Hey all, I just set up a 10 gal nano with 10 lbs of live rock. It's been 3 weeks and it's almost time to add corals. I am new to reef tanks so i kinda want stuff thats hard to kill as i dont want to kill anything. I really like long tenticle plates and have a nice sandy spot in the bottom middle of the tank for one. Local pet shop is helping me with the water quality etc. I'm running 40w current smartpac 10,000k 460nm w/lunar light.. ...cascade 100 hang on power filter....current fission nano protein skimmer. Should I or shouldn't I????
plate coral ok in new nano tank?????
- Thread starter seaduck
- Start date
keckles
New member
Long tentacle plates, Heliofungia spp., have poor survival records in aquariums. I would suggest not purchasing one as your first coral.
You should look for something like:
Green Star Polyps
Mushrooms
Zoanthids
Any type of soft coral would be an excellent first addition because of their limited requirements.
You should look for something like:
Green Star Polyps
Mushrooms
Zoanthids
Any type of soft coral would be an excellent first addition because of their limited requirements.
fishgirlheather
In Memoriam
You may be able to keep a plate in your tank, but I would wait a few more months before even trying. I agree that you should try some softies first, then if you are successful move on to LPS. The ones mentioned above are very hardy and colorful. Even if you start out with softies, be sure your tank is done cycling first. Could you post your specific gravity, temp, calcium, alkalinity, nitrates, and Ph. It is very important that these levels are correct before adding any corals. Good luck with your new tank.
Ok, Local pet shop is testing water chemistry for me and everything looks good except nitrite is still light blue and should be clear so he told me to wait another week for nitrites to come down then they'll check nitrates and if good i'll do a water change. They say ph and alk. levels r good. Salt was a little high so I added distilled water. I'm using a hydrometer/thermometer combo so it's not as accurate as a meter so i'll hafta buy a tank w/arm meter i guess. Thanks for advice on which type of corals to start with as I dont like killing living things. I expect my corals to live and prosper and grow and spread etc....It always seems that the most beautiful things are the most delicate. Pet store guys say that some types of corals just dont live in captivity for very long. My favorites, plates and frogspawns are among them.
SVXH6
New member
frogspawns dont live long in captivity?? thats totally untrue.. i know a few people who have had the same frogspawn in there tank for 6+ years, it has over 75 heads and thats with tons of fragging..i have had mine for well over a year and a half and have fragged it twice.. like it was said heliofungia dont do very well in captivity, but the short tentacle plates do just fine, i know a few who have had these for a few years as well.. id research corals/fish/inverts with others in a local club, or here on RC, instead of taking the word of some of the fish employees some stores have.. any Q's just ask, were all here to help..
keckles
New member
You have plenty of light to support a frogspawn. If you decide to later venture into the world of SPS, you will want to try to lower your nitrate level. But, for an LPS and softy reef, 10ppm is no problem at all. 
(LPS = frogspawn, plate coral, brains, etc.)
(Softy = green star polyps, mushrooms, zoanthids, etc.)
(LPS = frogspawn, plate coral, brains, etc.)
(Softy = green star polyps, mushrooms, zoanthids, etc.)
Thanks a lot. Just had my water tested and it looks good. Had to add 1/2 teaspoon of kent super buffer dkh and a small bag of phosban. Just placed 3 med polyp frags in the tank. If they do good then i'll think about a small frogspawn in a couple months....I'm so excited...thanks again
Thanks a lot. Just had my water tested and it looks good. Had to add 1/2 teaspoon of kent super buffer dkh and a small bag of phosban. Just placed 3 med polyp frags in the tank. If they do good then i'll think about a small frogspawn in a couple months....I'm so excited...thanks again
LBCBJ
New member
Long tentacle plate is definitley not a begginer coral, very poor track record in captivity. In my experience and with talking with others their survival rate is less than 50%. Short tentacles (fungia) on the other hand are much easier to keep. Honestly with a new 10 gallon, I would suggest mushrooms and zoanthids, don't rush, take your time.
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