Water quality for polyps?

[skierguy]

I am thinking of adding some mushrooms or polyps to my tank. I have a 55gal. FOWLR. I have heard that they do not need perfect water conditions to thrive. I have even heard that they can help the water conditions. I am currently struggling with my nitrates (30ppm). My other conditions a good but I was wondering if the nitrates will harm the polyps or mushrooms. Any help would be great. Thank you.

 

[ags]

If you tried anything I would go with mushrooms. THE most forgiving coral you can buy. I would also work on getting your nitrates down because once you buy the mushrooms you are going to want different and more difficult coral to keep.

 

[skierguy]

Will the mushrooms act as the live rock does and help with the water quality? I am trying to get the nitrates down but I am having a hard time with it.

 

[ags]

Not 100% sure but no. Typically my corals react negatively to poor water conditions like nitrates. A dsb or refugium is what you are looking for. Certain types of algae help reduce nitrates and a lot of people use a refugium and dsb to accomplish this. I don't have a refugium but do have a dsb.

 

[j21kickster]

Polyps as well as manysoft corals thrive in less than perfect water- in fact in tanks with highly efficient skimmers, soft corals do not do quite as well, tanks with modest skimming or no skimmer in coordanance with regular changes do very well- the reason being is b/c soft corals pull nutrients from the water- the same nutrients that read as nitrates, however i would get the nitrates down a little simply by doing a series of water changes- but as far as them making water better- it is not an adequate source of filteration