Turning a FOWLR in a reef...

[WBrian]

Hi All,
At some point, my tank will be ready for the addition of corals. (Provided I ever get rid of the cyano...)

How will I know that the tank is reaady for corals? Are there any additional levels I should be checking? I currently check ammo, nitrate, nitrite, PH, KH, and I'm getting ready to start checking phosphorous. (trying to get a handle on the cyano!)

What would be a good starter coral? I'm thinking of some pulsating xenia, as my wife loves them. Are they easy? Hardy?

Are there any tried and true beginning coerals that are colorful?

Thanks!
Brian

BTW:
29 Gal tank. 20 Lbs LR with more being added as money becomes available. Emperor 280 filter. Seaclone (SeaCrap) skimmer (being modified currently, and most likely swapped out this week!). My lighting is a coralife PC with dual 65 watt (130 watt total).

 

[ChrisRD]

Increased flow and better nutrient control/export (for example, better skimming :wink: ) should help with the cyano problem.

For soft corals I'd be most concerned with the basic SG, temp and pH parameters. After the tank has stabilized you shouldn't be getting any readings for ammonia/nitrite and little to nothing for nitrate but it doesn't hurt to check on them periodically. If you're going to have any stony corals, you should monitor Ca, Alk and Mg as well. With calcifying corals in the system, routine water changes will probably no longer be able to sustain those levels with the increased demand.

Xenia can be a bit strange (seems to be hit-or-miss for no real good reason IME) but a good choice for one of your first corals IMO. Zoanthids, mushrooms, star polyps, etc. are all extremely hardy and thus common beginner corals that will do fine in your system as well. They are also available in a pretty wide assortment of colors.

HTH

 

[SnowManSnow]

No offence, but I wouldn't get anything expensive for your first coral either.... somtimes there is a "coral learning curve" involved.

IMO you will need to start checking ALK and CA once you add corals to your system... Once you have a few in there I would recommend using B-Ionic to keep these levels in the right place.

Also... everythin' RD said.

B.

 

[WBrian]

Thanks for the replies (and no offense taken, I really appreciate the guidance!).

Is there a general rule of thumb as far as how long to wait between additions to a tank?

I'd started out with with a FOWLER. Recently (this week end was my birthday- 42 years OLD!), I added a couple frags from the LFS; a button polyp, a 1 inch piece of pulsating xenia, and a sungularia finger leather. I wanted to pick up some type of a mushroom while there, but funds ran low. I got a gift certificate last night to the LFS as a gift last night, and was considerng picking up the shroom and another piece of live rock. Must there be a waiting period between additions to the tank?

FWIW, all seems to be doing well, fully "opening" xenia and leather. Water parameters great. and my algae problem seems to be under much better controll since putting chemipure into the filter.
Here are some pics...

Thanks for any advice!
Brian