Getting a live rock with some beginner softies

[m0nkie]

Hello guys. My 100 gallon tank has been cycled for 2-3 months now. I haven't added any fish yet. I have ~50 snails (most are tiny dwarf ones), 2 cleaner shrimps and 4 sexy shrimps. I feed them twice a week. Chaeto doing great in the sump.

I'm going to pick up a live rock with some beginner corals. Got a good deal so I want to try it out. It has xenia, green mushroom, clove polyps, and some sunny D.

Can someone tell me how to care for these? I have Kessil 360WE LEDs. I manually turn it on at 7am and turn off at 8pm. I try to give it an hour of low intensity ~15% in the morning before work, then turn it to ~70%. Don't have a controller yet, but going to set a timer.

2 WP40 on lowest setting. Flow is strong inside

- Where should I place this rock? I'm leaning toward putting it on the sand. In case they grow well, it wouldn't get all over other rocks.
- Do I need to keep it at low lighting for a few days to adjust?
- Do I need to "dip" this rock?
- Do they need acclimation or can I just float it for 15min and toss in?

Thanks

 

[m0nkie]

forgot to mention:
Ammonia, Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: ~25 - 40.. on some occasions spike to 50. I do a WC when I see 50.
Phosphate: ~0.02, fluctuates, GFO reactor running
Alk: 8.2
Salt: Reef Crystal
Temp: 80
Salinity: 1.025. Been slowly raising it to get to 1.026

 

[Tzwizzle]

1) xenia, clove polyps, and mushrooms (given enough time) will take over your tank. You may want to isolate as you mentioned. In fact I would be tempted to break up that rock. Xenia will overrun the other corals quickly. Then you will have a rock with just xenia on it. As far as placement, xenia and cloves can usually grow under most conditions. Mushrooms prefer lower flow and zoas like middle flow and moderate light.

2) Yes you should acclimate your corals. I think your sunny d zoas will be the most sensitive to new lighting.

3) I would dip your rock because of the zoas. A lot of nasty critters can ride in on these guys.

4) for corals I usually just temp acclimate and then drop them in on the bottom. light acclimate slowly for a week or 2.

 

[m0nkie]

thanks! I'm actually considering breaking the rock apart. I really like the green mushroom and sunny D. Picture is on the left. I was hoping it can come off to a bigger rock.

How do I go about breaking the rock? use a saw to saw it off with some tank water in a bucket? Or is it ok to take the whole thing out and saw it off directly on a table?

thank you

 

[northernreefe]

you can cut in on a table. if you are not worried about the exact shape grab a hammer and a stone chisel, the stuff breaks easily.

 

[Tzwizzle]

For a rock that size I would go with the hammer method myself. Wear some safety glasses. Corals can be out of the water for some time just try not to smash them and you should be fine.