Corals

[johnsonj]

Man it is hard getting corals to start in a new tank.

 

[ghellin]

Are you needing corals, or are you having trouble keeping them alive. I have several corals I need to sell I can make you a good deal if you are interested. If you are needing help with your tank please post the problems you are experiencing so we can help you out!

 

[chaderic26]

How old is your new tank?

Chad

 

[johnsonj]

My tank isn't very old less than 6 months and they are not dying but not opening up.

 

[johnsonj]

I have 3 corals in there. I don't know the names I got the frags from Madkat. 1 is a green grass thing and the other two I forgot the names.

 

[Lytehouse]

what parameters do you measure?

Do you know your tanks:

salinity
temp
alk
calc
magnesium

 

[johnsonj]

well I haven't got my water tested this week yet? But last weekend it was: nitrates 60, pH 7.9, kH 12 and calcium 380. I did a 10% water change and buffed it.

 

[johnsonj]

My green grass thing is half open but it doesn't look like the one I got it from.

 

[chaderic26]

Its probaby not a good idea to buffer the new salt water unless u know where your starting point is.

Investing in some quality test kits makes this hobby a lot easier.

Chad

 

[johnsonj]

I just did what wet pets said.

 

[madkat]

James,
to get your nitrates down, you need to do about 20% water change. The grass is just simple star polyps, then you have green zoanthids and Armor of God Zoanthid. Get the nitrates down and they will all open up.

 

[johnsonj]

Ok I will do it Thursday.

 

[chaderic26]

Lots of people have different methods of how to keep a reef. I would pick up some books from the comas library and do some reading.

Also when I started the hobby wetwebmedia.com was a very good resource as well as reading in the beginner forum here on RC.

Chad

 

[ghellin]

Lots of people have different methods of how to keep a reef. I would pick up some books from the comas library and do some reading.

Also when I started the hobby wetwebmedia.com was a very good resource as well as reading in the beginner forum here on RC.

Chad

+1.

We all have our own little things that work with our setups, but a good understanding of water chemistry and its effects on your livestock is second to none.

 

[cjilge]

Yep, I shoot for the below parameters, but the above advise is all great. Read up on water chemistry and do water changes to get you level and go from there.

alk 7-9
cal 450
mag 1300-1350
ph 8.3
salinity 1.025
nitrates 0

I run closer to
alk 9
cal 400
mag 1200
ph 8.3
salinity 1.025
nitrates 10-15

 

[lauremf2002]

Magnesium, calcium, Alkalinity and ph are inherently tied together. Buffering your tank water is only a temporary fix untill you get your alkalinity, magnesium and calcium all in order. I would start with magnesium. If you dont have the proper magnesium levels you will never be able to get anything else where you want it. Alkalinity as high as yours is probabably bothering your coral and I would try and keep the nitrates below 20 because, as was stated above that will definately affect your corals. Personally I would try and do a 50% water change to get them down and then keep up with a 10% every week or 20% every 2 weeks. You might think about adding some macro algae to your sump with a light (or tank if you dont have a sump) to help keep those nitrates down. Chaeto works well