New to Corals

[Simon Fraser]

Hi everyone,

We're new to coral keeping and got 2 Zoes in the last month for our 13g nano. The Zoe to the right of my picture is doing very well it has bedded into the live rock and already a few new heads, in contrast the Zoe to the left has lost nearly all its (green) colour and a number of heads have even went grey or closed over.

Any advice or suggestions would be great and what food would you recommend for coral health and growth?

 

[Tahoe61]

The larger corals is a Palythoa, they tend to be more resilient with a tendency to become invasive, zoanthids can be more of a challenge. When a coral loses desired coloration I troubleshoot water quality (nitrates and phosphates), and lighting first. Lighting type please?

Check for pest on the frags, look under the plug as well if able.

 

[Simon Fraser]

Thanks Tahoe61

I will check for pests shortly, our light is a basic LED, with white & blue.
Salenity: 1.020,
Phosphate: 0ppm
Nitrates: 10ppm

Nitrates appear a bit high so will do a water change tomorrow.

 

[Tahoe61]

I would bring the SG up to at least 1.023, preferably 1.025 for most corals. That nitrate level would not concern me in the least.

 

[Simon Fraser]

Thanks

I will try to raise the salenity, with regards to coral food is there any need to offer additional food/nutrients than what the aquarium provides?

 

[Tahoe61]

I feed Reefroids but I can not say it really makes a noticeable difference only to add that some of my palys like SunnyD's grow more than I actually like.
Lighting is going to play a huge role in the perceived coloration of corals, if the coral was more colorful in the tank under the current lighting and changed to drab consider increasing the intensity of blues and decrease the intensity of while just a tad.