Small Tank Help

[aarone9]

Hello everyone,

I have a small tank with one large rock. My goal is to have the rock just about completely covered by three different corals. What would you recommend for me? Thank you!

 

[Euphyllia97]

A plating montipora, some mushroom corals, a toadstool leather coral and maybe a nice eyecatching SPS on top of the rock

 

[aarone9]

Love the idea of a toadstool. What about Kenya Tree Coral? Have heard mix reviews

 

[Euphyllia97]

Love the idea of a toadstool. What about Kenya Tree Coral? Have heard mix reviews

I have kept them before and they are less impressive than a nice fat toadstool imo . Kenia trees do spread in your tank and it is definitely an option if you are looking for some nice movement. ( I believe you can also find them in green which can be stunning under blue lights)

 

[Tahoe61]

Lighting type please?

 

[aarone9]

I am still cycling so I have not mounted it. I purchased the Hygger 30 Watts Aquarium LEED Reed Light

 

[aarone9]

I have kept them before and they are less impressive than a nice fat toadstool imo . Kenia trees do spread in your tank and it is definitely an option if you are looking for some nice movement. ( I believe you can also find them in green which can be stunning under blue lights)

Thank you!

 

[stE25wy14]

that light probably wont suffice, look into noopsyche k3mini

 

[aarone9]

that light probably wont suffice, look into noopsyche k3mini

You don’t think so? Reviews looked good and figured for a small tank it would be sufficient.

 

[Quietman]

To be honest if I was starting a small tank and wanted interesting corals that grew quickly I would go with pulsing xenia, mushroom or ricordia and a kenya tree or toadstool. The xenia will eventually take over, but who cares in a small tank and it's a very interesting coral that doesn't need a lot of flow to look good. And at some point you can always take out the rock and replace with new to start LPS/SPS.

Also recommended - Duncan's (LPS), Green star polyp (another take over coral but very pretty), and birdsnest and pavona for easy SPS if you'd rather go that route.

And yes, upgrade the light a tad to prevent too much shadowing. Maybe just two or three of what you picked. The noopsyche is a good recommendation.

 

[ColorMeGone]

7 gallons of water. I got lots of to many coral types. lol

 

[aarone9]

7 gallons of water. I got lots of to many coral types. lol

Video is not playing….

 

[aarone9]

To be honest if I was starting a small tank and wanted interesting corals that grew quickly I would go with pulsing xenia, mushroom or ricordia and a kenya tree or toadstool. The xenia will eventually take over, but who cares in a small tank and it's a very interesting coral that doesn't need a lot of flow to look good. And at some point you can always take out the rock and replace with new to start LPS/SPS.

Also recommended - Duncan's (LPS), Green star polyp (another take over coral but very pretty), and birdsnest and pavona for easy SPS if you'd rather go that route.

And yes, upgrade the light a tad to prevent too much shadowing. Maybe just two or three of what you picked. The noopsyche is a good recommendation.

Okay thank you! Sounds like another great plan.

 

[Tahoe61]

If you can return the light you should. I like hygger products but there are much better lighting options for that size of tank. How many gallons? If the tank qualifies as a Pico I would look at ReefBreeders Pico light or even a KessilA80.

 

[aarone9]

If you can return the light you should. I like hygger products but there are much better lighting options for that size of tank. How many gallons? If the tank qualifies as a Pico I would look at ReefBreeders Pico light or even a KessilA80.

Yeah it is unopened from amazon so I can return it. Completely filled it’s a little more than 6.5 gallons. Will definitely look into better lighting options.

 

[Tahoe61]

Yeah it is unopened from amazon so I can return it. Completely filled it’s a little more than 6.5 gallons. Will definitely look into better lighting options.

I have a 6 gallon Pico with a Popbloom IR 90, that's over kill but a Popbloom IR 60 would work fine on that size of tank.

Good Luck.

 

[X-37B]

Don't rule out that light. I think it's fine for what you want.
Check out this before sending it back.
Thread 'Hygger 30W Reef LED PAR measurements' https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/hygger-30w-reef-led-par-measurements.1067524/

 

[Hairyteeth]

Maybe an anacrapora on the top or stylophora, duncan…something branching
Tirbinaria, Chalice, plating Montipora but something plating
Stylophinia, blastos or lephastrea on the bottom

 

[stE25wy14]

You don’t think so? Reviews looked good and figured for a small tank it would be sufficient.

no
way too small, how big or small of a tank is this?

 

[aarone9]

no
way too small, how big or small of a tank is this?

7 gallons