When to add corals?

[Phischy]

I have a fairly good idea of what I'm getting into when it comes to fish and live rock. Lots of rock and keep the tank very lightly stocked to prevent lots of bio-load.

However, I'm new to corals. Once I get my tank running (June?) when can I start to add corals? What's the difference between soft and hard? What other water quality/micro nutrients do I need to observe? I know live rock uses lots of calcium to promote purple coraline algea.

What are some reliable hardy species that are good for noobs to start off with?

 

[Dollarz81]

Wow...your are asking for alot of info in this thread.

Here are a few tips.

*When can you start to add corals? After your tank has completely cycled.

*Difference between hard and soft corals?...In a nut shell...Hard corals need excellent water quality, intense lighting (metal halide), usually for experience reefers ONLY!! Soft corals are usally hardier than hard corals, can be kept under PC lights and VHO lights, still need to maintain high water quality with any corals.

*I suggest you do not get corals until you do more research....but you probably will get them , so most mushroom corals and some polyp corals (yellow polyps, green star polyps) are good for beginners.

READ...READ....READ, then READ SOME MORE!!!

 

[djconn]

Wow that was a lot of questions! =; Ca and Alk are the two main parameters that I'm concerned with on an almost daily basis but every tank is different based on their coral selection, size, evap. rate and bioload. I would start with a good test kit for the above mentioned parameters from Salifert. DO NOT BUY ANY OTHER TYPE OF TEST KIT. I've used 3 or 4 different brands of test kits and you can't believe the varibility between them all. Salifert is a little more expensive but so much more reliable IMO.

Salinity will become an issue at some point after your cycle so gear up to test that as well.

I agree with Dollarz in that hard coral typically do require much higher intensity lighting such as MH and also are more dependent on higher Ca levels. I would start simple with some polyps, shrooms (some of mine did die), zoos, xenia and slowly go from there.

 

[Phischy]

That was the basic info I was looking for. I have a few books but I haven't read that far ahead just yet. I know from past expierence all about water quality and bioload, found out the hardway. Live and learn.

I'll probably stick to LR, Fish, Softies for awhile, I don't think I want to get into MH lights, too expensive and may cause other problems, like a high electricty bill. This thing just needs to be pretty, no need to prove myself by trying to keep the most impossible critters in my living room.

For now it's just all the thinking that goes into a good setup.

 

[Karita]

Wow...your are asking for alot of info in this thread.

Here are a few tips.

*When can you start to add corals? After your tank has completely cycled.

Dollarz: when, exactly, has your tank "completely cycled"?? It is too late for my current tank, but I have always been curious as to how long the first "cycle" is... before you can safely start adding corals.

 

[Dollarz81]

You cycle time could vary from one week to six months. When you have no amonia, nitrates, nitrites...your cycle is completed

 

[Phischy]

Ok, I figured as much. I've been reading: Concientious Marine Aquarist
for the past 6 months about setups etc... It's a damn good book, lots of great advice and a solid starting point for newbies. I've had a live rock and fish tank before, but it didn't do so hot b/c I knew nothing. This time around I decided to read and self educate before jumping back in.

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_boo ... sp?CartId=

I think the same author or maybe publisher also has a book for reef tanks, but I couldn't find it readily. There are a TON of books out there, so if someone has a newbies guide to corals I'd appreciate that as well. I figure I'll do live rock and a fish or two (small) for at least six months to establish the tank and myself in maintence before I jump into softies.

 

[djconn]

I've been reading: Concientious Marine Aquarist
for the past 6 months about setups etc... It's a damn good book, lots of great advice...

That is my next read for sure. Right now I've got "The Reef Aquarium" by Julium Sprung which is basically the bible for marine identification and care. By the way, if at any time you are going to buy something from Amazon like books, please be sure to use the link below on my website because they will give the site 5% of the sale. That money will go towards webspace and server related expenses for the nanotank.com. Thanks.

 

[wizord25]

*When can you start to add corals? After your tank has completely cycled.

*Difference between hard and soft corals?...In a nut shell...Hard corals need excellent water quality, intense lighting (metal halide), usually for experience reefers ONLY!! Soft corals are usally hardier than hard corals, can be kept under PC lights and VHO lights, still need to maintain high water quality with any corals.

Well I think that you would be alright if you go with LPS corals. The SPS Corals are the ones that really require the MH lighting, as well as clams, for the most part. I would probably wait a little while after the tank has cycled to let it mature before adding corals. Start wit ha cleanup crew, then wait a little while, then you can add some Mushrooms and then you can work from there. Remember not to go too fast.

check out www.liveaquaria.com for info regarding corals and fish, they really have a lot of good, helpful info.[/quote]