How long do I wait to introduce Corals?

paulcoates

paulcoates

Member
My tank is 55 gallons and I have have 50 pounds of Premium Walt Smith Fiji Live Rock. Right now I have a Lawnmower Blenny, 2 False Ocellaris Clowns, 2 Yellowtail Damsels, 2 Emerald Crabs, 3 Blue Leg Crabs, 25 Snails, A bubble tip anemone and a Pink Condi Anemone.
My question is how long do I have to wait before I introduce Corals into my tank.
I have 1-802 Powerhead (400 GPH) and an Emperor 400. My water is good at 1.025. Water temp ~80
Is there a rule of thumb? What are some easy "Beginner" corals?
 
beckzilla

beckzilla

Member
Kiss your Anenomes goodbye as they need MH lighting to survive and you have added them too soon. They should not be added to a new setup until at least 6-12 months. Wait until you tank is more established before adding corals too.
 
ophiura

ophiura

Active Member
I do not think that you have enough lighting - you don't necessarily, IMO, need metal halides but you certainly need more than you have. I am not sure you will have much luck with any corals unless you get a lot more rock and stack it really high and put stuff on the top. Maybe shrooms and things, but really nothing else, IMO.
 
thangbom

thangbom

Active Member
.. im not no expert but i have read that u sould not add corals to a tank unless u have coraline algea that u have grown to be at least the size of a dollar coin... to grow coraline u need decent lighting and water.. soo.. therefore.. no cotoaline algea = no coral...
 
paulcoates

paulcoates

Member
for the time being, should I keep my flourescents on more? As of now, I am keeping them on about 9 hrs per day and I have been feeding the anemones krill every 3 days or so.
I was having a problem with diatoms popping up, but now that I have 25 snails, 5 crabs, and a lawnmower, I think that should help keep the diatoms somewhat in check (at least that is what the guy at the fish store said)
 
blemmy_guy

blemmy_guy

Active Member
Power compacts or metal halides, but ive had 3 anenomies for 4 months with nothing but actinics, and they do great. Best of luck Todd
 
blemmy_guy

blemmy_guy

Active Member
Ophiura was right about the mushrooms, they dont need the stronger lights, and there really cool. Good luck again, todd
 
usinkit

usinkit

Member
I wouldnt go with anything less then 2x250 watt MH lighting. Thats if you want to keep the likes of Anenomes.
 
paulcoates

paulcoates

Member
Todd,
How much will either of these options cost me? Since I have a bubble tip and a Condi now, should I leave my fluorescent lights on all the time? I think all of my snails, crabs, and lawnmower blenny should take care of the algae (diatoms)
Thanks
 
blemmy_guy

blemmy_guy

Active Member
you can get the power compacts for ( i think ) less than a hundred dollars on the internet, you know that place East of the Bay .. ( wink wink ) :notsure: look up Jebo lights, thats the brand name. and once again i have a bublle coral, fox coral, 3 anenomies, frog spawn, and a few others which right now i have up high in the tank. I have a new set of Metal halides with actincs coming in any day now , but that set me back 950.00 dollars. hope that helps. Todd
 
blemmy_guy

blemmy_guy

Active Member
Oh yea, i run my lights about 12 hrs a day, when i get my new ones in the actinics will come on for about 3 hrs, then the metal halides will come on, also have moon lights built into it.!! Im excited!!!! Todd
 
paulcoates

paulcoates

Member
I like the looks of yellow polyps, leather toadstools, Carnations, Goniopora, Hammer, Hard Tube Coco Worm, Orange Finger, PAgoda's, Pink Fingers, Plates, Sun Corals, Torch Corals, Xenias and Zoos...Do any of these require stronger lighting than the 2-250W bulbs
 
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