When can I add my first coral?

Luka · Dec 7, 2015

Fairly new to reefing, my tank is new I have two Maroon clowns in it. The tanks undergoing a green film algae bloom as of now. I do have coraline growing on some of my rocks. My question is when can I add my first coral? And which is a good beginner coral? I read that mushrooms are good beginner corals, cap corals are good and polyps are good. But when can I add them? Also when can I add an anemone I hear they are harder to keep but I believe I can pull it off.

Thanks,
Luka

brandon429 · Dec 7, 2015

the specific time you can add any animals, including fish or corals, is when the tank is able to digest their waste and the wastes from the feed they require. so if they tank can process 2-4 ppm ammonia within 24 hours to zero, you can add items that wont be in excess of that collectively, and corals don't count towards it at all pretty much. Since you have fish in the tank corals can be there as well, but I recall from prior posts the tank was speed cycled without knowing the digestion levels, so its a guess so far but corals wont be a tipping point, fish might. If your curr ammonia levels are zero, adding coral isn't going to raise it so you are prob ok. having fish in the whole time sped up any cycling time.

the corals you mentioned are fine starter corals for sure. I do my cycles in reverse...I add corals first simply because the feed they require my tank can handle...cured lr already comes with digestion abilities. Using dry rock to cycle is ideal in that you get to control all bad hitchhikers...but it w need specific testing to know anything about its abilities.

kimba · Dec 7, 2015

I think any of your softies are good to start with. They are nice colors and very forgiving. I personally love green star polyps (GSP), toadstools (I had one that my clown hosted in) and ricordeas.

Good luck and have fun!!

Luka · Dec 7, 2015

Okay thanks guys!!

Vinh · Dec 7, 2015

I'm new too and my tank is at the same stage yours is at. I'm no expert but can share what I'm doing. So far I have a cycled tank with a pair of clowns and very small CUC. Some diatoms and green hair algae (not a lot). I'm prepping my tank for corals right now. What this means is I'm testing my calcium and alkalinity until I can get it at the desired levels for good coral growth. My calcium is low so I'm switching from regular IO salt to Reef Crystals. I'm not sure about Kalk yet as I'm waiting for the test kit to arrive. I'm trying to avoid more complex stuff like dosing for now.

From one newbie to another - I suggest learning about this stuff before moving forward with corals. For me it's part of the fun. Once I'm ready I'm definitely going with either a zoa or ricordea.

Good luck!

njtiger aquariums · Dec 7, 2015

Like others said if you have fish then you can look at adding corals.

Some good corals that start with are softies and lps. I hear sps are harder to keep. I do agree with Vinh about getting a test kit that measure your cal, alk, and mag levels. Also check your phosphate levels. Seeing how your in the algae phase I personally would focus on getting that taking care of before adding corals to the mix.

These are the corals I have in my tank and I am still learning (only been doing saltwater for just over a year and corals for about 6 months).

Corals I started with are as follow:
- GSP, they are good to start with but can easily take over a tank. I keep mine on an island by themselves.

Zoas - they are nice easy corals with some great colors

Polyps - these seem to be growing fast in my tank

Birdnest - these can be tricky and they are a SPS

Hollywood stunner - nice coral and it's doing well in my tank by what I can tell

Green monti cap - another easier sps

Blue Voodoo - nice color and it's growing well since adding Red Sea Reef Energy to the feeding

Purple Digi - this seems to be my hardest coral yet. I'm still playing around with this one.

Now each coral requires different lighting, flow, and food. Make sure you read up before you add a coral

Luka · Dec 7, 2015

Thank again!! Any recommendations for test kits?? I am using IO reef crystals right now. And you probly want to stop that green hair algae before it gets too outta control...and yes I did research I read an article saying the big three was alk, calcium and mag. But I looked for testing kits they seem really expensive so I researched a little more and most people have no problems with a lot of corals using reef crystals but I should still get a test kit...any recommendations.

njtiger aquariums · Dec 7, 2015

I use Reef Crystals salt and it does well for me. Now I tested API Saltwater Master Kit, API Reef Master Kit, Red Sea Reef Foundation Kit, and Salifert Kits. I found the numbers closed to each others. I am currently testing with API and Red Sea. I like the Red SEA kits and I also dose Red Sea Foundations so is one of the reasons why I use their test kit

Luka · Dec 7, 2015

I heard API doesn't work well I use it for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates and people say its bad

njtiger aquariums · Dec 7, 2015

I have heard many people fight over which kits are better. I decided I would find out for myself so I tested the three most people were fighting about for 6 weeks. Here a video that I did on it. Now I never sent my water for pro testing so I can't say which kit is more accurate.

Luka · Dec 8, 2015

Okay great I will watch it when I get home thanks

Luka · Dec 8, 2015

Okay so I think I am going to add a green toadstool as my first coral. Is that a good choice and is liveaquaria a good place to get them??

Great vid btw thanks for sharing

njtiger aquariums · Dec 8, 2015

Thanks for watching my video.

I hear toadstool is a good coral to start with but unfortunately I have no hands on experience to say either way.

I have read mix reviews on liveaquaria. There are people who love them and other who got junk from them. I have not risked ordering live stock from the net yet. If you do order from online let us know it goes.

Luka · Dec 8, 2015

Okay will do...I haven't checked my LFS to see if they had it. Also the LFS probly cost a lot more $ and they have given me numerous misleading information.

ndz98 · Dec 8, 2015

Why would you think it costs more at your lfs? All the coral I've seen at my lfs is always cheaper than online.

millertyler22 · Dec 8, 2015

Corals will be cheaper at lfs because u can buy at a slower rate and not pay shipping. Just buy small "cheap" frag to see how it does. Then go from there

Luka · Dec 8, 2015

Okay I will check them out this weekend and see what they have.

njtiger aquariums · Dec 8, 2015

Luka said:
Okay will do...I haven't checked my LFS to see if they had it. Also the LFS probly cost a lot more $ and they have given me numerous misleading information.

Bottom line LFS is out to make money so some of their advice can be misleading. Now some LFS are better than others. My recommendation would be either have an idea of which coral you want before you go or what you can do is go, see what they have, write down a couple of frags you like, go home and read up on them (like feeding, lighting, placement, water flow, etc..) and then go back better educated. I understand impulse buys happen (I done it myself more than I care to admit) but taking it slow and research will help you from wasting money and getting something you might regret.

Luka · Dec 8, 2015

njtiger aquariums said:
Bottom line LFS is out to make money so some of their advice can be misleading. Now some LFS are better than others. My recommendation would be either have an idea of which coral you want before you go or what you can do is go, see what they have, write down a couple of frags you like, go home and read up on them (like feeding, lighting, placement, water flow, etc..) and then go back better educated. I understand impulse buys happen (I done it myself more than I care to admit) but taking it slow and research will help you from wasting money and getting something you might regret.

The number of times I have gone there and not bought anything. Its weird because their misleading information made me not buy anything. Maybe I was less specific when asking them than asking the people on here. Haha but thanks I will defintley do that. I will educate myself before as well.

njtiger aquariums · Dec 8, 2015

I can understand that. I have gone multiple places. I have one LFS that is close by but I have yet to purchase anything. His prices are fair but his tanks are ditry, stock looks sick, and I don't notice until I leave but it smells poor I'm there. The LFS I hit up the most is a little further, cost more money but they are friendly, have given good advice, tanks are well taken care of, and their live stock is good quality. There a couple other LFS I have gone to but they are much further away (1+hr)