2nd time trying a reef tank help

[cody125g]

So I've been in the hobby just over a year now and when I first started my aquarium I went crazy buying corals I knew nothing about and let's say that after a few months my tank became a fish only. Ago am ready to try again with mainly lps and softies. Water parameters are good. And constant. It's a 56 gallon with 75 gallon sump/fuge...lighting is a reef breeders photon 24 led...around 120 pounds of live rock. And I'm running phos guard and bio pellets in separate reactors. And skimmer I have a reef octopus nwb 150. Can anyone give me any pointers to having a better chance of keeping corals

 

[Raceimage]

Research the corals that you are interested in prior to purchasing concentrating on light, flow requirements and required food. I've had corals that were "dormant" for months, moved them 6 inches closer or further to the flow, then they took off growing. Joining a local reef club helps alot also. The Pgh club has frag workshops annually, members trade frags among themselves, and the speakers we get at the monthly meetings are very informative. Good Luck

 

[cody125g]

Any information on dosing I should be doing and how. I know all corals need different things but just in general. I dose iodine, calcium, magnesium,and strontium whenever they are getting close to the low point on my ranges. I love brains, hammers torch and frogspawn, candy canes and duncans. Those are going to be the main corals I have in my tank. So what supplements should I be watching for??

 

[Reef Frog]

Some of the corals you mention like lower or moderate light. I don't know anything about your LED unit, but be sure not to fry your corals. It's easy to do with many LPS. I'd start them on or near the bottom of the tank, see how they react and move them up gradually to their final position.

Are you dipping them before introduction? Maybe that was a factor on your first attempt.

What test kits are you using? You say you dose iodine & strontium. Why? Do you test for them? They can be harmful if allowed to bud up to high levels. Good quality reef grade salt will almost always give you what you need regarding these two elements. If you have no corals in your tank now, you definitely do not need to ad these elements.

You did not mention testing for or dosing alk. This will be very important if you want to keep any stony coral successfully. Read up on the relationship between calcium, alkalinity & magnesium. Invest in top quality kits.

Many of the corals you mention really benefit from targeted feedings. Best of luck.