Impulse buys, need help setting up coral QT

Mike N · Sep 22, 2017

I purchased a couple LPS (indo zoa colony, spitfire zoas, cosmic ice acan echinata) corals from Austin aqua farms that were delivered today. I need to hurry up and get my QT setup ready, but I have some questions.

PLAN:
1) Fill 20 gallon aquarium aquarium with 10 gallons from cycled tank and the rest with new mixed saltwater.
2) Use sponge from cycled tank in ac20 filter.
3) Koralia nano powerhead for circulation
4) Use this light on tank: https://www.reefbreeders.com/shop/nano-light-touch/
5) Dip all corals in coral rx
6) Place all corals on bottom of QT tank

QUESTIONS:
1) Should the tank be barebottom?
2) What media to run in ac20 filter?
3) Do I need live rock or marinepure in the tank?

GHsaltie · Sep 22, 2017

I prefer mine barebottom in the event of pests they can be spotted easier. For your tank I think it would be good to have some live rock in there to help it cycle but after that it's up to you if you want to keep it in there or not. My setup is going to be an eggcrate bottom with some rock rubble. I also have that same filter (my favorite hob:D) and I like it just with what it comes with, although I've thought about chucking the ceramic bio pellets as they hoard a lot of junk.

Mike N · Sep 22, 2017

GHsaltie said:
I prefer mine barebottom in the event of pests they can be spotted easier. For your tank I think it would be good to have some live rock in there to help it cycle but after that it's up to you if you want to keep it in there or not. My setup is going to be an eggcrate bottom with some rock rubble. I also have that same filter (my favorite hob:D) and I like it just with what it comes with, although I've thought about chucking the ceramic bio pellets as they hoard a lot of junk.

Thanks! I have eggcrate on order, I may have to stick them on a rock until it arrives.
Is the lighting an issue? I have no way to turn intensity down..
Should I go for the typical 12/12 lighting schedule in the QT?

Mike N · Sep 22, 2017

QT setup, corals dipped and placed. Does everything look relatively healthy?

spscrackhead · Sep 25, 2017

Yes things look good with the exception of the zoas not being open.
I would keep it bare bottom, the rock is pretty much needed at this point. Long term, I don't like to run live rock. If a pest gets into the rock, it could work it's way onto another coral in your next round of qt.

Mike N · Sep 25, 2017

Thanks for the reply. The zoa colony has opened up since my last post. I've uploaded current pictures of the zoas below. Everything looks good so far :)

I had no way to adjust the intensity of the light, and I hope it's not too much for them. I can't find par numbers on the light I'm using anywhere.

spscrackhead · Sep 25, 2017

Things look good

Susan Edwards · Oct 2, 2017

I too just set one up. Wasn't planning on going to the fish store so soon but had to take dog to have her put down and there were two recommended fish stores I wanted to check out --1.5 hrs away. Ended up with 15 frags. Some good sales of 10 and 15 dollar frags. This is what I have. I have a hob with a media chamber, led lights and a power head. 3 levels of egg crate. I worry about the cycling and will be doing lots of water changes, using stability, using half water from my DT which is running fallow for another 2 weeks. Figure as the water is going into a fishless tank, at this point it should be okay. I used egg crate and rubble in a container for small pcs under, and larger pcs just shoved beneath.

Mike N · Oct 2, 2017

Looks good Susan. What light are you using?
I'm thinking about putting a layer of marine pure on the bottom of the tank to help out with biological filtration.

Susan Edwards · Oct 2, 2017

@Mike N Here is the light bulb from amazon.
KINGBO 18W LED Aquarium Light Bulb PAR38 E27 6-Band Full Spectrum for Coral Reef Fish Tank Plant…
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M0PF72P/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza

And the lamp holder I think is this one. https://www.amazon.com/WYZM-Adjusta...rd_wg=goCZB&psc=1&refRID=1XDRVRV4EEBPJYW06A76

I had to use a pc of plastic on the inside of the tank as I'm using a standard 10 gal and the lip made it impossible to clamp. Lucky my hubby has tons of scrap plastic from his milling jobs. Seems to be working. I hope it's enough light.

The only other thing I worry about is the oxygen exchange with just the hang on back. I have the powerhead down, not pointing to the surface. But the fish stores don't have a lot of water movement in their frag tanks so hoping it ok
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M0PF72P/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza

Mike N · Oct 2, 2017

Ah ok, thanks for sharing.
I wouldn't be too comfortable using that light. But, since I have no experience with it, I speak partially out of ignorance.
Please do let us know how it goes.
Also, I think you're ok with oxygen exchange with only the hob filter return since its a small tank. I have my powerheads horizontal pointing at eachother.

Susan Edwards · Oct 2, 2017

@Mike N any reason on the light? I might have to get another powerhead. I'll see how the one does.

Mike N · Oct 2, 2017

Susan Edwards said:
@Mike N any reason on the light? I might have to get another powerhead. I'll see how the one does.

I'm not trying to pick on your light selection, but a couple things stood out to me.
The negative reviews seemed to point to low quality (led burnouts in a couple months) and not being good for corals.
Its obviously a lower par light possibly capable of sustaining LPS, but the seller claims in one of the answered questions that it will support SPS... not likely.

Like I said, never using one of those style lights, nor seeing a par chart, im speaking from ignorance. Just seems like an extreme stretch that it would be able to support SPS.

Susan Edwards · Oct 2, 2017

Hmmm, mosts of the reviews seemed good that I saw. Only neg. was one who received it broken. But I didn't go read them all either. Guess I'll find out. It's on a 10 gal, so hope that's enough. Will be prepared to order another bulb to fit the holder.

Mike N · Oct 4, 2017

Susan Edwards said:
Hmmm, mosts of the reviews seemed good that I saw. Only neg. was one who received it broken. But I didn't go read them all either. Guess I'll find out. It's on a 10 gal, so hope that's enough. Will be prepared to order another bulb to fit the holder.

I ordered that bulb you linked from Amazon. I'm going to have a PAR meter in a couple days and I'll be taking some measurements using various lights, including this one.
I'll be sure to let you know the numbers.

Susan Edwards · Oct 5, 2017

@Mike N Will be very interested in your results! It's so hard to figure out what works or is good. I already have a pile of equipment to get rid of as I improve what I have, esp. hob filters. The ones that come with cheap tanks are useless, and even the one I did buy doesn't meet my needs. Finally found one I like that allows enough media room for rubble rock and carbon or purigen Just trial and error...

olivia · Oct 5, 2017

Mike N said:
I'm not trying to pick on your light selection, but a couple things stood out to me.
The negative reviews seemed to point to low quality (led burnouts in a couple of months) and not being good for corals.
Its obviously a lower par light possibly capable of sustaining LPS, but the seller claims in one of the answered questions that it will support SPS... not likely.

Like I said, never using one of those style lights, nor seeing a par chart, I'm speaking from ignorance. Just seems like an extreme stretch that it would be able to support SPS.

Thanks to OP for this thread, as I am searching to set up a quick OT too. Can you suggest any other lights suitable for softies and LPS in a quarantine tank?

Mike N · Oct 5, 2017

Susan Edwards said:
@Mike N Will be very interested in your results! It's so hard to figure out what works or is good. I already have a pile of equipment to get rid of as I improve what I have, esp. hob filters. The ones that come with cheap tanks are useless, and even the one I did buy doesn't meet my needs

I think we can all relate lol

olivia said:
Thanks to OP for this thread, as I am searching to set up a quick OT too. Can you suggest any other lights suitable for softies and LPS in a quarantine tank?

There are tons of options, what size tank are you trying to light?
A few suggestions:
Kessil a80 - $120
Aquaknight led - $80
Mars/galaxy black box - $100

Mike N · Oct 9, 2017

@Susan Edwards Finally got my hands on the PAR meter and did some preliminary testing on this bulb in air. (results below)
I'll be testing the Kessil A80 and the Aquaknight lights from the same height tonight and will post results here. Also will test in water at a couple different depths.