really want to get into corals

How big is your tank and what are your water parameters? What kind of filtration methods do you employ?

Thank you for what, I haven't said anything yet! lol

If you want corals, buy a reef master test kit...

Test:

Phosphate

Alkalinity

Calcium

You will have to know these parameters and perhaps make adjustments before you know if you can add corals or not. You will also need the test kits to regularly test the water just in case something does go wrong, you know you have a test for it.

IF your water parameters are as such and have tested today - then it looks like you are in good shape.

There's not really anything you can add at the moment with the lights that you have. The only thing you could really try right now are Non-photosynthetic corals like an orange sun coral or a black sun coral - but those have low survival rates for beginners.

It's best to save up for a proper lighting system first, so you can keep a wider array of corals. Also, once you upgrade your lights, you are going to get an algae bloom most likely - if your nitrate and phosphates actually are detectable. You will have to deal with the algae problem in the tank before you add corals.

more to come, just got to take a break.

Definitely need to know what your phos, alk and ca numbers are.

Mushrooms would probably be okay, and are a good starter coral. You might want to look into some non photosynthetics like sun coral, which are fairly easy to care for (but need to be fed) and save up for a better light.

Hah, can't go wrong with xenia. You can't kill it, it's like the weeds of the ocean.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SnakeBlitz33 

Hah, can't go wrong with xenia. You can't kill it, it's like the weeds of the ocean.

I think I'm the only one on the planet that can't keep that cr@p alive! lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by BTLDreef 

I think I'm the only one on the planet that can't keep that cr@p alive! lol

I can't either.....I have a small piece in the 54G....I was hoping it would grow...but NOT YET.....altho it has not died yet either...LOL...can not keep it in the 225G at all

xenia does well in aquariums that have moderately high nitrate and phosphate. No nitrate, no xenia. lol. I've heard that it does better with just a little more iodide dosed in the system.

30 highs can be tricky to get lighting all the way to the bottom. A good 4 bulb T5 fixture would probably work, but LED's would be better.

Sun corals are difficult because they have to be fed. The key is to buy one that you can see be fed in the store, as some can be tough to get to accept food. If your patient with them, and offer food consistently at the same time every day, they can be trained though, and I don't find them that difficult. Mine open the minute I add food for the fish, and then I just squirt food towards them too, they eat like pigs.

ya it helps to cover em with a top of a plastic bottle to keep the food away from the shrimps and crabs too....

wat about duncans? These are similar to the sun corals...

kenya tree are easy peasy... try some leathers too...

i wasnt fond of the leather corals at all till i got a freebie from a friend and now i really dont mind it. Its actually kinda kool!

Quote:

Originally Posted by along 

ok i will go and get the reef test kit... the thank you was in advance... hahah but what makes sun corals difficult for beginners? the feeding or water quality? would sponges do well? As for lighting i have no clue what they mean with spectrum or wattage per gallon? clueless. what would be a good light setup for a 30 high?

A four bulb T5HO would be perfect for your tank. Nova Extreme makes some pretty good ones. Get one with individual reflectors and maybe even try to find one that has moonlights. You won't be disappointed.

Sponges are great! Just don't expose them to air, and put them in a moderate flow area with plenty of food.

try those with the current lights u have. I like the aquaticlife t5s! Those wave points are okay but you cant control two lights at once instead of all four, most have seperate plugs so u can do a dawn/dusk effect. Also no Leds for moonlights.

phosphate seems high...wat kind of water are u using?

Wats a cal of 17?!?! Should be between 380-460ppm

Wat kind of tests were they using? Maybe its the test and the end results are read diffrently..

u want a 4bulb t5 unit with the reflector in the shape of VVVV so u get as much light as u can out of it!  The leds are just used as the moonlights so at night u can enjoy the tank still...2-4 of those will be fine!

never heard of solar extreme...but if its got a reflector shaped like VVVVV than ya its not bad priced.

17 drops would mean 340ppm and thats not that low but a bit low...if u dont have any SPS or much LPS you chould be okay till ur next w/c...

i didnt know anything about tap water not being kool either when i 1st started! No worries...