Short answer, there's no limit, and if they grow in a 10, you can keep them in a 10---I'd go for softies at that size, because they're easier to keep with just water changes.
There IS no limit to the number of corals you can keep. They set their own by killing off neighbors of the wrong kind that crowd too close---as a rule, allow 6" clearance on all sides for a stony coral: they'll need it for growth, and you'll find out whether they develop tentacles at night.
Do they grow? Oh, yes. Fast. 3 heads of hammer can take a 55 gallon.
Some are not so fast; fox doesn't grow that fast. Neither does brain, but they have a 6" reach.
Do they have pests like ich? They can't get ich, but they can sure have other pests. Practice safe reefing and always DIP your new corals: just takes a tiny container and the right stuff. The lfs will happily sell it to you. Read the instructions.
You need a very few things to grow coral: fasten it down tight: they don't like to wobble at all and they won't grow well or at all if they're bumping about in the current. Solid as rock is your goal. I-C-Gel is your friend. So is Reef Putty. Second, you need an ATO. If your salinity is wandering up and down the scale, not so good. Also, don't start by mixing corals. Get one nice little stony or softie coral about 3 heads, to start. If stony, just give it strong (10000k to 12000k) lighting; if softie more moderate lighting is ok. Bring your parameters to what I have in my sig (plus nitrate under 10 if you can and NO phosphate and NO ammonia) and keep it that way. Softies and hardier lps can tolerate a bit more nitrate...and help you clean the water.
For stony coral, starting with water that tests as mine does, add 2 tsp a gallon of topoff water of Mrs Wages Pickling Lime to your topoff reservoir or to the water you're adding. That will keep those readings steady as a rock with very little work.
Corals eat light and calcium. They also eat particulate floating in the water. Mine (stony) thrive on a small dose of powdered (I used a cuisinart) dried krill (Tetra brand) dumped in. The fish like it too.
If your corals are dividing and multiplying you're doing it right. DON"T let an encrusting coral like xenia, green star polyp, or encrusting leather or mushrooms get onto your structural rock! They multiply when scraped...
There IS no limit to the number of corals you can keep. They set their own by killing off neighbors of the wrong kind that crowd too close---as a rule, allow 6" clearance on all sides for a stony coral: they'll need it for growth, and you'll find out whether they develop tentacles at night.
Do they grow? Oh, yes. Fast. 3 heads of hammer can take a 55 gallon.
Some are not so fast; fox doesn't grow that fast. Neither does brain, but they have a 6" reach.
Do they have pests like ich? They can't get ich, but they can sure have other pests. Practice safe reefing and always DIP your new corals: just takes a tiny container and the right stuff. The lfs will happily sell it to you. Read the instructions.
You need a very few things to grow coral: fasten it down tight: they don't like to wobble at all and they won't grow well or at all if they're bumping about in the current. Solid as rock is your goal. I-C-Gel is your friend. So is Reef Putty. Second, you need an ATO. If your salinity is wandering up and down the scale, not so good. Also, don't start by mixing corals. Get one nice little stony or softie coral about 3 heads, to start. If stony, just give it strong (10000k to 12000k) lighting; if softie more moderate lighting is ok. Bring your parameters to what I have in my sig (plus nitrate under 10 if you can and NO phosphate and NO ammonia) and keep it that way. Softies and hardier lps can tolerate a bit more nitrate...and help you clean the water.
For stony coral, starting with water that tests as mine does, add 2 tsp a gallon of topoff water of Mrs Wages Pickling Lime to your topoff reservoir or to the water you're adding. That will keep those readings steady as a rock with very little work.
Corals eat light and calcium. They also eat particulate floating in the water. Mine (stony) thrive on a small dose of powdered (I used a cuisinart) dried krill (Tetra brand) dumped in. The fish like it too.
If your corals are dividing and multiplying you're doing it right. DON"T let an encrusting coral like xenia, green star polyp, or encrusting leather or mushrooms get onto your structural rock! They multiply when scraped...
