Coral and Anemone that compete for same nutrients

[thelawnwrangler]

I am a newbie and through my research and reading I know that my tank coming off cycle is not going to be ready for Anemone for sometime (6 months to a year) my too high level understanding of why is a mature tank is less susceptible to parameter fluctuations. Any resources other than this site you suggest reading to get me ready when the time comes?

I would like to do some of the easy soft coral now (mushrooms, polyps, things my fish store say I am least likely to kill). In one of my books though it said coral could be competing for the same nutrients an anemone. If I know I want an anemone someday are there corals I should avoid in the mean time?

 

[A1t2o]

All corals compete for the same nutrients, but that's really only an issue if you have a lot of corals on a low nutrient system. You will want to get test kits for Alkalinity, Calcium, and Magnesium. That way you can check to see if any of your values are way off. Then you would want to have the chemicals to dose and correct those values you tested. This applies mainly for stony corals, but I would still check alkalinity if you have corals at all.

Anemones are difficult to keep, and one of the reasons they say to wait 6 months to a year is to let you get used to the system. Also with a new system you are not going to have very stable parameters, and they will fluctuate as you get used to it and bacteria colonies will need to mature.

What lights do you have on the system? You want to make sure that you have bright enough lights to sustain an anemone. Those lights would be bright enough to have SPS then too.

Just do the research and put the time into it before making any big decisions with your tank.

 

[thelawnwrangler]

All corals compete for the same nutrients, but that's really only an issue if you have a lot of corals on a low nutrient system. You will want to get test kits for Alkalinity, Calcium, and Magnesium. That way you can check to see if any of your values are way off. Then you would want to have the chemicals to dose and correct those values you tested. This applies mainly for stony corals, but I would still check alkalinity if you have corals at all.

Anemones are difficult to keep, and one of the reasons they say to wait 6 months to a year is to let you get used to the system. Also with a new system you are not going to have very stable parameters, and they will fluctuate as you get used to it and bacteria colonies will need to mature.

What lights do you have on the system? You want to make sure that you have bright enough lights to sustain an anemone. Those lights would be bright enough to have SPS then too.

Just do the research and put the time into it before making any big decisions with your tank.

Thanks for the reply- I got a fluval M90 that comes with a Fluval LED strip. It looks bright but I will need to research. I am still very lost in evaluating lighting. I don't know what is needed, but the light ranges/spectrum of light produced seem to make sense. Seems like I could research and determine if I have it covered. When you start talking PARS you got me. I think that would probably be the Fluval concern does it penetrate the water enough?

it is designed as a reef tank, but it is also designed to contain cost and be an entry point into the hobby.

So basically it is 50% your understanding and ability to maintain your tank that matures, and it is 50% biological make up of your tank matures and stays more constant in regards to 6 months to a year.

 

[A1t2o]

Probably more 80-20 understanding and getting in the habit of doing things right to biological maturity. You really want to make sure you are ready for the responsibility, and the only way to tell is to keep maintaining it after that new tank high goes away. If you continue to do your water changes on time and check your parameters, then you should be good to go, but you do need to do the research to have an understanding of why things happen. I have been in the hobby for 5 years and am still learning new things all the time.

The Fluval lights are probably not going to be enough. I'm not sure which ones you are referring to or what size tank you have, but when it comes to LED, you should have around 75W minimum for a 30 gallon tank and more for larger. It is hard to put a number on any of these, but the LED's in the Fluval do not look very high end. Check out RapidLED.com or BuildMyLED.com. I am going with 2 Aurora pucks from RapidLED and 2 bulb T5 over my 75 gallon upgrade, and I have mostly LPS corals with some SPS placed higher up (ideal conditions for an anemone). Let me know what size tank you have and I will have a better idea of what you need.

 

[thelawnwrangler]

Probably more 80-20 understanding and getting in the habit of doing things right to biological maturity. You really want to make sure you are ready for the responsibility, and the only way to tell is to keep maintaining it after that new tank high goes away. If you continue to do your water changes on time and check your parameters, then you should be good to go, but you do need to do the research to have an understanding of why things happen. I have been in the hobby for 5 years and am still learning new things all the time.

The Fluval lights are probably not going to be enough. I'm not sure which ones you are referring to or what size tank you have, but when it comes to LED, you should have around 75W minimum for a 30 gallon tank and more for larger. It is hard to put a number on any of these, but the LED's in the Fluval do not look very high end. Check out RapidLED.com or BuildMyLED.com. I am going with 2 Aurora pucks from RapidLED and 2 bulb T5 over my 75 gallon upgrade, and I have mostly LPS corals with some SPS placed higher up (ideal conditions for an anemone). Let me know what size tank you have and I will have a better idea of what you need.

36 Gallon Fluval M90. I will need to look up my lights to see what they are.

http://fluvalaquatics.com/ca/produc...rum-performance-led-strip-light/#.VnLP69IrLIU

looks like 35w- That is good that will give me sometime save up for right lights.

 

[A1t2o]

For a 36 inch tank you are going to want a minimum of a 4 bulb T5. For LEDs, you will want somewhere around 100W of high end LEDs. If you have a canopy, then I would say one cluster style LED and 2 T5 bulb in a retro kit, 1 bulb on either side of the LEDs. What you have now will work for softies. You can tell how much light it is by the extension of your softies. If they are reaching, then your light is low. If they get big but stay close to the rock, then they are getting the right amount of light. If the are shriveled against the rock, then they are stressed by something (light, water conditions, pests).

 

[thelawnwrangler]

For a 36 inch tank you are going to want a minimum of a 4 bulb T5. For LEDs, you will want somewhere around 100W of high end LEDs. If you have a canopy, then I would say one cluster style LED and 2 T5 bulb in a retro kit, 1 bulb on either side of the LEDs. What you have now will work for softies. You can tell how much light it is by the extension of your softies. If they are reaching, then your light is low. If they get big but stay close to the rock, then they are getting the right amount of light. If the are shriveled against the rock, then they are stressed by something (light, water conditions, pests).

Thanks- that is a definitely down the road move, but something I will save so I know what to do when ready. Sounds like getting clowns to host is hit a miss. Assuming I start with clowns now, and down the road may do Anemone are they less likely to host in Anemone(will research right one) if it is introduce 6-12 months into their life in the tank?

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Great discussion.

As far as getting clowns to host, you need to figure out either what anemone you want to keep then find the clowns that use them as a natural host (in the wild) or do it the other way. If you're wanting (Nemo) occelaris or Percula clowns you are pot luck they will be hosted by anything other than a carpet anemone. Sure it happens but not likely. If you want to go the Occ or Perc route and say a bubble tip anemone then find them in a LFS that has a pair of the clowns being hosted by a bta, then buy the lot so you are assured of getting what you want.

Good luck its a fun hobby and a fun ride as long as everything is going well. Also don't be afraid to ask questions, there is no such thing as a stupid question.

And let me welcome you to Reef Central! :thumbsup: