using dried coral as decorations

[tongabranch]

I just picked up some really cool pieces of dried coral ( thanks again meanfish). I spent a couple hours dry fitting the pieces with my Marco rock, some live tonga branch, etc. I have what I think is gong to be an incredible (JMHO) aquascape. I was blown away by how nice it came out. Now I have a few things to set up before I start mounting the dried corals, etc, and putting it in the tank to "re-cycle". I will FW soak, and dry them, the usual prep for tank deco's.

I was looking around the net last night getting some info on aquascape, epoxy's and stuff and came across info on using dried corals in your tank. They said it is a really bad idea as they are "tough to keep clean, and need a lot of maintenance". I have seen dried corals used in some outstanding display tanks and they purple up, etc. It seems like a good idea.....anyone have reasons why it's not?

Thanks

BTW> this is a FOWLR tank (seahorse)

 

[VacavilleFC3S]

using dry (dead) corals or rock is perfectly fine it'll just need alittle time to re-seed and come back alive.

 

[pimpinitup6969]

i have some sps skeletons in my tank that looked really bad for awhile but the coralline eventually took hold and now they look really sweet!

 

[tongabranch]

Thanks for the input. Right now they are a variety of colors, purple, teal, beige, etc. pretty much like dull versions of what they were when they were alive. I may get coraline to go( I hope), but with a FOWLR, I guess it depends on what my nutrient levels are as opposed to calcium, etc....??? I would prefer coraline. I just hope I don't end up with red, green, brown, or hair colored algae.

I have a sump. and the fuge has some LS, LR, and to good size balls of chaeto. I a hoping that will fight off some of the bad algae.

Will it??

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

Keep nutrient levels low, and Ca/alk high, and they'll be covered with coraline in no time. The rock that forms live rock is essentially composed of old, dead coral skeletons, so it's more or less the same thing as what you've got. Just make sure they're clean when you put them in (i.e. no old dead flesh on them) and you'll be fine. Treat them like you would any other dry live rock.

Back in the "old days" people used to put coral skeletons in their tanks and try to keep them perfectly clean (my own first tank was an example of this.) This was before live rock was common, and hence there was no coraline to encrust the coral skeletons, so they did eventually end up looking drab and ugly. That's probably what fueled some of the negative comments you have read, but it really doesn't apply in a FOWLR tank.

 

[tongabranch]

That is exactly the advice I was hoping for...THANKS!!!

I haven't had any live corals or reef tanks yet. So, how do i keep the nutrients down and cal/alk ( they are seperate right?), up?

I will be running carbon 24/7 ( unless I have to add something to the tank, med's, etc), and i have a filter sock on the supply( I do clean it often), and a micron filter pad after the fuge, before the return. Will that keep nutrients low...low enough? Do i dose with calcium or something? I use instant ocean salt and RO, does that have good nutrients...enough good nutients? Thanks for the help.

 

[der_wille_zur_macht]

You keep the nutrients down by removing them faster than you're adding them.

Ways that you add them include:
1) Feeding
2) Water changes with poor-quality source water (i.e. tap water instead of RO/DI)
3) Junk supplements
4) Adding new live rock

Ways you can remove them include:
1) Skimming
2) A 'fuge crammed with macro algae
3) Water changes with good source water
4) etc.

Maintaining calcium and alkalinity is indeed a separate process from processing nutrients in your system. Generally, for a fish-only tank, regular water changes will suffice. But if you don't do frequent changes, or you want to encourage coralline to grow, you should supplement calcium and alkalinity. That's a very wide topic that is covered well elsewhere - do some searching or read through the stickied threads at the top of this forum for advice.

 

[tongabranch]

Good info, Thanks!!!