What are the basics for coral care?

[gwhunter]

Ok so new to corals not to salt water. I've got some easy mushrooms and stuff and I'm wondering what I need to test for and what needs to be added. I've got good parameters nitrate 0 nitrate 0 ammonia 0 ph 8.4. I've got a calcium and phosphate test kit but what else do I need to test for? The corals seem to be doing well. I do have a recently added zoo's that seem to be acting strange. I've got two seperate rocks side by side and one is colorful and looks great. The other is only got 1/3 of the heads out and they don't look as full. So enlighten me on what I need to know.
Matt

 

[hlcroghan]

I would suggest some coral food. Make sure you get the right kind though. There are many different types and sizes of food. So, for instance, SPS need very very small particles of food to thrive and they also need good lighting so that would be the other thing I would ask is what type of lighting do you have? If they are closing they may not have enough light at this point. Zoos do not require high lighting normally but they do require sufficient light.

 

[gwhunter]

Sorry I knew I forgot something. I've got two 150w MH lights and 4 65w blue atinic lamps. I was told the corals I bought were photosynthetic and didn't need to be fed.
Matt

 

[posiden]

Depending on the lighting in the tanks where you bought them and where you placed them in your tank, you may need to aclimate them to your lighting. That might be why the other coral isn't doing so hot.
Care for corals depends on what corals you have or want.

 

[gwhunter]

The lighting in the tank they came from was the same. They were towards the bottom of the tank.
Matt