First Corals

[fishguypa]

Ok so I’m making some plans to go check out some Corals. I’m leaning towards some Zoas and maybe some Gsp. Is there any other you would consider? I’ve never had a salt water tank and want to start out nice and easy.

 

[StartingATank]

What are you phosphates and nitrates? This would help know which direction your tank would go in better. I would say that GSP and Zoas are a very good testing Coral.

 

[fishguypa]

.25ppm on both

 

[fishguypa]

As I read I could be wrong but they seem high. Now I do have a skimmer and do weekly water changes. I haven’t turned the skimmer on yet. What would you recommend?

 

[StartingATank]

So, in my opinion, phosphates are good. Nitrates however are extremely low, I would raise those to 10-20 and keep them in the ranges of 20-35. To increase the nitrates, add more fish if you can, or start dosing. What fish do you have and what is the tank size. Turn on the skimmer once you can get nitrates to at least 10.

 

[Coral&Cocktails]

Definitely good picks to start out with!
Maybe Xenia as well? Keep that and the GSP on separate islands from the rest of your scape in case it starts taking over faster than you’d like!

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

Which test kit are you using? Those are possible API test results which often show .25, if it is an API phosphate test then its not workable for our hobby, you need something that can measure in between zero and .25.

 

[Cthulukelele]

Almost any soft coral makes a good tester, so I'd just say pick the one you like that won't overgrow your tank (unless the overgrown look is what you want then go for that!)

 

[fishguypa]

So, in my opinion, phosphates are good. Nitrates however are extremely low, I would raise those to 10-20 and keep them in the ranges of 20-35. To increase the nitrates, add more fish if you can, or start dosing. What fish do you have and what is the tank size. Turn on the skimmer once you can get nitrates to at least 10.

So it’s the 15 gallon hello reef.
2 clowns
1 peppermint shrimp
1 diamond goby
10 red/blue crabs
2 snails I can’t remember the name they burrow in the sand and it starts with a n

 

[StartingATank]

So it’s the 15 gallon hello reef.
2 clowns
1 peppermint shrimp
1 diamond goby
10 red/blue crabs
2 snails I can’t remember the name they burrow in the sand and it starts with a n

Ok so bioload seems good. The snails are called nassarius, I believe that is the kind you have. So, either you can start dosing for nitrates, or feed more heavily, which is what I would do, because whenever I had low nitrates and I used the formula, it raised my nitrates to 40-50, which could have just been my mistake. What do you feed?

 

[fishguypa]

Which test kit are you using? Those are possible API test results which often show .25, if it is an API phosphate test then its not workable for our hobby, you need something that can measure in between zero and .25.

It is the api test I’m finding that that’s not the test kit for salt water

 

[fishguypa]

So it’s the 15 gallon hello reef.
2 clowns
1 peppermint shrimp
1 diamond goby
10 red/blue crabs
2 snails I can’t remember the name they burrow in the sand and it starts with a n

Ok so bioload seems good. The snails are called nassarius, I believe that is the kind you have. So, either you can start dosing for nitrates, or feed more heavily, which is what I would do, because whenever I had low nitrates and I used the formula, it raised my nitrates to 40-50, which could have just been my mistake. What do you feed?

Brs pellets maybe 20 small pellets with Brine or Mysis shrimp approx 1/3-1/4 cube

 

[StartingATank]

So it’s the 15 gallon hello reef.
2 clowns
1 peppermint shrimp
1 diamond goby
10 red/blue crabs
2 snails I can’t remember the name they burrow in the sand and it starts with a n

Ok so bioload seems good. The snails are called nassarius, I believe that is the kind you have. So, either you can start dosing for nitrates, or feed more heavily, which is what I would do, because whenever I had low nitrates and I used the formula, it raised my nitrates to 40-50, which could have just been my mistake. What do you feed?

Brs pellets maybe 20 small pellets with Brine or Mysis shrimp approx 1/3-1/4 cube

Ok so pellets are known for increasing phosphates, so what I would do is start feeding less pellets and wear the fish off of them and start feeding up to 1/2-3/4 of a cube until nitrates climb back up. If phosphates fall under .1 start feeding more pellets for a little bit. It is still good to occasionally feed pellets just so the fish know how to still eat them in case of some kind of intestinal infection. And for long term feeding, I feed 1/2 a cube of mysis spiraluna every day for my 5 fish, which are 2 clowns, a springeri damsel, a royal gramma, and a tomini tang. So hopefully you can find a definite feeding routine.

 

[fishguypa]

So it’s the 15 gallon hello reef.
2 clowns
1 peppermint shrimp
1 diamond goby
10 red/blue crabs
2 snails I can’t remember the name they burrow in the sand and it starts with a n

Ok so bioload seems good. The snails are called nassarius, I believe that is the kind you have. So, either you can start dosing for nitrates, or feed more heavily, which is what I would do, because whenever I had low nitrates and I used the formula, it raised my nitrates to 40-50, which could have just been my mistake. What do you feed?

Brs pellets maybe 20 small pellets with Brine or Mysis shrimp approx 1/3-1/4 cube

Ok so pellets are known for increasing phosphates, so what I would do is start feeding less pellets and wear the fish off of them and start feeding up to 1/2-3/4 of a cube until nitrates climb back up. If phosphates fall under .1 start feeding more pellets for a little bit. It is still good to occasionally feed pellets just so the fish know how to still eat them in case of some kind of intestinal infection. And for long term feeding, I feed 1/2 a cube of mysis spiraluna every day for my 5 fish, which are 2 clowns, a springeri damsel, a royal gramma, and a tomini tang. So hopefully you can find a definite feeding routine.

I was worried I was feeding more than I was supposed to

 

[StartingATank]

So it’s the 15 gallon hello reef.
2 clowns
1 peppermint shrimp
1 diamond goby
10 red/blue crabs
2 snails I can’t remember the name they burrow in the sand and it starts with a n

Ok so bioload seems good. The snails are called nassarius, I believe that is the kind you have. So, either you can start dosing for nitrates, or feed more heavily, which is what I would do, because whenever I had low nitrates and I used the formula, it raised my nitrates to 40-50, which could have just been my mistake. What do you feed?

Brs pellets maybe 20 small pellets with Brine or Mysis shrimp approx 1/3-1/4 cube

Ok so pellets are known for increasing phosphates, so what I would do is start feeding less pellets and wear the fish off of them and start feeding up to 1/2-3/4 of a cube until nitrates climb back up. If phosphates fall under .1 start feeding more pellets for a little bit. It is still good to occasionally feed pellets just so the fish know how to still eat them in case of some kind of intestinal infection. And for long term feeding, I feed 1/2 a cube of mysis spiraluna every day for my 5 fish, which are 2 clowns, a springeri damsel, a royal gramma, and a tomini tang. So hopefully you can find a definite feeding routine.

I was worried I was feeding more than I was supposed to

Technically you are, but until you get your nitrates up, I wouldn’t worry about feeding more. Also, I would get a better tester for nitrates so you can raise them gradually until in a specific range, just so you know where to keep them out. Also, I would get those tester corals to see where the rest of your nutrients are. If gsp or Xenia dies, then something is really off

 

[fishguypa]

So I added some soft corals. And went to change my lighting. As soon as I did my clownfish went nuts I currently am running the Hello Reef schedule on acclamation mode. I was reading and thought the soft coral program would be better that comes with the AI Blade. Any suggestions????

 

[Reeferbadness]

soft corals are good BUT i'd stay away from GSP, Xenia, Kenya Tree - all 3 will eventually spread and you will regret it later. You can also try some inexpensive LPS - hammers, frog spawn, torches.... just a head or two and see how they do.