what is a nice corals for starters

[Unitylover]

zoas? toadstools? others?

 

[Sharkbait19]

You’re going to definitely want nitrate as well as the rest. All is very important.
I’m not sure if the mag test kit is 100% necessary but wouldn’t hurt to have the kit.

 

[Unitylover]

If I don't need it, and it won't hurt corals, I wont get it. So can you make a list of what I need so I can get the appropriate test kits?

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Mushroom coral. My 1st coral and should be everyone's 1st coral.
No they aren't super exciting but the are hardy. Easy. And come in.lots of colors.
D

 

[TnFishwater98]

Look into Hannah Nitrate & Alkalinity checkers. I don’t have these but wish I did. I heard they are pretty accurate and saves you comparing blues and reds…

 

[Unitylover]

Look into Hannah Nitrate & Alkalinity checkers. I don’t have these but wish I did. I heard they are pretty accurate and saves you comparing blues and reds…

Those are each like $30. I can also test nitrate with my LFS

 

[Wasabiroot]

I recommend getting a good book from Amazon or your local library. Something like the Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Bob Fenner, or watching any of the BRStv introduction to reefing series. You've got great questions but a comprehensive guide will get you on the right path rather than us feeding you information you can Google easily. Good luck!
Any of the above listed livestock are great beginner choices, but it's time to research marine chemistry, test kits and parameters.

 

[Unitylover]

I recommend getting a good book from Amazon or your local library. Something like the Conscientious Marine Aquarist by Bob Fenner, or watching any of the BRStv introduction to reefing series. You've got great questions but a comprehensive guide will get you on the right path rather than us giving you information you can Google easily. Good luck!

Google has mixed results, and my library doesn't have any of those books. Will probably watch that tho

 

[TnFishwater98]

Those are each like $30. I can also test nitrate with my LFS

Yep, most good LFS will happily test your water and give you advice to help you get where you want to get. But don’t go buy some reef buffer powder and start dosing just because they suggested a product. They are there to sell. Always check R2R and get other Reefers feedback good or bad before you just start dumping stuff in your tank. This is from personal experience and I see it on many threads with other newer reefers. GL! No reason to be nervous to grab your first coral. Not sure how old your tank is but you can usually add certain corals before you should add any fish. The water is cleaner and ammonia doesn’t directly impact corals. Hardy corals can take certain instability parameters swings in newer tanks. Don’t grab any Monti’s or SPS. But this thread has many corals suggested that would do fine.

 

[TnFishwater98]

Google has mixed results, and my library doesn't have any of those books. Will probably watch that tho

All the info you need is right here! I promise!
R2R!

 

[Unitylover]

All the info you need is right here! I promise!
R2R!

Yes, also check out my new thread asking for what I need, like alk, magnesium, and such

 

[TnFishwater98]

Yes, also check out my new thread asking for what I need, like alk, magnesium, and such

The main test you need as a beginner reefer IMO is Nitrate, Alkaline(PH), Alkalinity(DKH), and a salinity meter. As you get different corals you might want to get other test like phosphate & magnesium….

 

[TnFishwater98]

You got pics of you tank? Info about your tank?

 

[Unitylover]

I have a salinity meter, and my main idea for corals is zoas xenias and toadstools. My tanks is set up. My ph stays around 8.2 because of my salt.

 

[Unitylover]

My tank is the same in my build thread

 

[TnFishwater98]

I have a salinity meter, and my main idea for corals is zoas xenias and toadstools. My tanks is set up. My ph stays around 8.2 because of my salt.

I personally stay away from Xenias and toadstools. But everyone likes different stuff. They look awesome!

 

[zdrc]

What tests do I need? Is just having these fine:
Calcium
Alk
Phosphate
Kh

I'm just starting too, and I think you will really want to buy as many tests a possible. I did a fair amount of research on this. I don't think is a good area to skimp on. I made a shopping list for myself, and testing equipment is going to be the most expensive section (I think I'll end up spending about $185 on testing equipment in total). Stable water parameters seem really important for coral (much more important than for fish). You have no idea how stable your water is unless you have the tests.

It seems like salinity and alkalinity (kH) are probably the two most important and should be tested weekly. I think it's probably a good idea to get the hanna alk tester to make it easy to test it so regularly. In addition, you want a refractometer to measure salinity. Calcium, magnesium, nitrate, and phosphate are also important tests kits to have and to test for somewhat regularly. The salifert calcium and magnesium tests and the Nyos nitrate and phosphate tests are supposed to be good too. A lot of people like the Hanna ULR phosphate test as well, but it doesn't seem quite as necessary to me.

pH, ammonia, and nitrite seem less useful. I would get API for these tests or not get them at all (you already have fish so the tank is definitely cycled).

 

[vetteguy53081]

This will be a very long thread as everyone has their preference, favorite and most successful.

1. leather
2. toadstool
3. xenia
4. mushroom
5. candy cane
6. Duncan
7. Stylo
8. Zoa

No anemones for now.
GSP is properly placed will not be an issue. You have to isolate it from neighbor coral and as with mine, it will remain in one zone

 

[TnFishwater98]

I'm just starting too, and I think you will really want to buy as many tests a possible. I did a fair amount of research on this. I don't think is a good area to skimp on. I made a shopping list for myself, and testing equipment is going to be the most expensive section (I think I'll end up spending about $185 on testing equipment in total). Stable water parameters seem really important for coral (much more important than for fish). You have no idea how stable your water is unless you have the tests.

It seems like salinity and alkalinity (kH) are probably the two most important and should be tested weekly. I think it's probably a good idea to get the hanna alk tester to make it easy to test it so regularly. In addition, you want a refractometer to measure salinity. Calcium, magnesium, nitrate, and phosphate are also important tests kits to have and to test for somewhat regularly. The salifert calcium and magnesium tests and the Nyos nitrate and phosphate tests are supposed to be good too. A lot of people like the Hanna ULR phosphate test as well, but it doesn't seem quite as necessary to me.

pH, ammonia, and nitrite seem less useful. I would get API for these tests or not get them at all (you already have fish so the tank is definitely cycled).

I agree, you don’t really need ammonia or nitrite after tank is cycled. Good to have for rare situations. If your PH, Nitrate, DKH are in line then you know there isn’t any ammonia or nitrite in my understanding.

 

[mindme]

How about magnesium

Unlikely. Softies don't have the skeletons, so they don't use up cal or alk. Most of the parameters and things people recommend are based around SPS. If you are just keeping soft coral, your needs are much lighter.

And there are different things people find acceptable. On my 29g tank, I haven't done a test for anything on it basically ever. I check salinity, and I rarely do water changes. Maybe 10g every 4-6 months. All I have in that tank are xenias, some green trash palys and now 3 RBTA, along with 2 clown fish. The only filter I have is a HOB skimmer.

But I do not view algae as the devil(in this tank anyway). So I let the algae grow in the tank, and remove it every now and then. That takes care of my nitrates and phosphates pretty much. About once every month or so I'll go in and pull out a bunch of algae on the rocks. And everything else seems to get what it needs from food.

On the other hand, I also have 180g mixed reef. I have dosing pumps for my cal and alk, I have a refugium to grow macro algae, etc. It's requirements are completely different. I do tests for Nitrate, Phosphates, Alk, Cal and Magnesium. I also send my water in for ICP tests. Thus far I have been using an additive for my trace minerals, but recently just spent about $400 on trace minerals that I will be dosing individually(moonshiners method).

Doing all that I do in my 180g for the 29g wouldn't hurt the 29g. However, it's completely overkill and a waste of money IMO. It would all be for coralline algae, which I don't want. Dealing with it in my 180g is enough.

If you don't want algae and want to control nutrients, buy a nitrate and phosphate kit. Outside that, I wouldn't buy any tests outside salinity unless you see problems.

 

[shrimped]

Idk if anyone mentioned these + they aren’t coral but macro algae look really good if you got a nice assortment. Helps with nitrates and phosphates as well. Look at @Tigahboy ’s setups! Theres a couple other guys that got killer macro algae + soft coral tanks.