can you have to many corals in your tank

david usmc

New Member
hello everyone im new to this hobby and i love it. I started a 36 gallon reef tank and its beautiful. my local fish guy is telling me you can add as many corals as you can fit in the tank and is this true also. he sold me a bunch of supplements is it ok that i add them all in one day or should i spread them out
 

lol

Member
However many corals you fit in the tank depends on what kind of corals they are and what type of defensive mechanisms they have, and even when you introduce them into the tank. Corals are living, breathing, reproducing creatures that need tender loving care, they aren't just ornamental displays of color...
You must do research on each and every coral that you purchase, what water conditions they like, what they eat, what their lighting requirements are and what their defensive mechanisms are. You should also research fish first, because some fish eat corals!
The guy at the lfs made a pretty good profit with you buying all of those supplements, lol. Supplements aren't needed as long as you do water changes. Which, I'm sure you do at least once a month.
The only supplements I've used regularly is kalkwasser which is a calcium and alkalinity additive and phytoplankton, which is basically coral food, and it stimulates the growth of zooplankton.
If you aren't feeding your corals already, research the corals you have and then figure out how to feed them.
 

david usmc

New Member
the supplements he gave me are microvert, iodide,coral vite and coral accel, i researched alll the fish and they were fine and as for the corals i read up on them and they all seemed good as long as they had there space
 

slice

Active Member
Also consider the growth rate and form of your coral; give ample space for growth. Think way ahead.
Based on copious research, I placed my corals where I thought they would have plenty of grow-out space.
Nope. Now only 5 months later, I have placement issues where some coral are attempting to overrun their
neighbor.
 

btldreef

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by david usmc http:///t/388147/can-you-have-to-many-corals-in-your-tank#post_3421202
hello everyone im new to this hobby and i love it. I started a 36 gallon reef tank and its beautiful. my local fish guy is telling me you can add as many corals as you can fit in the tank and is this true also. he sold me a bunch of supplements is it ok that i add them all in one day or should i spread them out
Sounds like you need a new LFS, or just go there to buy things and don't take any advice. This guy just wants to make money. Sure, you can buy a bunch of corals and pack out your tank, but after a few months, these animals are going to grow and can actually create chemical warfare on each other. I've seen seemingly small corals have HUGE tentacles come out at night and sting nearby corals. I have a fairly packed tank, and as a result, I'm constantly pruning back corals and fragging things so that I don't have corals fighting for territory.
Quote:
Originally Posted by david usmc
http:///t/388147/can-you-have-to-many-corals-in-your-tank#post_3421217
the supplements he gave me are microvert, iodide,coral vite and coral accel, i researched alll the fish and they were fine and as for the corals i read up on them and they all seemed good as long as they had there space
Garbage, that's what you've been sold. NONE of these things are really needed, especially in a new tank. Iodide, for one, can be a very dangerous additive, if used incorrectly (which it very often is), you can toxify your tank. A regular water change schedule and your fish food is more than enough for most corals.
What types of corals were you sold?
 
Top