Got my new PC's up and running, now its time for Coral...

irish02bk · 12-12-2006, 09:29 PM

Just got my 260w of PC 130w of 12k and 130w of actinics and 4w of lunar blue.... Will i need to acclimated fish to the light? what hours should i run these? Also suggestions for corals for a beginner. I have never done anything with corals. What is the deal with Calcium and Alk testing? haven't done that, do i need any chemicals to help keep corals alive? im totally new to corals...

mdcorcoran · 12-13-2006, 01:13 AM

don't worry about the fish as far as acclimating them to the light goes. I've had really great experiences with candy coral (aka trumpet coral, candy cane). When my tank gets mad, the candy is the last thing to be upset. I've had it do well with low light, low flow, high nutrients, swinging pH, etc....

Ca and Alk...Alk is your "kh" or carbonate hardness which is the buffering capacity of your water. Think back to general chemistry and remember that a buffer helps resist changes in pH. When lights are off, pH drops, and when lights are on, pH rises. So, with a good KH (9-10) your pH won't swing as much, which will keep your residents happy (and your skimmer skimming). Calcium is required by the corals to build there skeleton. Ideally it should be around 450, and it gets used up fast! It goes hand in hand with KH in that if your KH is low, your calcium is not very bioavailable.

Everyone on here will tell you to get salifert tests.
For KH, you can get a really good aquarium pharmaceuticals test for roughly $6. Stay away from red sea and good luck!

Loverotties · 12-13-2006, 02:38 AM

Lol reading the thread,I thought you got a new computer and now you can work on your tank!

Wiskey · 12-13-2006, 09:50 AM

I think you have enough light for LPS and Softies, you don't need to acclimate fish to the light.

I would run the 10K's for 10 hours per day, and the atinics for 12 hours per day.

Good Starter corals are softies, leathers, Star pylops, Xenia, kenia tree etc.

HTH,
Whiskey

dobejazz · 12-13-2006, 09:52 AM

Green star polyps, Zoo's, button polyps, most leathers are good beginner corals.

irish02bk · 12-13-2006, 10:00 AM

Yea my new PC... now im starting up my insane aquarium game... jk. What all does this Salifert test include? Also what do you guys think about lunar lights?

Wiskey · 12-13-2006, 11:47 AM

Moonlights are cool, I don't think they do anything for the coral though.

The salifert test kit includes everything you need to test for what the kit tests.

Whiskey

reefermike1 · 12-13-2006, 12:05 PM

yea i miss the moonlights since i did my retrofit, i dont think they did anything for the corals either, but just the look of it at night is worth it imo. they dont need to be on a timer either, i ran mine 24/7

irish02bk · 12-13-2006, 04:56 PM

Yea i just installed my moonlights last night liked the look on them, they wont keep the fish up or anything? my two Perc's are going crazy since i put the new lights no, the big one is chasing the little one all of the sudden? hopefully they're just flirting... Where do i arrange corals and what do i need all my water perameters at to start corals, right now i dont have alk or calcium testing equipment but will get them. as far as the others amonia=0 Nitrite=0 PH 8.2 Nitrate 10ish to 20ish hard to tell...

Wiskey · 12-13-2006, 05:41 PM

I use moonlights all the time on one of my tanks, it doesn't effect anything, but it is important to make sure there not too bright.

Whiskey

irish02bk · 12-13-2006, 07:00 PM

What about the percula's all the sudden swimming all over the place and having the female chase around the male??? anybody else had this happen?