
This is for the more advanced aquariust imo as it will effect water quality for a new person.
D

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Gro*

 

[Acros]

I was considering dosing reef energetic AB+ as my tank (25g) would only have a pair of clowns. The tank is SPS dominant. I am not sure if the clowns would generate enough nutrients for the corals with one just one feeding per day.

 

[Timfish]

Get more fish and feed them. Directly feeding corals is problematic as what one coral loves another hates. When you think of nutrients think in terms of both particulate, organic and inorganic forms as corals and algae use all three. Here's some videos you might find informative:

Forest Rohwer "Coral Reefs in the Microbial Seas"

Changing Seas - Mysterious Microbes

Nitrogen cycling in hte coral holobiont

BActeria and Sponges

Richard Ross What's up with phosphate"