Some Questions On Keeping a Reef Tank.

[marine_pheonix]

Hi, my tank have just finished cycling and i am now ready to add my livestocks. Therefore, i would like you experienced hobbyist out there to guide me in the few questions listed below:

1)There number of organism is increasing( including tube worm and some glass anemones etc) in my tank and should i start feeding them phytoplanktons? If yes, how much should i feed them and how often? ( they have been in my tank for a month or so and i didn't feed them at all...)

2)I would like to have some corals in my tank. I've done my research on various websites but i am still not really sure what are some corals that are really easy to keep. Any recommendations?

3)Can i add as many corals as i want into my tank at the same time?

4)How do we know that the water flow in our tank is sufficient for the corals to survive?

Hope to get some replies as soon as possible and THANKS!!!

[Ninong]

1)There number of organism is increasing( including tube worm and some glass anemones etc) in my tank and should i start feeding them phytoplanktons?

Hi marine_phoenix:

Glass anemones (Aiptasia spp.) are considered a pest because they will harm your other invertebrates and take over the tank. It would be best to try to eliminate them.

Phytoplankton is a good idea for any reef tank but you needn't worry too much about that at this stage. It wouldn't hurt any to add a little phytoplankton if you want to.

2)I would like to have some corals in my tank. I've done my research on various websites but i am still not really sure what are some corals that are really easy to keep. Any recommendations?

Most people consider soft corals easier because they are more forgiving of less than ideal water quality and can get by with less light and water current flow than most scleractinians.

3)Can i add as many corals as i want into my tank at the same time?

It would be better to add things gradually. This holds true no matter what you are adding.

4)How do we know that the water flow in our tank is sufficient for the corals to survive?

Water flow requirements vary depending on the type of coral. Brain corals do not require nearly as much flow as Acropora species. You should have a minimum turnover of five or six times your tank volume per hour for a reef aquarium but a turnover rate of at least ten times per hour would be better for most SPS corals. Many hobbyists who specialize in SPS (small polyp scleractinians) shoot for a turnover rate of 20 times per hour or more. This can be difficult to achieve for a number of reasons.

Hope to get some replies as soon as possible and THANKS!!!

How large is your tank? What lighting do you have? What do you estimate your water flow to be at present? What is your tank's water temperature? Is the tank being kept indoors?

[Poseidon]

George I think you meant per hour right? 20 times per minute would be pretty hard to keep ANY water in the TANK!!!! ;)

[Ninong]

George I think you meant per hour right? 20 times per minute would be pretty hard to keep ANY water in the TANK!!!! ;)

Yes, I meant gph, not gpm. Thanks!

I just fixed it.

[marine_pheonix]

Well, my tank is a 60gallon tank. As for my lighting unit, i haven got one but i would get one by this week. I will be getting a 36" with 96 watt 10,000K Daylight and 96 watt True Actinic 03 Blue Compact Fluorescent Lamps plus two 3/4 watt Lunar Blue-Moon-Glow LED 470nm Lamps. Is this ok?



My tank is kept in my balcony and the temp is always at 28'c. But i am not really sure on how to examine my water flow... Help here?

Thks.

[Ninong]

The lighting you are getting will allow you to keep many different types of soft corals and perhaps some LPS corals but I doubt that it will be adequate for most SPS. Is the tank receiving any direct sunlight or is it in the shade? Direct sunlight on a tank that small might not be easy to control for overheating but I was just wondering if it is completely shaded or not.

What sort of pump are you using? Usually they tell you the rate of flow in gallons per hour or liters per hour.

I don't see how your tank can stay a constant 28C if it is kept outside. What if the outside temperature is 40C? Anyway, 28C is ideal but you do not want it to reach 30C. Anything above 29C could cause problems.

[marine_pheonix]

I am intending to get a new powerhead also, hopefully those rotating kinds. But as for now, i am using the one which was used to be in my old tank. The rating of this powerhead is 500L/H. Is this ok to be used as a current maker in my 60gal tank or do i have to change to a larger one?

[Ninong]

If your tank is 60 gallons, you will need more water movement than 500 l/h (133 gph).