What corals would be good?

MadReeferSCAW · Dec 28, 2013

Hi there!
After starting a 60 reef and killing most corals due to crappy lighting, I am starting over. I sold the ****** LED's from Petco I got, and buying 2 (and later on one more) LED fixtures. They are 165W. I'm wondering what would be good to start off with? I am starting from ground zero. I had an ich outbreak so everyone was out, but 3 months later here I go again. I have a 60 gallon tank, with those 2 LED's, live rock, inverts, and around 6 fish that are done with quarantine, and have been in the tank for a month or two.
I keep hearing mushrooms, but they bore me after a while. I love variety and color. PLEASE recommend what is good for me. I LOVE fish, I LOVE my tanks, and I LOVE reefs. I really want something beautiful that flourishes, rather than looks great for a few weeks and then dies. Something that will work with my lights, and that I could take care of.
ANY advice helps. Happy holidays to you all!

NC2WA · Dec 28, 2013

6 fish ? what are they?
this will determine what corals you can have.

MadReeferSCAW · Dec 28, 2013

I have a small sailfin tang, 2 green chromis, 1 damsel, 1 ocellaris, 1 percula (even though they're like the same), lawnmower blenny, leopard wrasse

Igarc009 · Dec 28, 2013

That's eight fish....

MadReeferSCAW · Dec 28, 2013

I did a rough estimate when I made this mate. I did not count exactly until now.

MadReeferSCAW · Dec 28, 2013

Key word "around"

Igarc009 · Dec 28, 2013

My bad eights a pretty high number I see why you would have to round.

daniel16 · Dec 28, 2013

That is an unsustainable amount of fish in so few gallons of water. That could be your problem as much as (and probably more than) the bad lights.

Any softies should be fine. I'd stay away from euphyllias, but most other LPS are good starter coral. Definitely no SPS, clams or anemones.

acans, favia, favites, richordea florida, zoanthids, palys, etc are all pretty tough and can be super pretty. But you've got to lighten the bio-load....

MadReeferSCAW · Dec 28, 2013

How could that be too many? That's not even close. The tang being the biggest one, it is a small amount of fish. But thanks for the advice!

NanaReefer · Dec 28, 2013

Add total inches of all fish. I did and I definitely agree you have to many in a 60. Remember you do not have 60 gallons of water in that tank. Unless of course you have no rock & no sand. You must allow for displacement. Just saying....

MadReeferSCAW · Dec 28, 2013

I hear what you're saying, but the added inches, I am estimating around 16 based on my eyes. 1 inch of fish per gallon. this is a 60 gallon. I have seen people stock their tank to the max. I have a close friend who stocked his 120 with many tangs and much more. It's been running for 2 years. I don't think I'm even CLOSE to the limit of the tank. If i want to get a mandarin or something small (which i totally do). But this is about corals

daniel16 · Dec 28, 2013

MadReeferSCAW said:
I hear what you're saying, but the added inches, I am estimating around 16 based on my eyes. 1 inch of fish per gallon. this is a 60 gallon. I have seen people stock their tank to the max. I have a close friend who stocked his 120 with many tangs and much more. It's been running for 2 years. I don't think I'm even CLOSE to the limit of the tank. If i want to get a mandarin or something small (which i totally do). But this is about corals

1in per gallon is freshwater talk. Especially starting out; you're making it very difficult on yourself to succeed. You must maintain near perfect water quality with a reef. Which is nearly impossible with your current density.

Just trying to help buddy. I know it's not what you want to hear. But it's the truth.

I wish you all the best.

Fengxzhang · Dec 28, 2013

It all depends in how much you feed them, the water changes you make, the type of filter and skimmer you have. I had 8 fish in my 90 and now I have 8 fish in my 200. It's really relative. I agree that 1 inch per gallon rule only applies to freshwater.

Start slow, don't over feed, make sure your water parameters are stable and within range. Start with softies (Zoa, leather, Xenia, and etc)

Eienna · Dec 28, 2013

1 in per gallon is inaccurate even in FW. It fails to take into account different bioloads, energy levels, territoriality, and temperament of the fish. It also fails on the count of whether the fish size is even appropriate; as an extreme example, you would not put a 5-inch fish in 5g of water.

Some people do get away with overstocking like your friend, but it's a stressful situation for the animals and really a crash waiting to happen. Disease spreads much more quickly in a crowded tank, for one thing. If you lose the cycle for some reason your ammonia would skyrocket in a VERY short time. It also requires either a LOT more maintenance, or super-capacity equipment.

You seem to be failing to take into account the adult sizes of these fish, as well. The sailfin alone will get too big for your system.

As far as corals, acans are pretty hardy but tend to turn red under LEDs. I have a Leptastrea that's put up with an awful lot. Most softies would do fine but avoid xenia. It has a nasty habit of taking over.

Reefing Madness · Dec 28, 2013

If you have 165w of LEDs with lenses, there isn't anything you couldn't keep in that tank. You have Reef safe fish, but you'll have to watch your nutrient levels. But sky is the limit there as far as light needing Corals, you've got plenty.

3dees · Dec 28, 2013

sorry, but minimum size for a sailfin is 180 gals. yeah, there are many people who grossly overstock their tanks. doesn't make it right. 60 gals. is too small for any tang and eventually lead to problems caused by stress.