Starting My First Reef Tank

blue2337 · Aug 14, 2013

I started my first reef tank a few months ago. I have kept many freshwater tanks over the years but I wanted a nice reef tank. I set up a 36 bowfront with between 40-45lbs of live rock. Everything has cycled, algae grew and hichhickers and little creatures have all taken off the past three months.

I added my first two corals yesterday, a watermelon acan and blue tubbs zoa. The acan already has opened up and its feelers are out lookoing for food. The zoa is still closed up. I assume this is normal after shipping (overnight). I have both of them on the sand bed. Yesterday I did not turn the lights on at all. This morning I had the blue lights on for a coupl ehours and then turned the whites on. I have a 4 tube t5 HO (24w each tube).

I know that after a couple days I should move the zoa up slowly to the middle of the tank and the acan could stay on the sandbed (on a piece of live rock). Is this correct?
Once these are settled in I plan to add a few more. I am going to have to mainly order online since the lfs in my area charge an outragous amount for a 0.5" frag. I was looking into a ricordea, trumpet, brain...the list is long. :bigsmile:

Here are the 2 corals.

Chelle's Ocean · Aug 14, 2013

Congrats on starting your reef

and the addition of your coral... be prepared, though..... this part of the hobby is FAR more addicting than freshwater,lol.. looking forward to seeing the progress as it unfolds

mi_chael3 · Aug 14, 2013

Good start so far! You may want to look into some corals that need higher amounts of light to fill out the top of your tank later on. Good luck!

Zero Nitrates · Aug 14, 2013

Congrats! Love the coral.
Have fun reefing!

kes · Aug 15, 2013

great coral selection, and congrats!

blue2337 · Aug 15, 2013

I have been reading about corals to fill out the top as well but from what I have read it is mainly SPS corals. I plan on getting some but thought that I would have to wait until my tank is more mature before getting these. Is that correct? I like acros and birdsnest but thought it should wait a few more months. With my lights (T5ho 4 bulb 24w each) could I put some lps up top without bleaching?

Duffam3434 · Aug 15, 2013

Very Nice!! Saltwater Tanks are fun just because the Fish are Beautiful and Colorful! But you start Getting Rare and Beautiful Coral its a whole nother story. I could sit in front of the Tank for hours if my GF would let me... But Congrats and im sure we all hope to see more pics as you continue!!

blue2337 · Aug 25, 2013

Ok. My first two corals are doing great. The acan has eaten mysis a few times and small ones are starting to apear and grow. Two new polyps have appeared on the blue zoas. Since everything has tested well and my corals are growing I have ordered a few more: meteor shower war coral (amazing red color with green heads in pictures), 2 acan echinata (one orange & the other mainly green), trumpet and green platygyra maze brain.

The research I did they all basically need moderate flow and light. So I assume I would place these middle to bottom. The trumpet could go middle to upper (my upper is about 6-8" from waterline - t5ho 4 bulb 24w each).

Does this sound ok? I am aware that these, especially the echinatas would need good space from other coral, correct?