I Want Some More Corals!

[JJ56]

Hello, well, after buying a toadstool leather frag a couple of weeks back, it's really sparked some enthusiasm into keeping more corals.

I have a 36 x 12 x 15 tank, which has over 25x turnover, plenty of live rock etc, you know the score.

My lighting is a aqua one luminairre, 2 x 39w marine white t5, 1 x 39w marine actinic t5.

I'm guessing my lighting is okay for most softies; my toadstool frag is slowly but surely establishing itself, more polyps opening by the day etc. I also have some wild pulsing xenia in there, which grew from a tiny polyp on some LR. I'm sure I will get some more softies, eg Zoas and mushies; but on to my main question:

Are there any SPS or LPS which would be suitable under these lights? I must bare in mind that I have a bicolor angel in there, and would like to avoid any corals which it may find irresistable; but it's been fine so far! Any suggestions chaps? If the answer is a resounding NO, please let me know, as I would hate to home anything I can't fully provide for.

Thanks in advance!

Jonathan

 

[seffieuk]

Well for me it would have to be Euphyllia, I love em and your tank is just fine for them

Seffie x

 

[JJ56]

Thanks Seffie! Helpful as always Any other suitable SPS? I've been searching on the internet, and some people say they have success with certain Acropora, Montipora, Damicornis. Is this true? I'd love to home some new frags; but I'm having trouble relating vague lighting guidlines to my setup. EG, some sites reccomend 3wpg, I have over 4wpg, but I thought this rule is utter tosh?

I think I remember there being a book about corals that got raved on about on here; which I think I could benefit from reading? Anyone know the name?

*Must resist buying a new halide lit tank!*

 

[seffieuk]

http/www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/1...7831&sr=8-1


Seffie x

 

[ben1987]

The wpg isnt really a good guidline with corals.

If you kept it up high. You could maybe try a montipora of some sort. It might be ok! it goes on a lot more than just lighting though. If you do risk it, buy a small frag first and see how you do.

People keep montis in orca nano tanks and they dont have huge amounts of light

 

[JJ56]

Thanks very much for the advice!

Yeah, I 100% get what your saying. Before the additon of any sps/lps I need to buy the appropiate test kits, (calcium, magnesium, etc) As the test kit I have only covers ammonia / nitrites, nitrates, ph, phosphates and the like; as water quality seems to be more important with such corals. I already have a fair few red sea supplements (calcium etc), but I don't believe it is wise to dose them without testing.

For now, I'm going to stock up on softies and make sure my water chemistry is tip top. Then I'll try a small frag of montis (I'll try and find one which best suits my lighting) and place it high up, I'll be sure to report back; hopefully with good news!

(still trying to convince myself I don't need a new tank setup, with MH lights! How long can I hold out?)

Thanks!

 

[ben1987]

tbh most reefers take the same route.

simple softie set up getting crazier and crazier til you have full blown sps reef.

one thing to watch for is chemical warefare with a mixed reef. Some types of corals wont do well for an unexplained reason. this can be because other corals in the tank are realeasing stuff into the water which stunts the growth of others. Its all compettition for space.

 

[seffieuk]

one thing to watch for is chemical warefare with a mixed reef. Some types of corals wont do well for an unexplained reason. this can be because other corals in the tank are realeasing stuff into the water which stunts the growth of others. Its all compettition for space.

Ski wrote an interesting piece about this sort of warfare in the Sarco - Coral of the week, check it out

Seffie x