Adding Coral to 55 gallon Reef

[sharkman07]

I have a hydros control 4 and I am considering getting a hydros doser to connect to it. I would like to only have to get one doser so is there something that is a mix of the many things people dose? Would all for reef work?

 

[Lavey29]

What would you recommend I like the looks of both lps and sps but know lps are easier most of the time

It's really just personal preference. Mixed reefs are the most difficult because you need various light levels in different sections of the tank for coral placement. I just donated multiple big SPS colonies so I could start fresh with new frags but you can see I have SPS top 3rd, LPS mid tank and softs lower 3rd. My tank is 65g so similar size to yours.

 

[sharkman07]

It's really just personal preference. Mixed reefs are the most difficult because you need various light levels in different sections of the tank for coral placement. I just donated multiple big SPS colonies so I could start fresh with new frags but you can see I have SPS top 3rd, LPS mid tank and softs lower 3rd. My tank is 65g so similar size to yours.

Do you dose?

 

[sharkman07]

I am thinking mostly sps plus a few soft and lps

 

[Reefering1]

Yes now that he posted a tank picture his light spread should be good but he also bought LPS and soft corals so how will that aspect mix in under that light spread along side SPS?

Like you said- softies down low sticks mid/ high, LPS in-between. Can add 2 more t5 if needed. It's not like led, just cover the tank in t5s and turn on

 

[Lavey29]

Do you dose?

Yes

 

[sharkman07]

Yes

What all do you dose?

 

[Lavey29]

What all do you dose?

Currently 30ml of alk and calcium daily, 15ml of magnesium weekly, 30ml of flourine weekly, 4ml of manganese and Zinc weekly. I also dose 10ml of red sea ABCD weekly.

 

[sharkman07]

Ok

 

[sharkman07]

Is there an all in one liquid I could dose or is it only separate?

 

[Lavey29]

Is there an all in one liquid I could dose or is it only separate?

Several vendors offer all in one options. All For Reef is popular.

 

[sharkman07]

Added a bit more rock from a established tank

 

[Lavey29]

Added a bit more rock from a established tank

You have to envision the fish you want also and roughly how many. Each fish needs one or two nice cave hide spots where they can't be seen when lights go out for the night so they feel safe in the reef.

 

[sharkman07]

Making a build thread, here is the link
55 gallon aio reef build