What to add to make good for corals

[settles4]

I've finally got my sump up and running and I think I'm ready to start introducing corals. Is there a water additive that contains all the necessary things to support corals available, or must each thing be added separately?

55 gal tank w/ 20 gal long sump w/ 125 gal skimmer
65 lbs live rock one 350 gph powerhead for current
stock- 3 blue chromis, 2 yellow chromis, 2 damsels, 1 mushroom coral
parameters- AM 0, PH 0, trites 0, trates 30, salt 1.025

just got the skimmer going so hope to have reduced nitrates soon.

 

[carey]

Just doing water changes will give the corals everything they need, no need to add anything else.

A skimmer can help with nitrates in a way but water changes are still the best way to reduce them. If you are looking at doing a reef you will have toget in the habit of doing frequent water changes as 30ppm of nitrates will affect them.

 

[bribo12]

I've finally got my sump up and running and I think I'm ready to start introducing corals. Is there a water additive that contains all the necessary things to support corals available, or must each thing be added separately?

55 gal tank w/ 20 gal long sump w/ 125 gal skimmer
65 lbs live rock one 350 gph powerhead for current
stock- 3 blue chromis, 2 yellow chromis, 2 damsels, 1 mushroom coral
parameters- AM 0, PH 0, trites 0, trates 30, salt 1.025

just got the skimmer going so hope to have reduced nitrates soon.

Your salt mix and lighting has everything your corals need to grow. I'd look into a calcium/alkalinity/magnesium test kit as well.

 

[mr_X]

I think you should add another power head. One 350gph power head for a 55 is not much flow. I would have at least 2 x 1000 gph to start with. the better the flow in your tank, the healthier it will be. More flow means less particulate matter reaching the sand bed before it can be removed by your filtration.
Also, Bribo brought up an important component- lighting. What lighting are you running?

 

[54seaweed]

first thing before adding any corals I would get those nitrates down 30 ppm is very high for coral , that can be easily done by doing 1 or 2 big water changes , I take it your tank is still young under 6 months I would steer away from expensive corals till your tank has some maturity , some good starter corals are softies zoa's shrooms leathers ect , these are easy starters lighting is another factor this will be the deciding factor on what you can and can't keep , if you have questions about lighting you may want to ask Mr X he seems to always have the best answers and would never steer you wrong
as for maintenance trates need to remain lower than 10 ppm the closer to 0 ppm the better
most salts contain all thats needed to maintain this type of coral as long as you do your weekly maintenance / water changes

 

[Rmckoy]

first thing before adding any corals I would get those nitrates down 30 ppm is very high for coral , that can be easily done by doing 1 or 2 big water changes , I take it your tank is still young under 6 months I would steer away from expensive corals till your tank has some maturity , some good starter corals are softies zoa's shrooms leathers ect , these are easy starters lighting is another factor this will be the deciding factor on what you can and can't keep , if you have questions about lighting you may want to ask Mr X he seems to always have the best answers and would never steer you wrong as for maintenance trates need to remain lower than 10 ppm the closer to 0 ppm the better most salts contain all thats needed to maintain this type of coral as long as you do your weekly maintenance / water changes

Water changes is the best and easiest way to export excessive nutrients .
Water changes , and not over feeding .
Stocking too fast will also contribute .
My only question before you add any corals is what lighting do you have ?

 

[settles4]

The tank has been running for about three months. I'm running a Beams Work 4x18 (72 bulbs) LED light fixture. The LFS said it would support anything I might want to grow, including clams. I've been doing weekly water changes of 4 gal. I was under the impression that the calcium and/or magnesium had to be added.

 

[bribo12]

The tank has been running for about three months. I'm running a Beams Work 4x18 (72 bulbs) LED light fixture. The LFS said it would support anything I might want to grow, including clams. I've been doing weekly water changes of 4 gal. I was under the impression that the calcium and/or magnesium had to be added.

Nope your salt contains all the calcium, alk and magnesium you need for now. I had a beams works led and to be honest it may support sps and clams but I doubt sps will look good under it. I loved the light, it's just more of an lps softy light. A deresa or squamosa clam would probably look fine under it though

 

[mr_X]

I couldn't find a 4 x 18 led fixture, but if you have this one-
BeamsWork HI LUMEN LED Light Fixture 3W Quad Power 48" (TR)
You should be ok. SPS towards the top 1/3 of the tank.

 

[settles4]

I couldn't find a 4 x 18 led fixture, but if you have this one-
BeamsWork HI LUMEN LED Light Fixture 3W Quad Power 48" (TR)
You should be ok. SPS towards the top 1/3 of the tank.

That looks like what I have though I paid much more for it. So maybe another powerhead, get the nitrates down and I should be good to go?

 

[mr_X]

Yes. Please keep us in the loop.

 

[settles4]

Will do, thanks everyone for the info and input. Will probably be bringing home a new coral today! Oh and some more clean up crew

 

[settles4]

Here are some pics of the tank and new inhabitants. What kind of coral is the last one?

 

[settles4]

and the sump

 

[54seaweed]

looks like a waving hand xienia

 

[settles4]

aha yes, that's what I thought.

 

[mr_X]

That anemone doesn't look happy. Not attaching it's foot to something is not a good sign. how long have you had it?

 

[settles4]

two days

 

[settles4]

That anemone doesn't look happy. Not attaching it's foot to something is not a good sign. how long have you had it?

He attached his foot and moved from where we placed him to this spot in the shade and out of the current. He took a piece of krill the first evening and we haven't attempted to feed since. Was going to try again this evening

 

[mr_X]

If you want to feed it, a couple times a week is plenty.