New 46gal fish only to fish + reef!

[ser-specv]

So I finally pulled the trigger and got some lights so I can start my reef journey. Picked up 2 sets of AquaticLife dual-lamp T-5 HOs for my 46gal fish only tank. I also picked up 4 corals to start... 2 Zoos, 1 GSP (not sure what it stands for or which it was! LoL!), and 1 Xenia. How fast do these things grow? Here are some pics:
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[btldreef]

Nice

Keep an eye on the angel since he was previously in a FOWLR setup. Anyways, GSP means Green Star Polyps (pic #3)
Good luck with it.

 

[skate020]

yehh nice, i agree with BTL, the angel COULD become a coral nipper, if it is, and your serious about the reef idea, then you should replace it or something, the corals will grow quite quickly once they acclimitise.
within a year they will probs have spread a fair bit
good luck

 

[aquaknight]

Cool little Heraldi angel you have

. Don't see those as much.

 

[btldreef]

Originally Posted by skate020
http:///forum/post/3172080
yehh nice, i agree with BTL, the angel COULD become a coral nipper, if it is, and your serious about the reef idea, then you should replace it or something, the corals will grow quite quickly once they acclimitise.
within a year they will probs have spread a fair bit
good luck
It probably won't nip. Just keep an eye on it. Some can be persuaded to stop nipping on corals if they start, you don't necessarily have to write it off if it starts nipping. I would try to persuade it not to if it does start just because it's rarer.

 

[ser-specv]

Thanks guys! So far so good with the angel... I don't think he likes the taste of corals cause he's been pretty uninterested in them so far.

I just picked up a green Hammer Coral and another Zoo. Got them both from a local reefer. Here's a pic of the Hammer:

 

[mie]

Your tank is not mature enough or do you have enough live rock to keep your star alive alive. They need IMO at least 100 pounds of lr in nothing smaller than a 75 gallon tank. It will slowly starve to death, it can take 6 to 18 months for it to starve to death. You most definately do not have enough to support it. I give it a month or two at best.

 

[redsea]

Beatiful looking tank

 

[ser-specv]

Originally Posted by mie
http:///forum/post/3172346
Your tank is not mature enough or do you have enough live rock to keep your star alive alive. They need IMO at least 100 pounds of lr in nothing smaller than a 75 gallon tank. It will slowly starve to death, it can take 6 to 18 months for it to starve to death. You most definately do not have enough to support it. I give it a month or two at best.
Is there anything I can feed it with?
redsea Beatiful looking tank
Thanks!

 

[btldreef]

Originally Posted by mie
http:///forum/post/3172346
Your tank is not mature enough or do you have enough live rock to keep your star alive alive. They need IMO at least 100 pounds of lr in nothing smaller than a 75 gallon tank. It will slowly starve to death, it can take 6 to 18 months for it to starve to death. You most definately do not have enough to support it. I give it a month or two at best.
Although you may be right. I've had both my sand sifting star fish for 2+ years, they've been in three different tanks now and are doing very well. The first tank was a 14G BioCube with 16lbs of live rock, second was a 40G breeder with about 60lbs of live rock. They were fine and still are.

 

[mie]

No you cannot supliment a linkia's diet. They feed on surface film on the rocks mostly.
Sandsifting stars are different than linkia's. They are not as sensitive, they eat stuff in the sandbed and can be spotfed.

 

[ser-specv]

UPDATE:
Here is a full tank shot from today. Got a M. Blannie and RBTA since last.

Unfortunately the angel fish died...

but everything else is doing extremely well. Enjoy!