Got my first few corals.. few questions!

[xxStLxx]

I have 3 variations of frogspawn in my tank (different colorations) though I just sold 2 to my buddy for a nice deal lol. They're a relatively easy coral to keep, just need med-high water flow with med-high light. And that's it. They're a branching coral so how it creates new branches is the main head will split in 2 and the little one will grow its own branch.

Stay away from Kenya tree, it will take over your tank. Literally. It's nickname is weed of the sea. It reproduces at a rate which is hard to keep track of especially if your water is right. It's like your Xenia. It can double in size within a month.

If you get a bubble tip just keep in mind it's going to go wherever it feels like. Even through your power heads if it wants to. That said go buy little foam/sponges that go around your circ fan intakes to prevent this. Just clean them out whenever you do water changes to keep the detrius and debree free. I have yet to have a problem with bubble tips stinging close corals near them but I have seen them walk over or sit on top of a coral lol. Just feed them 1" things of silverside every few days.

 

[xxStLxx]

Also if your clown doesn't immediately host you can try a trick I learned at my LFS that works 50% of the time. Print out a color photo of the same type of clown you have hosting in a nem and tape it to your glass (keep in mind actual proportion sizes) usually within a couple weeks it'll start hosting.

 

[scottayy]

My tank has been running for 10 months before I added my first coral. I have a condy nem and hes doing good. Would 2 nems be ok?

Thanks for the feedback and choice of corals.

 

[scottayy]

Oh I'm on my phone, didn't see there was another page. That clown trick sounds neat

 

[xxStLxx]

We keep multiple nems in the same tank at the LFS and they never bug each other. I don't see why not as long as they stay away from each other. Otherwise you might have to choose who you like more.

 

[scottayy]

Cool, well I've done the reading. None of them seem too hard to keep. Think I might go for 'em.

 

[xxStLxx]

Are you going with a rose bubble, green bubble or one of the neat ORA green bubbles with bluish purple tips?

 

[xxStLxx]

I've also seen albino bubbles

 

[Sniperhank]

You sold me too. I posted on craigslist for some and other corals I've been wanting.

 

[scottayy]

If i remember correctly, it is white with iridescent green bulb tentacles.

Just did my water tests. Nothing appears to have changed.

SG: 1.025
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5
Phosphate 0
Calcium 460
Magnesium 1500
dKH 9
pH 8.1

Looks good and all of my corals are open and looking healthy. So looks like I'm going to head off to get the frogspawn, pipe organ, and BTA! When should I expect to see calcium/mag/kh drop?

@sniperhank, good luck!

 

[Sniperhank]

Its better than good luck. It's a good deal. mushroom, radioactive zoa frag, and frogspawn for 40 dollars...

Working out pickup for Sunday. I'll post some pics when I get a chance.

 

[xxStLxx]

Frogspawn runs 10-15 a head, depending on the mushroom it can be 2-15 a head and the radioactive dragon eyes (I'm assuming) are 10 per 2-3" frag. So depending on sizes and heads your getting a decent deal.

 

[Sniperhank]

3 head frogspawn, 3 head mushroom, and hard to tell at the zoa. it's closed up.

 

[xxStLxx]

Zoas are just based off of how big the frag is unless you get into the more rare colors which are per head.

 

[Sniperhank]

Yeah, when researching I saw some pretty outrageous prices lol.

 

[scottayy]

Dang, the frogspawn alone that I got is $35. That's LFS markup though.

 

[scottayy]

Frogspawn opened up already and looks really nice

Pipe organ coral that I got for $10, not opened up yet.. might not ever. Taking a risk with it.

And the BTA, which nested itself between some rocks! Hope he moves out in the open so we can see him lol

Crappy pictures. I think my cell phone lens is dirty.

 

[xxStLxx]

The nem is going to do what they want. At the store I've noticed the clear BTA's like crevices and strong water flow. The pipe likes high flow to keep all it's crevices clean. Also at night blast it off with a turkey baster to keep it from extruding a clear film over it that traps in all the excessive nutrients.

 

[Gboy66]

Great looking vorals! How much did you get all of that for again?

 

[scottayy]

Frogspawn was $35
Pipe Organ was $10
BTA was $25

If I move the nem he'll probably just go where he wants again.. back in a crevice? Sucks, I'd like him for display.