*** Coral Growers Giveaway!! WIN a Calcium Reactor from Tunze!! ***

[bbak]

Bonus, I don't usually use to much macro algea in my tanks, unless it's a biotope that would include it, then I aquascape with it the same as coral

 

[JoJosReef]

DAILY QUESTION: What is your favorite coral species to grow and why?

Zoas. So many different color variations.

 

[bbak]

Bonus, my favorite supplement is a good salt mix

 

[JoJosReef]

DAILY QUESTION: What has been the best lighting setup you've used for growing corals? Why do you like this one?

Noopsyches every 12". They have a wider coverage, but this gives me almost no unintentional dark spots. Great lights, too.

 

[bbak]

Bonus, my favorite automation are atos, and dosing pumps.

 

[JoJosReef]

DAILY QUESTION: How do you handle coral fragging in your tank? Are you a frequent fragger? Occasional fragger? Or only when you have to prune?

I dislike fragging, but I usually pull the corals (mostly zoas) out into a bucket and cut in a separate bucket with a razor, mount and then back into the other bucket. I do this only when things are overgrowing to the point I can't look at it anymore.

 

[JoJosReef]

DAILY QUESTION: What is your approach to dosing calcium and alkalinity? Do you dose any other elements?

All For Reef! All the time!

 

[JoJosReef]

DAILY QUESTION: How do you acclimate new corals to your tank?

Coral gets dipped. Coral gets placed in sand bed or glued to rocks. Monitor to make sure happy.

 

[JoJosReef]

DAILY QUESTION: What methods do you use to prevent coral pests and diseases?

Dip with Coral Dip. Visually examine for Aiptasia and remove some by plastering with F aiptasia or kalk paste. Use a dropper to drop H2O2 over the entire frag plug or just remove the coral from the frag plug.

 

[JoJosReef]

DAILY QUESTION: What has been the biggest setback you've experienced in growing corals? How did you bounce back?

BJD took a toll on some of my euphyllia. I learned to recognize it quickly and have cipro on hand when needed.

 

[JoJosReef]

DAILY QUESTION: What's your thoughts on nutrients in a reef tank? Are they good or bad? How do you manage them?

Good. But as they say, too much of a good thing... I manage nutrients by using quality foods and having so much coral growing that it sucks it all up. Better than letting algae do it! Easier than trying to remove it!

 

[JoJosReef]

DAILY QUESTION: How important is flow in coral growth? What have you found to be the best way to get the right flow for keeping corals healthy and thriving?

Flow is very important. I have not found the best way to get the right flow and I constantly struggle with flow, more than anything. I'm hoping the upgrade brings an epiphany.

 

[JoJosReef]

DAILY QUESTION: Do you feed your coral? If so, what are your favorite coral food and feeding techniques? If not, why not?

I feed a mixture of Reef Nutrition products: PhytoFeast, OysterFeast (this one will always be in the lineup), PacPods, ArctiPods==these are dosed into the tank by a refrigerated dosing system. I target feed any corals with a visible mouth with TDO pellets anytime I have time to do it. Now also have a Plank adding Reef Jerky 4x/day. Lots of food for corals. I also occasionally dose Fiji Mud, which corals seem to like.

 

[JoJosReef]

DAILY QUESTION: How do you handle coral placement in your tank for optimal growth?

I have a parwise to map PAR in my tank. So for any new corals, research, research, research, and then pick the right place for it. If it don't work, move it.

 

[JoJosReef]

DAILY QUESTION: How do you get the best color you can from your corals? Any tips to help the rest of us?

Feed them well and give them high quality spectrum! I've been thoroughly impressed by Noopsyche spectrum.

 

[JoJosReef]

DAILY QUESTION: What has been your biggest challenge in growing corals?

As mentioned in a previous Daily Question, FLOW. Flow has been the most difficult part of growing corals for me. I'd love a solution that just works and doesn't need tweaking as your corals grow or tinkering as your pumps lose potency.

 

[JoJosReef]

DAILY QUESTION: How do you monitor trace element levels in your tank?

I have this sixth sense like Haley Joel Osment, but instead of seeing dead people, I see dead corals, and they tell me I should be adding more trace elements.

 

[JoJosReef]

DAILY QUESTION: How do you deal with coral aggression and spacing issues?

I currently ignore the issue and wish it will resolve itself. More practically, I am holding out for the upgrade where I will break apart all the overgrowing SPS and space them out more.

Pectinia goes in the corner away from everyone else...

 

[JoJosReef]

DAILY QUESTION: What has been your most successful coral-growing strategy?

1) Avoid adding anything but food and carbon to the tank--exception is Flux when bubble algae is out of control; 2) feed high quality foods; 3) get lots of fish that feed the corals as well; 4) keep hands out of the tank as much as possible.

 

[JoJosReef]

DAILY QUESTION: What methods do you use to increase coral polyp extension?

Broadcasting phyto and using a Plank to add Reef Jerky. Works great!