Some info needed before getting first corals

[Ytsejam02]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a little more information before I buy my first ever corals. I'm still a few weeks out, so doing my due diligence...

I'm looking at getting a mushroom, zoa, and maybe a kenya tree. Ideally frags. I don't want to spend much when i've never done this.

So, questions...

1 - I currently have a water flow of 360gph for my 55g tank. Assuming I need more, but how much? I don't want to go overboard. Guessing 400-500 more? Maybe less?

2 - I'm assuming I need to drip acclimate prior to dipping, correct? Also, dipping uses tank water, correct?

3 - Dip is usually around 10 mins?

4 - I'm using an Orbit 48" LED. It's my understanding that I need to acclimate corals when using LEDs. I can certainly turn down the intensity, but to what? It seems experimental to me. Anyone have experience doing this with LEDs?

Thx in advance!

 

[nuttyd]

I would shoot for around 900 gph. I use a mag 9.5 on my 55 which is 950 minus the drop for height. Might not be the preferred method, but softies I tend to just drop in without acclimating. They dont seem to be as sensitive to sps or lps.

 

[Ytsejam02]

I would shoot for around 900 gph. I use a mag 9.5 on my 55 which is 950 minus the drop for height. Might not be the preferred method, but softies I tend to just drop in without acclimating. They dont seem to be as sensitive to sps or lps.

Do you dip them?

 

[Saltine]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a little more information before I buy my first ever corals. I'm still a few weeks out, so doing my due diligence...

I'm looking at getting a mushroom, zoa, and maybe a kenya tree. Ideally frags. I don't want to spend much when i've never done this.

So, questions...

1 - I currently have a water flow of 360gph for my 55g tank. Assuming I need more, but how much? I don't want to go overboard. Guessing 400-500 more? Maybe less?

2 - I'm assuming I need to drip acclimate prior to dipping, correct? Also, dipping uses tank water, correct?

3 - Dip is usually around 10 mins?

4 - I'm using an Orbit 48" LED. It's my understanding that I need to acclimate corals when using LEDs. I can certainly turn down the intensity, but to what? It seems experimental to me. Anyone have experience doing this with LEDs?

Thx in advance!

Your flow is quite low, I would suggest a power head around 1200 gph for your tank at least. I ran 2100gph in a 36g...

You don't need to acclimate your corals. Just dip them in the water they came in(15 min.), rinse off with tank water(in a separate container) and put them in.

Your LED's aren't strong enough to matter on the acclimation, but I believe there is a pre-set on that light to 40% max, I think its Timer M2? You'd have to check the manual, but I don't think it will matter tbh.

Salt

 

[nuttyd]

Agree with Saltine. No dip. GPH is a preference to coral types. Look into future types vs flow rates. Some need high flow and some need low. I have my set up with a spreader bar for half the tank which gives high flow on one side and low on the other. This allows me to mix corals in the tank.

 

[Ytsejam02]

Your flow is quite low, I would suggest a power head around 1200 gph for your tank at least. I ran 2100gph in a 36g...

You don't need to acclimate your corals. Just dip them in the water they came in(15 min.), rinse off with tank water(in a separate container) and put them in.

Your LED's aren't strong enough to matter on the acclimation, but I believe there is a pre-set on that light to 40% max, I think its Timer M2? You'd have to check the manual, but I don't think it will matter tbh.

Salt

On the LED front, my 55 is only 20" tall, and accounting for the 2-3 inches of substrate, I'm concerned that light penetration is already skewed from Orbit's specifications, ie - on the stronger end of their literature taking into account the difference in depth.

At any rate, yes, you are correct, M2 does offer an acclimation setting. But that's not really acclimation. It never changes. I'm assuming that I would up the intensity over time? That's what I'm trying to find out.

I really don't want to bleach them!

 

[Saltine]

On the LED front, my 55 is only 20" tall, and accounting for the 2-3 inches of substrate, I'm concerned that light penetration is already skewed from Orbit's specifications, ie - on the stronger end of their literature taking into account the difference in depth.

At any rate, yes, you are correct, M2 does offer an acclimation setting. But that's not really acclimation. It never changes. I'm assuming that I would up the intensity over time? That's what I'm trying to find out.

I really don't want to bleach them!

Is it the PRO version?

Either way, you simply would run the M2 for a week or so and then go back to the M1, again those LED's are not strong at all, no matter the depth... I had the same one on my tank, LPS, Softies were struggling with color.

Ssalt

 

[nuttyd]

The orbit 48" led seems pretty close to the marineland led or the zoomed led. On my 55, i run two zoomed 48" led fixtures and still think that there could be a little more light.

 

[Ytsejam02]

Thx for info guys.

It's not the Pro version, just the Orbit Marine: http://current-usa.com/aquarium-led-lights/orbit-marine-fixtures/orbit-marine/

I have the 48-60".

I have a variety of shelves setup a different depths, was hoping that could allow me more flexibility with the lighting, since I know it's not the best, but the budget is what it is. Sounds like their literature might be a bit misleading?

 

[nuttyd]

you will be fine for softies. they should grow without problems. When you start to add lps or sps, you can always get a second fixture then. Softies would probably be fine with the flow rate you have too. They dont need much.

 

[3dees]

FYI, most leathers need more flow and light than people realize. not sps light but more of lps light. they will grow in lower light but will grow slower and some will lose some color. mushrooms and zoa's can probably grow under a flashlight. need good flow so they can shed algae.

 

[Saltine]

Thx for info guys.

It's not the Pro version, just the Orbit Marine: http://current-usa.com/aquarium-led-lights/orbit-marine-fixtures/orbit-marine/

I have the 48-60".

I have a variety of shelves setup a different depths, was hoping that could allow me more flexibility with the lighting, since I know it's not the best, but the budget is what it is. Sounds like their literature might be a bit misleading?

If you could I'd return it and grab two Chinese LED black boxes, same price or cheaper and put out a ton of light.

Salt

 

[nuttyd]

FYI, most leathers need more flow and light than people realize. not sps light but more of lps light. they will grow in lower light but will grow slower and some will lose some color. mushrooms and zoa's can probably grow under a flashlight. need good flow so they can shed algae.

Agreed, They need the flow to blow off their shedding when they grow.