Best approach to getting 34L Fluval Flex Coral Ready

[Polymate3D]

Hello everyone

So I will be setting up my 16G later in the year again, but want to get some frags of corals now to see how I get on with them and hopefully get them growing prior to living in that tank long term.

The Fluval Flex 34L has a custom 13W light I have made which is producing 80 < 110 PAR at the bottom of the aquarium and around 250 PAR halfway up.

5.6W 395nm
3.7W 440nm
3.7W 20,000K Cold White

PUR = 80%

There is a Kenya tree and Xenia is there currently doing okay, along with a tailspot blenny and a azure damsel. Water quality is as follows:

Salinity = 1.027 (Going to reduce a tiny bit)
PH = 8.1
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 0< 5 (Always like this)
Phosphate = 0.1
Alkalinity = 12.5
Calcium = 310<330

So Calcium is low and alk high. The salifert Calcium test is rather hard to read being half colour blind, but I tested Tropic Marin classic freshly mixed and I measured it at 370.

So my questions, how would you get this ready for some LPS corals and possibly some lower light SPS?

Currently I am doing a 20% water change with the Tropic Marin classic salt, but after this maybe change to one with a higher calcium / magnesium by default?

Also no dosing and no skimmer on this tank currently. I have some kalkwasser on the way but looking at peoples advice. My head says do water changes over time and change salt mix, but what would you do!?

- Paul

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Hello everyone

So I will be setting up my 16G later in the year again, but want to get some frags of corals now to see how I get on with them and hopefully get them growing prior to living in that tank long term.

The Fluval Flex 34L has a custom 13W light I have made which is producing 80 < 110 PAR at the bottom of the aquarium and around 250 PAR halfway up.

5.6W 395nm
3.7W 440nm
3.7W 20,000K Cold White

PUR = 80%

There is a Kenya tree and Xenia is there currently doing okay, along with a tailspot blenny and a azure damsel. Water quality is as follows:

Salinity = 1.027 (Going to reduce a tiny bit)
PH = 8.1
Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = 0< 5 (Always like this)
Phosphate = 0.1
Alkalinity = 12.5
Calcium = 310<330

So Calcium is low and alk high. The salifert Calcium test is rather hard to read being half colour blind, but I tested Tropic Marin classic freshly mixed and I measured it at 370.

So my questions, how would you get this ready for some LPS corals and possibly some lower light SPS?

Currently I am doing a 20% water change with the Tropic Marin classic salt, but after this maybe change to one with a higher calcium / magnesium by default?

Also no dosing and no skimmer on this tank currently. I have some kalkwasser on the way but looking at peoples advice. My head says do water changes over time and change salt mix, but what would you do!?

- Paul

Have you considered dosing calcium in your tank? If you can raise calcium and drop the alk and salinity a little, you will be good for coral. Start with something easy like mushrooms or toadstools, and see how they do!

 

[Polymate3D]

Have you considered dosing calcium in your tank? If you can raise calcium and drop the alk and salinity a little, you will be good for coral. Start with something easy like mushrooms or toadstools, and see how they do!

Indeed I did and may be a good idea, but I also know this aquarium hasn't had a water change in a couple of months and there was macro algae in there, so at least some water change to reset some other elements I thought makes sense.

May be a good shout so I can learn how much it is up taking prior to the nano. Thanks for the idea