M
Moneymaks24
Guest
I currently have a mixed reef, but its still very new and only time will tell if I can keep all corals thriving. I hope I can find a balance that works.
- Location
- Ridgewood, NY
I guess it could be done, I'm having problems with zoos and mushrooms. They don't do go in my tank, all my SPS's are doing amazing. I have near zero phosphates and nitrates in the range of 1. That could be why. Also my Acans are doing poorly. Hope this helps.
- Location
- Ridgewood, NY
I don't know about a perfect balance but I had near perfect I guess. The best tank I owned had always about .003 phosphates and nitrates in the range of about 5 but it was simpler with just a refugium and lots of macros. Now my tank is doing amazing but I also have Biopellets a huge skimmer, reactors, etc.. I also have lots of different macros (Ulva, Codium, Cheato, Red Glacinaria, Kelp and Red Mangroves) so that could be the reason the tank may be too clean (ULNS). However I still struggle with some corals and believe it or not the beginner ones like mushrooms and zoas. I feed twice a day pretty heavy, the tank is crystal clear, I try to keep it a little dirty in the nitrates and phosphates arena and still a few corals don't thrive. Keep trying because it is possible though. Good luck and hope this helps.
- Location
- Long Island
I really dont believe in water difference for different corals. In nature they live in different environments, meaning mushrooms, scolys and other lps can stand dirtier waters, but that doesnt mean the would not do well in a nitrate free cleaner h2o. Keeping corals IMo is very simple, much simpler than many think. LPS will do well in most scenarios, the only thing that can harm them mainly is excessive lighting, if you have a system with stability. I mean temperature, ph, and salinity. ca and Alk are also important, but to a lesser degree than sps. SPS are more demanding, but still one can keep them very easily. I would recommend as a standard tank, one with GFO reactor controling phosphates, light bioload of fish and efficient skimmer. Thats it! A mature tank is ideal but doesnt mean you cant be successful with sps in a new tank. I just upgraded my tank and moved huge colonies of sps to the new system, and the only thing i watched closely was waste bioload. I had to sell my fish only keeping a small clown and a chromis to keep the tank cycling and a light bioload to not stress the corals. I already see growth on the tips of my purple slimmer. And my tank has been set up for 4 weeks.
One big thing that most starting reefers dont pay attention to and end up failing is quality rodi water. I would say salts are pretty good these days. If you dont want to waste your money and patience with corals, make sure you get a rodi filter with clean filters and a tds meter to assure you have 000 on the tds before mixing and introducing new water to the tank. I often see people breaking their heads saying their nitrates are zero, all other params are great yet they cant keep corals and fish are always sick. When you ask about their fresh water supply, they often fail there. just my opinion. Good luck!!
One big thing that most starting reefers dont pay attention to and end up failing is quality rodi water. I would say salts are pretty good these days. If you dont want to waste your money and patience with corals, make sure you get a rodi filter with clean filters and a tds meter to assure you have 000 on the tds before mixing and introducing new water to the tank. I often see people breaking their heads saying their nitrates are zero, all other params are great yet they cant keep corals and fish are always sick. When you ask about their fresh water supply, they often fail there. just my opinion. Good luck!!
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- Location
- Westchester, N.Y
Just make it SPS tank. Much better looking corals...
- Location
- Ridgewood, NY
That's what I'm doing, getting rid of the two rocks with mushrooms and the 3 zoa frags. Going full SPS.
I've invested way too much in my corals and the only 3 sps frags I got so far were from a trade I just kind want to see how it goes. Also I have an AIO tank which can't really fit reactors fuge sump etc..I just have a skimmer that barely does anything and that's it I basically rely on WC weekly. Which is why I don't really want to go crazy w sps until I can have a real drilled tank set up especially since sps are so expensive I don't want it to die on me.
- Location
- Long Island
Well I am Addicted to SPS I have over 40 frags growing in my 75 mix reef. My nitrate 0,phosphate hi working on dropping it now. Sps are all doing fine and the LPS also acans are always open.
- Location
- Ridgewood, NY
- Location
- smithtown, long island
I have all three no problem.. But I keep hearing that in time it's going to be... I hope not!
- Location
- Mahopac NY
Over time, I've kind of lost interest in LPS. I love SPS though, and also love the motion of softies.
I could have a much easier tank to deal with if I cut down on the amount of fish I have and just went SPS only, but I love having a mixed tank with lots of varied life.
I very easily burnt LPS coral until I removed the optics on my LED as well. Apparently they do not like 400+ par at the sandbed
This is with bridgelux leds too. Doing this slightly slowed SPS growth, because they get a little less light now. This is why having a mixed tank kinda stinks. It needs compromise sometimes to keep them all happy.
I could have a much easier tank to deal with if I cut down on the amount of fish I have and just went SPS only, but I love having a mixed tank with lots of varied life.
I very easily burnt LPS coral until I removed the optics on my LED as well. Apparently they do not like 400+ par at the sandbed
This is with bridgelux leds too. Doing this slightly slowed SPS growth, because they get a little less light now. This is why having a mixed tank kinda stinks. It needs compromise sometimes to keep them all happy.
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- Location
- Long Island
I don't spot feed I just feed the tank brightwell reef snow 5 drops 2x a week and coral amino 5drops a day.
- Location
- Long Island
I feed my lps especially the acans and lobos a mix of pellets/mysis shrimp 1-2 week. I try to feed every head. My acans grow extremely fast. I bought an acan piece from a friend a long time ago. He still has the colony he fragged my coral from. He doesnt feed his, and mine is now maybe 3x bigger and has way cooler coloration. I honestly hate feeding corals, it takes time and patience, but the difference in appearance is very noticeable. LPS's have ways to survive without being fed, after all in nature animals dont always have a chance to gather food, especially if they are fixed in one place. However, LPS have digestive systems for a reason, and even tough they will live and do well with just light as food source, they will do even better being able to eat food.
You do not say how big your tank is. I don't think the water parameter differences between corals is the problem. The real culprit is the chemicals they give off. The larger your tank the more water there is to dilute the affect of the chemicals. Over time you will have the winners who keep growing and the losers who die away for no apparent reason.
- Location
- Bellmore, NY
Carbon will absorb the toxins given off by different corals and compensate for having a mixed reef. Water changes alone won't do that if corals are having chemical warfare with each other, unless your changing water on a daily basis.
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