Equipment check before I take the plunge into corals

15-03-2005, 01:45 PM

I don't know if I should be posting in the coral forum or here so please bear with me.

I've been thinking of taking the plunge into corals. My tank has been up for about a month now. Here are some specs:

Equipment:
Tank dimension - 3x1.5x1.5ft
No sump
Lighting - 3ft Dymax NOT5
Filtration - Jebao 825 ExternalCannister(1000 L/H) + OceanFree internal power filter (1200 L/H)
Skimmer - Weipro 2011
Skimmer pump - Atman 104

Liverocks - 60kg
Sandbed - 2" Grade 1 sand

Water conditions:
Temp 29 Degrees
Salinity 1.025
No other parameters available

Fishes:
2 Green Chromis
Inverts:
1 carpet Anemone

Now I'm thinking of keeping soft corals like hammer, bubbles etc.
Just want to know what other equipment do I need.
I'm planning on getting another 3ft Dymax NO T5 and a cooling fan.
What other stuff am I missing out? And what about coral food? Can you guys recommend any cheap ones?

15-03-2005, 02:13 PM

A must change is your skimmer 2011 which definitely could not support a 3ft tank and did u mentioned bubbles coral? Your current lightings may not be sufficient. Well, try to start off with softies corals before u venture up the ladder. Hope this helps

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cardinal Tetra

I don't know if I should be posting in the coral forum or here so please bear with me.

I've been thinking of taking the plunge into corals. My tank has been up for about a month now. Here are some specs:

Equipment:
Tank dimension - 3x1.5x1.5ft
No sump
Lighting - 3ft Dymax NOT5
Filtration - Jebao 825 + OceanFree internal power filter
Skimmer - Weipro 2011
Skimmer pump - Atman 104

Liverocks - 60kg
Sandbed - 2" Grade 1 sand

Water conditions:
Temp 29 Degrees
Salinity 1.025
No other parameters available

Fishes:
2 Green Chromis

Now I'm thinking of keeping soft corals like hammer, bubbles etc.
Just want to know what other equipment do I need.
I'm planning on getting another 3ft Dymax NO T5 and a cooling fan.
What other stuff am I missing out? And what about coral food? Can you guys recommend any cheap ones?

15-03-2005, 02:32 PM

2X dymax NO T5 is not sufficient to keep corals... esp. when it's hard to maintain tiptop water conditions given ur filtration system....
if u r going to onli hav 2 green chromis for ur fish then this low stockin level might be possible.... however, dyamx T5 NO is definitely not strong enuff for ur 1.5 ft height...
wat u can do is upgrade ur lightings to T5 HO first... u can use ur existing other equipments if u realli hav low stockin levels....
then when u r ready, buy some corals which requires low light requirements... gd n cheaps ones r mushrooms... u r right to start off from soft corals, however, i wld strongly encourage to read up more... FYI, hammers, bubbles are NOT soft corals... they r hard corals, LPS (large stony corals) to be exact....

15-03-2005, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clownfish81

2X dymax NO T5 is not sufficient to keep corals... esp. when it's hard to maintain tiptop water conditions given ur filtration system....
if u r going to onli hav 2 green chromis for ur fish then this low stockin level might be possible.... however, dyamx T5 NO is definitely not strong enuff for ur 1.5 ft height...
wat u can do is upgrade ur lightings to T5 HO first... u can use ur existing other equipments if u realli hav low stockin levels....
then when u r ready, buy some corals which requires low light requirements... gd n cheaps ones r mushrooms... u r right to start off from soft corals, however, i wld strongly encourage to read up more... FYI, hammers, bubbles are NOT soft corals... they r hard corals, LPS (large stony corals) to be exact....

It seems I'm a litttle confused about the terms you guys use. I know that SPS are the hard stony corals which are hard to maintain and require strong light, but are LPS and soft corals the same? What is LPS?

I may plan on just keeping 1 or 2 more smaill fishes like gobies.
So mushrooms, hammers and bubbles are hard corals, then what are soft corals?

I've tried reading some articles on corals on the web but they never mentioned LPS etc. maybe its the diff kind of terms which you guys have.

Also, would getting a 2x36w PL light be better than another Dymax NO T5?

Equipment to be upgraded or purchased:
Lighting - 2x36PL light (65000k & blue actinic) or T5 HO
Temp cooling - Cooling fan
Skimmer - Weipro 2013?
Sump - sometime in the future (few mths)

Thanks the help, I wish to get more comments and advises from you guys.

15-03-2005, 05:00 PM

LPS = large polyp stony
SPS = small polyp stony
soft corals e.g leather, xenia - those without stony skeleton
It is a standard term... not the term that onli we r using
u can hav a general differentiation here:
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/categ.cfm?pcatid=597

general guideline is to read up more articles on ur own first... there may be more than wat u tink...

2X36W PL is betta than T5 NO, but i will still recommend u to T5 HO
this is becos if u r not getting a chiller, PLs r hotter than T5s, secondly, PL tubes lifespan is abt 6mths n u will hav to replace them while T5 tubes' intensity can last at least 70% after usin 1 year (provided u use the T5 HO eballast)... in the long run, u will save... some more PL lightings r not cheap, y not consider DIY T5 HOs? n T5 HO tubes r getting so much cheaper nowadays...
for DIY T5 HO, just replace ur ballast n lights in ur dymax lighting... seriously speakin, since u r havin 1.5 ft of width, it is betta to hav 4XT5s.... so for ur next 2 X T5s, u can easily DIY from a used dual FL light housing

Guppies Onli · 15-03-2005, 05:36 PM

Sorry to interrupt. But how expensive (I mean how much) are the T5 NO tubes and the ballast for his 3ft requirement? Thank you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clownfish81

LPS = large polyp stony
SPS = small polyp stony
soft corals e.g leather, xenia - those without stony skeleton
It is a standard term... not the term that onli we r using
u can hav a general differentiation here:
http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/categ.cfm?pcatid=597

general guideline is to read up more articles on ur own first... there may be more than wat u tink...

2X36W PL is betta than T5 NO, but i will still recommend u to T5 HO
this is becos if u r not getting a chiller, PLs r hotter than T5s, secondly, PL tubes lifespan is abt 6mths n u will hav to replace them while T5 tubes' intensity can last at least 70% after usin 1 year (provided u use the T5 HO eballast)... in the long run, u will save... some more PL lightings r not cheap, y not consider DIY T5 HOs? n T5 HO tubes r getting so much cheaper nowadays...
for DIY T5 HO, just replace ur ballast n lights in ur dymax lighting... seriously speakin, since u r havin 1.5 ft of width, it is betta to hav 4XT5s.... so for ur next 2 X T5s, u can easily DIY from a used dual FL light housing

15-03-2005, 06:07 PM

Thanks Clownfish81 for your help.
I will either get a set of 2x39W T5HO or use my existing 2x36W PL light for now.

15-03-2005, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cardinal Tetra

Thanks Clownfish81 for your help.
I will either get a set of 2x39W T5HO or use my existing 2x36W PL light for now.

A resun CL450 will works well with ur tank.

15-03-2005, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monsterz1975

A resun CL450 will works well with ur tank.

yup.. temp at 29deg is a bit on the high side... the corals might survive but definitely not healthy...

Your lightings and skimmer are definitely not suitable for LPS yet. Soft corals should be ok.... The difference between soft corals and LPS are covered by clownfish already

In short, almost all your equipments are not ready not LPS yet

15-03-2005, 06:54 PM

First of all, IMO the chiller is a must if your're planning to keep bubbles, hammers, etc. follow by your lighting requirements. The water is really warm during the hot months and at that temperature, I believe the corals will perish.

Your present skimmer is adequate enough to sustain your 3'x1.5'x1.5' as we're having a smiliar setup (using Berlin Airlift 90 skimmer) and 4 x T5 HO lights.

Temperature is maintained at 26 deg C.

Except this is a quarantine tank which currently housing the following for 5 months already before moving them to a new 6ft tank next month:

1) 1 x Sohal Tang
2) 1 x Powder Blue Tang
3) 1 x Fiji Bristletooth Tang
4) 3 x Anthias

Corals consists of Green Bubbles, Sea Fan, Moon Coral, Rics, Yumas, Plate, Brain, Mushrooms, Cyanrina, Hammer, Red Gorgonian, Blasto, etc.

Hope this info helps ...

15-03-2005, 01:45 PM	#1
Cardinal Tetra Guest Posts: n/a	Equipment check before I take the plunge into corals I don't know if I should be posting in the coral forum or here so please bear with me. I've been thinking of taking the plunge into corals. My tank has been up for about a month now. Here are some specs: Equipment: Tank dimension - 3x1.5x1.5ft No sump Lighting - 3ft Dymax NOT5 Filtration - Jebao 825 ExternalCannister(1000 L/H) + OceanFree internal power filter (1200 L/H) Skimmer - Weipro 2011 Skimmer pump - Atman 104 Liverocks - 60kg Sandbed - 2" Grade 1 sand Water conditions: Temp 29 Degrees Salinity 1.025 No other parameters available Fishes: 2 Green Chromis Inverts: 1 carpet Anemone Now I'm thinking of keeping soft corals like hammer, bubbles etc. Just want to know what other equipment do I need. I'm planning on getting another 3ft Dymax NO T5 and a cooling fan. What other stuff am I missing out? And what about coral food? Can you guys recommend any cheap ones?

15-03-2005, 02:32 PM	#3
Clownfish81 Guest Posts: n/a	2X dymax NO T5 is not sufficient to keep corals... esp. when it's hard to maintain tiptop water conditions given ur filtration system.... if u r going to onli hav 2 green chromis for ur fish then this low stockin level might be possible.... however, dyamx T5 NO is definitely not strong enuff for ur 1.5 ft height... wat u can do is upgrade ur lightings to T5 HO first... u can use ur existing other equipments if u realli hav low stockin levels.... then when u r ready, buy some corals which requires low light requirements... gd n cheaps ones r mushrooms... u r right to start off from soft corals, however, i wld strongly encourage to read up more... FYI, hammers, bubbles are NOT soft corals... they r hard corals, LPS (large stony corals) to be exact....

15-03-2005, 05:00 PM	#5
Clownfish81 Guest Posts: n/a	LPS = large polyp stony SPS = small polyp stony soft corals e.g leather, xenia - those without stony skeleton It is a standard term... not the term that onli we r using u can hav a general differentiation here: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/categ.cfm?pcatid=597 general guideline is to read up more articles on ur own first... there may be more than wat u tink... 2X36W PL is betta than T5 NO, but i will still recommend u to T5 HO this is becos if u r not getting a chiller, PLs r hotter than T5s, secondly, PL tubes lifespan is abt 6mths n u will hav to replace them while T5 tubes' intensity can last at least 70% after usin 1 year (provided u use the T5 HO eballast)... in the long run, u will save... some more PL lightings r not cheap, y not consider DIY T5 HOs? n T5 HO tubes r getting so much cheaper nowadays... for DIY T5 HO, just replace ur ballast n lights in ur dymax lighting... seriously speakin, since u r havin 1.5 ft of width, it is betta to hav 4XT5s.... so for ur next 2 X T5s, u can easily DIY from a used dual FL light housing

15-03-2005, 06:07 PM	#7
Cardinal Tetra Guest Posts: n/a	Thanks Clownfish81 for your help. I will either get a set of 2x39W T5HO or use my existing 2x36W PL light for now.

15-03-2005, 06:54 PM	#10
nim75sg Guest Posts: n/a	First of all, IMO the chiller is a must if your're planning to keep bubbles, hammers, etc. follow by your lighting requirements. The water is really warm during the hot months and at that temperature, I believe the corals will perish. Your present skimmer is adequate enough to sustain your 3'x1.5'x1.5' as we're having a smiliar setup (using Berlin Airlift 90 skimmer) and 4 x T5 HO lights. Temperature is maintained at 26 deg C. Except this is a quarantine tank which currently housing the following for 5 months already before moving them to a new 6ft tank next month: 1) 1 x Sohal Tang 2) 1 x Powder Blue Tang 3) 1 x Fiji Bristletooth Tang 4) 3 x Anthias Corals consists of Green Bubbles, Sea Fan, Moon Coral, Rics, Yumas, Plate, Brain, Mushrooms, Cyanrina, Hammer, Red Gorgonian, Blasto, etc. Hope this info helps ...

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