rEEf ChEcK LiSt!!!

[new2u]

Alright guys I'm starting to wonder when I can finally get corals into my tank so heres my question, do I have every thing I need? Heres a list of what I have currently and what I'm going to do.
Current stats:
500 gph flow rate
65 pounds of LR
5 watts per gallon T5 (timed)
3 inch DSB
Cleanup crew 1 cleaner per gal
ammonia- ZERO
nitrite ZERO
nitrate 30 (yes yes i know)
Amiracle wet/dry
What I plan to get
2 300 gph phs (tommorow)
10 more LBS of LR (tommorow)
fuge and skimmer comeing soon (asap, really as soon as I can sell my wet/dry)
Coral food (cyclopleze, live phyroplancton?)
am I missing anything? What would you suggest I add to my list of get rid ofs and gets? What would be some nice beggener corals? I was thinking some zoos fungia and stools? I also want a BTA asap but i know I have to wait my tank is only 8 months old...

 

[dacia]

Personally, I would wait until your tank has been completely set up with all that you are going to add and has been stable for at least a month or 2 before adding corals.
Good beginner corals that I recommend are zoos, star polyps, mushrooms, ricordias, yellow polyps, and toadstool leathers.
You might also want to concider getting some sponges for added color and variety.

 

[new2u]

my tanks levels havent moved in 2 months and my nitrates are now down to 20, its really starting to come together, I dont really know what corals perfer any/what food could y'all help me with that, I've heard of some ppl feeding zoos while others not ect ect

 

[dacia]

I don't feed zoos anything other than 8-10 hours per day of lighting. I think that softies generally don't require food supplements other than proper lighting. At least, this has been true in my experience.

 

[tizzo]

Took me a year before I could even START a reef because I couldn't get my temperature steady. Some things you forgot to mention pertaining to a reef are...
What's the temp of your tank at say...noon, and what is it at 1 in the morn?
What's your calcium level?
What's your Alk. level?
What kinda fish do you have?

 

[new2u]

my temp is always 78 i've never had it drop a degree exept when i accidentally unplugged my heater when i was a newb
currently my fish are
2 convict damsels (i call them chicken little and the con)
2 clowns (nemo and nemona)
1 coral beauty (spaz)
1 diamond back goby (mr. personality)
I guess the alk and cal. tests are things I need to invest in lol, my ph is around 8.2 i cant really tell too well with the colors

 

[tizzo]

Buy a cheap little frag and see how it does. Good luck!

 

[new2u]

i think i'm gonna pick up some zoos after i get ALL my water tested and my fuge plumbed YEAH this is so exciting!

 

[new2u]

just a simple ? are there any other ways than water changes and micro algeas that reduce nitrates?

 

[new2u]

OMG when i went to pick up my LR today it was all covered in zoos green star polyps an anenome and a whole bunch of other corals I dont know the name of! I'll post pics so u guys can id asassc! (as soon as the sand storm clears)

 

[new2u]

the anenome and gps have opened up, alot of the corals are partialy bleached, with the proper lighting they'll come back right?