Ready for corals?!

fantomkoala

fantomkoala

Member
My tank has been running for a little over 3 months now, and I was thinking of finally adding corals, but just wanted to see what others think.
Below is what I have in my tank:
55 gallon acrylic
55 lbs live rock
4" Live Sand Bed
Remora Pro Protein Skimmer
10 gallon Sump / Refugium with caulpera in it
a couple of power heads
220 Watts of Power Compact Lighting
Inhabitants are:
Maroon Clown
Freckled Hawkfish
Cleaner Wrasse
Mandarin Dragonet
Green Brittle Star
20 scarlet reef hermits
60 blue leg hermits
20 astrea snails
2 emerald crabs
All my water levels are perfect and I haven't had anything pass away in this tank since I started. I use B-Ionic to help maintain the Calcium and PH in my tank.
Thank!
Fantom+K
 
burnnspy

burnnspy

Active Member
Sounds okay, what are the water parameters including calcium, phosphate and alkalnity. Your lights will only support low light corals though. What are you feeding the Mandarin?
BurnNSpy
 
slowest is fastest

slowest is fastest

Member
I agree that provided your water tests out ok you should be fine.
IMHO you have enough light for all soft corals(ok maybe there are one or two exceptions...there always are :)) and low light LPS and SPS. Just do the research on anything you want before you buy. I would also stay away fom all clams for now.
SiF
 
fantomkoala

fantomkoala

Member
What if I was to change my lights over from 4 x 55 watt PC to 2x 55 Watt PC and 250 or 400watt hallide. Would that be enough for most corals?
I was planning on getting mushrooms (I know I have enough light for them), an anenome for my clown, xenia, and that was about it for what I had planned on. I like clams alot too, but wouldn't think about them unless I do get the halide bulbs.
As for water levels, my LFS told me everything was where it should be. (I only have test kits for Ammon, Nitrite, Nitrate, Phosphate, and PH.) And before you get on my case, I am going to by my calcium and alk tests before I add any corals. But I go to a pretty honest LFS so I believe them.
Also, what do you think i should be adding to the water to help further condition it for corals. I have only been using B-Ionic, but I'm not sure if that was a good choice. What products would you all recommend for supplements like strontium and iodine which I believe the softer corals need.
Thanks again!
 
fantomkoala

fantomkoala

Member
As for the mandarin, she eats whatever she finds in the tank. I added a detrivore kit to my tank a while ago and put half the little critters in my sump where they could grow and develop un molested. That way, if I ever feel she isn't getting enough food, I just scoop out some of the sand from the sump and put it into the main tank and she has enough for food for quite some time.
 
slowest is fastest

slowest is fastest

Member
1 MH for a 4' 55g probably isn't going to give you coverage for the whole tank. You could retro the 4x55 PC with the MH in the center into a new canopy. This would allow you to keep a variey of corals from low light at the edges to more light demanding ones in the center.
Iodine for the xenia and softies for sure, wait to see what you are going to get before adding the strontium. Good calcium levels are important, As for the B-ionic, is it good? I have had mixed results with it in the past but if you are willing to measure carefully and add regularly you should be ok.
SiF
 
burnnspy

burnnspy

Active Member
Just Kalkwasser for calcium, Reef Builder for alkalinity and DT's Phytoplankton for the corals.
BurnNSpy
 
slowest is fastest

slowest is fastest

Member
BurNSpy, I think it comes back to the same question. Do you want to have your reef thrive or survive? Lighting and zero nitrates are not everything. While the addition of trace minerals etc. is achieved through occasional water changes, better results can be achieved with the addition of time tested and proven suppliments like iodine. To state that a reef tank does not need suppliments (other than Reef Builder™ (alkalinity and other balanced cations and anions), kalkwasser (to maintain calcium)and DT phytoplankton.)is in my opinion just that an opinion. I can prove that soft corals and xenia WILL do better with the addition of iodine and will put my tank with iodine against anyones without anyday. Heck you can even pick the lighting. I'll use NO you can use 175 watt MH. My xenia will pump faster and stronger spread more and get bigger. The softies will grow faster and stronger than any tank without the iodine. Last year I sent a leather coral to GARF as part of a trade to aid in cancer research that had a cap that wouldn't fit in a five gallon bucket. That was done under NO flor. and grew from 6" to almost 16.5 inches in 2 years. Do the math thats five inches a year. Want a picture I'll post it with the tape measure beside it.
To state that a reef tank doesn't need suppliments is wrong.
No offense meant, No disrespect intended.
SiF
 
burnnspy

burnnspy

Active Member
Sorry Slowest to fastest, I know of no scientific proof and haven't ever read any that shows Iodine works wonders, its all anecdotal(sp) as far as I know.
I do know that it has been proven that added incorrectly Iodine will poison certain sensitive inverts.
Since I don't know which ones those are I choose not to take the chance.
By thriving I mean that all livestock is demonstrating growth and/or multiplication.
My Red Open Brain has grown nearly twice its original size in only a few months and everything I read says its a slow grower. I must be doing something right.
BurnNSpy
 
slowest is fastest

slowest is fastest

Member
I am not saying there isn't more than one way of doing things. What I am saying is that just because you choose not to doesn't mean that better results can't be obtained through their(suppliments)use. Simply a matter of preferance and personal expierence I guess.
Anything used improperly or used in excess may cause harm.
I use suppliments and I'll bet I could match your success stories three to one (and prove it not just talk :))
I guess I will just respectfully agree to disagree with you on this one.
Humbly
SiF
 
burnnspy

burnnspy

Active Member
Hmmmm, What exactly are better results?
You may have more success, but I have only been doing this for a little over a year.
My success so far consist of the following:
No algae blooms
Crystal clear water
Good coral growth and color
Beautiful Mandarin with no supplemental feeding
Done in the most simple of setups; an airlift skimmer, LR, LS, pumps, Kalkwasser, Reef builder, Dt's, MH lighting and water changes.
BurnNSpy
 
fantomkoala

fantomkoala

Member
Quick question. What do the two supplements you both use (i.e. Reef Builder and Kalkwasser) add to the tank? I use B-Ionic currently and want to get the one which would complement what I am using.
 
burnnspy

burnnspy

Active Member
Reef builder adds alkalinity without raising pH and Kalkwasser adds calcium. Kalk also precipitates phosphates allowing the skimmer to remove some of it from the system in the foam.
BurnNSpy
 
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