CORALS!?

[Guest Fishfriend1]

I have a 30 gal tank, with 1 clownfish, 3 green chromis, 1 cardinal fish, 1 firefish, and a cleanup crew. It has been running since Jan 1. The water parimiters are where they need to be and i am wondering if i can get any easy to care for corals that need little matanence more then water changes. If u can put pics and/or links up that would really help. PLZ HELP ME.

[Coral Hind]

Where are you located? Are you looking for stocking suggestions or handouts?

[Guest Fishfriend1]

Suggestions.

[Coral Hind]

What type of lights do you have on the tank?

[Guest Fishfriend1]

Well currently i have the generic light that came with the tank. I plan on getting a better light, so that wont be a problem.

[Brian Ward]

Well currently i have the generic light that came with the tank. I plan on getting a better light, so that wont be a problem.

 

You'll need to be a little more specific as to "what came with the tank" and a "better light." There are huge differences between various types of light. There is the little strip light that most people use on freshwater tanks. These are not sufficient to keep any corals. The next step up is a compact fluorescent. You can keep softies and some LPS under these, but we'll need details on how many bulbs and what wattage you're running. Next step up from there is VHO/T12 bulbs. These are more versatile and you can keep most anything except some SPS and some clams. Again, we'll need to know how many you're running. Next step from there is T5. Very similar to VHO/T12 but they are smaller so you can fit more of them over the tank. The brightest light that will let you keep virtually everything is a metal halide (MH) light. Once again, we'll need to know the wattage and how many bulbs you're running in order to provide proper recommendations.

 

Generally, you're pretty far along with stocking for a tank that's only 6 weeks old. I'm guessing you're very new to the hobby? If so, I would definitely let things settle for 2-3 months before you try to do too much more with the tank. You can probably add a mushroom or two but I wouldn't put much of anything else in there at this point.

[lanman]

Bridgeport, PA? That's a long drive for a piece of leather coral or somethng.

 

What he said - it's all in the lights and flow. Let us know when you get your new lights, and we can make suggestions - and probably even give you some frags.

 

bob

[Guest Fishfriend1]

Thanks for the help. I have some kind of polyp, just found it today lol. Its small, reddish, and small.

Can u help me id it, its to small to take a pic of though...

Edited February 16, 2010 by Fishfriend1

[Coral Hind]

"Small, reddish, small" could be alot of things. If you want any help IDing it you need to provide more info or pics.

[Guest Fishfriend1]

I had it id at a diff forum, its an aiptasia anemone.

[Coral Hind]

Were you able to take a picture of it?

[Guest Fishfriend1]

No but i google the name and it came up with the same as was in my tank.

This is the link, i hope it works.

http://www.pirx.com/gallery/albums/cnidarians/aiptasia01.jpg

[hbh]

HI! Welcome to the club! I would wait and plan things out. So many of us do go out and spend big $ only to find that it doesn't work or due to the way the tank is, the coral doesn't grow. Give your tank a little more time and think about what you'd want. Then come on down and see some tanks and buy a few corals and see how they do. You won't regret it.

[Guest Fishfriend1]

Thanks for all h opinions i think i will wait for a little after i get a reef rated light.

[gmubeach]

oh and in the mean time kill that asteptia they are coral killers and will take over your tank in no time... You may want to look at some pictures of corals to see what types you want to grow? I started with insuffience lighting and had to upgrade later at a huge expense when I could have started out with better lighting in the first place.... oh and remeber that some of the brighter lights get very hot..

[TonyInVa]

You may also want to become a member. This will give you access to the buy and trade forums. That way when you are ready to upgrade, you will be able to view these threads. It is likely you will find what you need there, and save tons of money.