Need Water Flow And Lighting Advice For First Corals

[Marco S]

I picked up the following coral in the WWC Live Sale:

Gold Hammer
Purple Green Hammer
Incredible Hulk Leptoseris
Lavender Duncan
Orange and Green Ricordea
Ultra Orange Ricordea
Ultra Green Ricordea
Green Star Polyps
Neon Green Birdsnest
Kryptonite Candy Cane

I have a Innovative Marine 20 gallon AIO tank that I will be using to QT these coral and was wondering what powerhead and lighting would work for this setup? I am leaning towards the AI Prime for lighting but am open to suggestions if there are cheaper lights that will work better since this is just a QT. The flow is what I really need help with since I have no idea what powerhead, (or powerheads) I need for this size tank and these coral.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Note: I know the Birdsnest is an SPS, but I have heard that they are easy to care for and good for beginners. I am not sure about the Leptoseris, but am doing research now. If any of these corals are not good beginner coral then I will take them to my LFS for credit, (already asked them).

 

[robocop1906]

I use the VIPARSPECTRA on mine QT. It's adjustable but the only drawback is unless you have a Par meter your guessing. I think the Prime and other higher end lights give you an estimate par range that helpful. I have a par meeting so if you go with it I can share my hang hight and setting to give you a guestimate. I wouldn't' over think the power head, those things are pretty cheap and some are adjustable.

 

[Jon Fishman]

I would save myself the headache and dip and place

 

[Marco S]

I would save myself the headache and dip and place

Not sure what you mean by "Dip and place". I bought dip for the corals already and will be dipping them according to the acclimation instructions from WWC.

If you mean to just dip them and place them in my DT, then I appreciate the advise, but I am quarantining everything wet and have already been through several months of fish QT and Invert QT and am currently going through QT for my Cheato Algae, so I will have to go through QT for my coral as well. So far I have dealt with Marine Velvet twice, several fluke outbreaks and a handful of Ich outbreaks and I will do everything in my power to not have to deal with it in my DT.

 

[robocop1906]

Very smart because coral dips don't eliminate fish pest. Patieance upfront reduces the opportunity for pain later.

 

[lapin]

For the price a little Jebao like this will work fine for your Qt tank.
https://www.amazon.com/Jebao-Propel...bao+powerhead&qid=1558528304&s=gateway&sr=8-8

 

[Marco S]

For the price a little Jebao like this will work fine for your Qt tank.
https://www.amazon.com/Jebao-Propel...bao+powerhead&qid=1558528304&s=gateway&sr=8-8

So around that flow rate, (500 L/H- 2500 L/H) is what I should be getting for a 20 gallon tank for mostly softy and LPS coral?

 

[lapin]

A 20g is not that big. You have a filter pump with the AIO kit. Not enough for coral in my opinion so with something like this you can adjust the speed. You want some flow but not too much. I have 1 in my 20 gallon fuge. Its set on low and circulates the water enough for softies on low.

 

[Marco S]

A 20g is not that big. You have a filter pump with the AIO kit. Not enough for coral in my opinion so with something like this you can adjust the speed. You want some flow but not too much. I have 1 in my 20 gallon fuge. Its set on low and circulates the water enough for softies on low.

Perfect, that is what I was looking for. Thanks!