Coral Identification and Care Help

chphilpott · Aug 16, 2024

Hello!

I’ve been freshwater fish keeping my whole life but was just given a reef set up and a handful of corals to go with it! Of course couldn’t turn that down… was told I’d be getting some soft corals but instead got a lot more than that. Can y’all help me figure out what I have and how to not kill them?

Currently running a fluval evo 13.5 with stock light. I have an ATO, temp controller, and hood to hopefully keep parameters as stable as possible. Using RODI water (TDS @ 0) I also have a dosing pump which I was hoping not to use but could figure it out if need be! Thank you!!

Also, this was just thrown together and the corals just went in so Ik it doesn’t look great. This is what I was given and I’m trying to figure my way out of it it now. Please help me out with whatever info you can give! Placement of corals? Algae stuff? Coral feedings? Thanks!

Dread Pirate Dave · Aug 16, 2024

Welcome to R2R!

Those last couple of pics look like zoas/palys and some clove polyps too. Your water looks a bit cloudy? Just wondering what your water parameters are. How long has the tank been set up?

chphilpott · Aug 16, 2024

Thanks for getting back to me!! I definitely know I have some Zoas/ Palys but unsure about the other types… I was planning on just getting the zoas but ended up with all of these and now a bit scrambling.

The tank was cycled with live sand and rock from the previous coral owner plus added fritz turbo start 900 with the addition of the corals and a goby/ pistol shrimp pair just to help it out as much as possible. It is still a little cloudy but mostly attributing that to moving things around and the sand settling with the flow.

Since these pics, I moved the zoas lower in the tank as I think they were getting a little cooked right under the main light. Is this a good idea? Where should I place all the others? Thank you all so much

Uncle99 · Aug 16, 2024

Welcome to R2R!
You need to be able to test at least salinity at the moment. 1.025-1.026 is a good spot. Make sure you have RODI ready to make up for evaporation through the ATO, this will keep salinity onpoint.

You need to test for Alk, another major player, 8-12dkh, doesn’t matter much, what matters is this level must be on point at all times, no flux.

Once that is stable, test your nutrient availability in terms of nitrate and phosphate. We need these present in trace amounts so all our stuff including corals don’t starve.

Manage that chemistry by testing Alk and Salinity daily and nitrate, phosphate weekly, MG and CA monthly.

When the corals you have look great, time to add more if you wish.

add what you want, more soft, include LPS as well.

SPS Acros, some clams, would need a higher intensity light that the stock I think.

To be successful, you MUST know the chemistry of your water. Testing goes along way in this regard.

Salifert, Aquaforest, Nyos, are good test kits.

The only exception is testing phosphate, nothing ever worked well for me except this the Hanna UL Phosphorus in parts per billion.

Good luck. Have fun.

chphilpott · Aug 16, 2024

Hello! Thank you for this information. Here are my current water perimeaters:

Temp: 80.1°

Salinity: 1.026

Alkalinity: 8.9

Ph: 8.0

Ammonia: 0.5ppm (taken using API master test kit)

Nitrite: 0 ppm

Nitrate: 5.0- 10.0 ppm

I have an ATO and a great RODI unit that has tested to have 0 TDS. I’m most worried about my ammonia at the moment and how to manage it. I have been doing water changes to keep it manageable but also worried about slowing down the completion of the cycling process.

I’m normally heavily researching every aspect of this hobby so feel a little apprehensive about taking in these new corals that I’m not sure about. Anyone know the IDs of these toward the front? Monti? Acan?

Thanks!!