About to order my first corals online. What now?

[RussC]

I'm preparing to order my first corals online. I've read a ton of information on what to do when they arrive. Wow, theres a lot and quite frankly, it sounds a little overwhelming. There was an excellent thread on here from Sk8tr on what he'd recommend. But frankly, I"m not set up for that kind of acclimation using a quarantine tank. So now what? I guess I'm a little gun shy and would like to hear what others do.

I've never dipped corals. Should I do that for all new arrivals? I don't have any kind of quarantine tank. That would be so nice. Wish I did. So that has me wondering about the dipping method to eliminate any potential pests. Is there any downside to dipping corals?

Sk8tr made some excellent points about the sudden inrush of toxins once you open a bag to new air after its been in transit for two days. Ammonia buildup becomes toxic at that point, etc. Makes sense. Is there any way to avoid that without a q tank? He recommended no more time in the shipping bag than 30 minutes once you open it. I've been drip acclimating everything I get from the LFS for about 45 minutes. I could still do that, just faster with a shipped coral. What do you do?

I have my eye on two corals for my first shipment. One is the Indonesian Toadstool coral. Its supposed to be pretty hardy. The other is the flower pot coral. Anyone had any experience with those? I think I'm going use liveaquaria.com. How 'bout working with them? They come highly recommended.

 

[monkeysee1]

You can get 10-20 gallon quarantine tank setups (complete with pump, light, heater, filter, etc) for short change at any pet shop. Very easy to set up and get going. Remember to spike it with some quick start bacteria.
If you can't set up a QT, at the VERY least get some coral dip and treat your corals before putting them in your tank. Rinse the corals THOROUGHLY with freshly made saltwater after dipping then put them in your tank.
NEVER put any of the water the corals were shipped in into your tank.

 

[Mark Bianco]

Been keeping corals for many years and to this day I have never dipped or quarantined a coral. There are horror stories out there thats true But most of them deal with SPS corals. My method and I am sure most would disagree is I float them in the bags still sealed they ship in for about 30 minutes then pull them out of the bag and put them in the tank where I want them.

Toadstools are great beginner corals the flowerpot are a little more finicky Look at maybe some mushrooms, candycane, hammer, or a nice polyp rock.

Just my opinions...

PS I do like Live Aquaia

 

[JustinM]

The flowerpot coral, goniopora, is for advanced keepers. It actually is not hard to keep, but depending on the variety, they need fed and require some extra trace elements.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0RmmYKvGJB8

There is a song about goniopora care from a band called sofalove. Justin Credibel was a pioneer on goniopora care some years back.

 

[sde1500]

Been keeping corals for many years and to this day I have never dipped or quarantined a coral. There are horror stories out there thats true But most of them deal with SPS corals. My method and I am sure most would disagree is I float them in the bags still sealed they ship in for about 30 minutes then pull them out of the bag and put them in the tank where I want them.

Toadstools are great beginner corals the flowerpot are a little more finicky Look at maybe some mushrooms, candycane, hammer, or a nice polyp rock.

Just my opinions...

PS I do like Live Aquaia

This is my method as well. Hasn't failed me yet.