Coral

[Huly]

Ok as most of you know netpez and I have been slowly working on our new Reef Tank. The Red Sea Max has been up and running since the mid to end of July and our water test have been perfect for over a month now.

 

Original thread on our tank

 

http://www.wamas.org/forums/topic/51396-red-sea-max-a-beginners-step-into-a-whole-new-world/

 

We added 3 Green chromis on 8/19 (due to a reccomendation from LFS, a little early for the tank but the fish have done great)

 

We added cleaner crew (snails and hermit crabs around 8/26/12) (also I returned the White spotted hermit that we thought was a Halloween)

 

We added a fighting conch on 8/30/12 (to sift the sand bed)

 

Last we added 2 Ocellaris black & White Clownfish and 2 Ocellaris (orange) Clownfish on 9/1/12

 

So far everyone is doing great and the tank is still running awesome. We are starting to see a little Coralline Algae growing. So now to my question when should we add a pice of coral and what is a good hearty coral to start with? Should we add more fish first? Or where would you go from here. I know we need another good sand sifter. We really want a Blue Mandarin Goby but LFS said our tank needs to be stable for at least 6 months for him. Thoughts and Suggestions?

[epleeds]

You can't go wrong with some frogspawn, hammer or torch coral. Very easy and clowns like to host in them.

[smallreef]

Also, i wouldnt add another sand sifter... being that its a smaller tank you dont want all of the microfauna removed faster than it can replace itself...

mushrooms and soft corals are among the easiest... any of the frogspawn family is fairly easy too as Epleeds said... just depends on what you like

 

I agree with your LFS about waiting to add a mandarin unless you get an ORA one that eats frozen foods.

[NYfan78]

Will clowns host a hammer coral?

[Huly]

Would y'all think it is time to add one to our tank?

[Amuze]

Your tank is too new and too small to maintain a Mandarin goby for very long. It will deplete your pod population fairly quickly in that tank. Use a sand sifting starfish instead. If you are keeping any coral frags on the sandbed, avoid any sand sifting gobies too. They will bury your coral and you will constantly have to dig them out. Research can be your best friend when it comes to adding new fish to your system. Never go solely by what an LFS tells you. Unless it's Sean from FnF or Johnny at BRK, I would not take any advice from any store employee (nothing personal guys).

Edited September 12, 2012 by Amuze

[NYfan78]

WILLCLOWNS HOST A HAMMER CORAL??

[Amuze]

Clowns will host a magfloat.

[Huly]

Can you add food for the Goby? Like a supplement?

 

Yeah Sean at FnF has been awesome! He has helped us out a lot and I owe him big time. He was not the LFS that told us about the 6 months then Goby though.

 

Also should we wait longer for a coral or do you think now is time?

[Amuze]

Only if it is already eating prepared food and even then it still requires a lot of feeding. I would pass. Not a good selection for starting out.

 

If your water params are in check and you have proper lighting and flow for the coral you want to keep, go for it. I do not suggest you start adding any SPS yet, other than some montipora, maybe.

[Huly]

Only if it is already eating prepared food and even then it still requires a lot of feeding. I would pass. Not a good selection for starting out.

 

If your water params are in check and you have proper lighting and flow for the coral you want to keep, go for it. I do not suggest you start adding any SPS yet, other than some montipora, maybe.

 

 

Should we check calcium levels or any other level before adding anything and what would you suggest as a good starter coral?

[Origami]

Clowns will host a magfloat.

DaveLin315 had clowns in a school tank that were hosting a snowflake eel.

[Origami]

Christie, I've got some hammer coral (Euphyllia) for you and Chris - just a few heads that broke off recently, but they'll grow for you.

[Huly]

Christie, I've got some hammer coral (Euphyllia) for you and Chris - just a few heads that broke off recently, but they'll grow for you.

 

 

Awesome thank you so much! I told Chris I wanted something for the tank for my birthday so I am trying to get ideas of what to ask for

 

We are trying to put something in wait a week or two for the tank to restabalize then add something else. Is that the right thing to do?

[Origami]

Just FYI for others: Their tank is an RSM 250 (65 gallons), not the smaller 34 gallon model. Sugar-sized sand on the bottom.

 

Christie, regarding sand sifters: One option is a sea cucumber (Holothuria species). They're primarily detrivores, eating plankton, fine detritus, diatoms, algae and bacteria from the surface of the sand grains. It "poops" the cleaned, ingested sand back ou.

 

Here is a short article by Ret Talbot on cukes in the reef aquarium:

http://suite101.com/article/sea-cucumbers-for-the-marine-tank-a41427

 

And here's another article on various kinds from Advanced Aquarist:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2003/1/inverts

 

I've had one in my tank since the very beginning. One that looked like this (some people call it an Atlantic Donkey Dung cuke):

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=420+1805+1344&pcatid=1344

 

Ugly, yes, but it does a good job going around and keeping the sand from clumping.

 

The one that I have came from Tampa Bay Saltwater as part of a live rock purchase I made when I got into the hobby. It's fared well, but my experience adding another to the tank over the years has not been as good. Look at the Advanced Aquarist article and you'll see that getting a healthy one (i.e. one that hasn't expelled its guts during the capture/handling process) can be hit-or-miss.

 

In any case, this is one sand sifter that won't decimate the microfauna in your sandbed.

[Origami]

Awesome thank you so much! I told Chris I wanted something for the tank for my birthday so I am trying to get ideas of what to ask for

 

We are trying to put something in wait a week or two for the tank to restabalize then add something else. Is that the right thing to do?

It depends on how much waste they're expected to produce. Most things we think of as "clean up" crew members are nutrient neutral or negative, meaning you can add them without concern for adding bioload.

 

I think that your tank is now large and stable enough you could add several small or one or two medium sized fish now without problem.

[Huly]

It depends on how much waste they're expected to produce. Most things we think of as "clean up" crew members are nutrient neutral or negative, meaning you can add them without concern for adding bioload.

 

I think that your tank is now large and stable enough you could add several small or one or two medium sized fish now without problem.

 

Thank you! We have added some small fish or should we say color () to our tank. I was wondering if it is ready for coral

[Huly]

Ok I was looking through more fish trying to decide what to ask for and I came across these:

 

I originally wanted a Flame Angel (I love the coloring as I am a huge Clemson fan) but I have heard they can be a pain with reefs and other fish. But the Catalina Goby is beautiful and fittting. Thoughts on:

 

Catalina Goby

 

I also saw these two guys which are really cool looking, seem to be peaceful and reef safe:

 

Jawfish- Blue Dot

Jawfish- Yellowhead

 

And I also like this guy with his odd looks and REDSKIN coloring:

 

Wartskin Angler Yellow/Maroon

[Origami]

Never had much of a problem myself with Centropyge angels. I've had a Coral Beauty for years and it gets along fine with corals, clams and the other fish in my tank. I think it's hit or miss for some people, but I've had a good luck with the Dwarf Angels in my tanks.

Coral Beauty: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+16+438&pcatid=438

 

Catalina goby: Cool water fish. Won't last long in a warmer reef tank.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+31+155&pcatid=155

 

Jawfish: Burrowers. Really interesting, though. I believe that John may have one in a tank over at BRK if you want to see how they live.

http://aquarium-fish.liveaquaria.com/search?w=jawfish

 

Angler: Predator. Will eat other fish ans shrimp if it's able. Also, not for a beginner according to Liveaquaria.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+19+76&pcatid=76

[zygote2k]

Clowns will host a magfloat.

clowns will host any of the following:

algae

sides of the tank

return nozzles

plants

corals

outsides of clams

insides of clams

anemones

fake decorations

algae magnets

[smallreef]

Rob you forgot YOUR HAND....

 

My male maroon used to try to host my hand when I would clean the inside of my 150g.. THE WHOLE TIME!

 

until I moved my female in the tank... then she just bit me... alot, lol drawing blood and even through latex cleaning gloves, lol

[Huly]

Thank you for your input. I try to read what they say online (stats) then ask people's oppinons as it seems everyone who has had something in their tank has a different outlook on that fish or coral.

 

Next question- what is a good salinity reader? What brand have y'all had the most luck with? We need to order one (not paying $80 at LFS for reefractometer when I see them online cheaper) Is their a certain kind that is better than another?

[smallreef]

If youthe are going to venture into corals, get a refract....you can get one for $40the at. The Drs website nest time you order dry goods...the swing arms just arent good enough when you venture out of fish only...IMO

[Huly]

Thank you!