I give up.

[Dom]

Lighting might not be strong enough. Just a guess

He could start by bringing up the intensity of his existing light. I believe I read that his blue sits at 35% intensity.

 

[VintageReefer]

He could start by bringing up the intensity of his existing light. I believe I read that his blue sits at 35% intensity.

id increase blues 10% weekly till I got to 75%. That’s a weak light so I think corals and tank can easily handle 75% blues

 

[Tinnerito]

Maybe not as popular an opinion, but howabout a biocube? My wife wanted to start her own tank, so she started with that. She kept everything stock, used quality live rock, and kept things simple with duncans, hammers, frogspawn, pavona, and zoas. The thing i really liked about it was the tight fitting lid so very little evaporation . Tank was super stable. Its the tank i learned on.

Well I feel like the dimensions wouldn't really change much, and I find branded tanks to be much more expensive, that is assuming we are both thinking of the same thing. I don't understand how people are able to make coral keeping seem so easy. As said from previous replies, it probobaly is the size. It makes me kind of sad though that I had put all of these colorful "reefy" fish and inverts into this nano, and I won't even be able to add corals until I have enough experience, which likely will be a long time.

 

[bigbugoutfitters]

The biocubes really arent too expensive, especially when you consider that it includes everything you need to get started. Additionally, you can find em used pretty dang often. We live in very rurl montana and i was still able to find one used for 80$. That is tank, light, return pump, heater, and bio media. Everything is contained. We used reef crystal salt and we did not dose at all.

https://www.chewy.com/coralife-led-biocube-aquarium-kit/dp/190673?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20908059015&utm_content=160401460794&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADmQ2V0ojFf8_N7S86VgtRQv7tCEk&gclid=CjwKCAjw68K4BhAuEiwAylp3kisAaKt06P8XG4w7nA6aJrVvye9iXFmyYh4wgdxlf3SA6UUSKPVwoBoCig0QAvD_BwE

430 for a full tank.
Used or new the price isnt bad. If you are going to get a 60 gallon reef, you are looking at certainly spending more, especially more if you plan on getting sump filtration, an auto top off, and proven lights, even black box.

 

[bigbugoutfitters]

The only thing my wife did with the tank was 25 percent bi weekly water changes, and fed the tank. Thats it. With easy corals, less is more, but stability is still very important, which is why i find the biocube to be such a great starter tank. Especially with the integrated light that can absolutely grow coral. Maybe not fast or get the greatest color, but it can grow coral and keep it alive.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

Hi everyone. I've been trying to keep corals for a long time now, and after each attempt, and after every new knowledge, and experiences I gain, I can't seem to stop failing. And as a 15 year old teenage reefer, buying new corals time and time again after deep consideration and research following the previous fails, costs a ton of pocket money which takes me years to save. I've been reading books, watching videos, and speaking to professionals in person on every specific of captive marine aquaria since I was 11, but to this day regardless of how many mistakes I may fix, or how many precautions or measures I take, corals always seem to die on me.



I just spent the last of my money on my third attempt at keeping a coral after 5 months prior to the previous faliure, speaking to more reefers, watching more videos, and reading more books and yet...



What the reefing community considers to be the easiest coral in the world to keep, is dying on me. I've been trying everything I can like multiple dips, different acclimation and quarentine methods, dosing nutrients and minerals, changing light, flow, parameters, and simply leaving the coral alone for self resolution, but nothing seems to work. I am told waiting awhile is the solution but my corals die so rapidly it seems like there's nothing that I can do anymore. I've never had a coral survive for more than 2 months, and I've definitely never seen any of my corals grow.



Fortunately, every saltwater aquarium that I own has a variety of fish, anemones, macroalgaes, sea sponges, crustaceans, and mollusks that all thrive and grow under my care. So I guess these years of research aren't for nothing. But if I ever try to inch toward keeping a coral again, I'm bound to get the same end result. And now, my bank account is empty, and I officially give up on corals... for now; until I am old enough to get a job, and maybe my own place to try again.



Any advice?

Reading this entire thing and knowing your age tells me that you should be the LAST person to give up. You are highly intelligent and articulate, and you are trying and failing. IMO, outside of the money aspect of it, trying and failing and getting back up will not make you good. It will make you GREAT.

I promise you, you will figure out what it is that is keeping you from achieving your goals in the hobby. Don't give up, especially at your age and level of wisdom for your age. If you need a time out because of money, take it, but I can tell that you want to succeed.

I would have killed to have your drive in my teenage years.

Just remember, stable parameters are what corals love. What has been working for me is test, test, test. Add nutes as needed but try to keep things steady. A happy reef will begin to run itself after 6-12 months of steadiness. Thats when you really see things take off.

Hope to see you here someday with a reef that is mind boggling.

 

[Rappa]

My tank HATES Reef Roids... I don't use them at all anymore. Corals always seem to have negative reactions, slime up, close up, etc... FYI, My Blastos are at the bottom of my tank which still gets over 200 PAR and they are doing great. I wouldn't shade them.

Also, small tanks are really tough... Much harder than larger tanks are to keep coral. More water volume = more stability. It's really hard when you have such a small water volume, just putting your hands in the tank can cause a reaction. I truly love your effort though. When I was your age, I had fresh water with Oscars and Dempsies, no way that I could dedicate the time and money to saltwater! I am impressed bud! Some day you will be a master at this...

 

[Tamberav]

I've seen people have macros and corals in one tank, and I really like the natural beauty that macroalgaes give which is why I love having them. What kind of filter would you recommend? Does a filter technically need chemical and biological filtration if that will already be present in the tank?

You don’t need anything for filter except rock and flow. That’s all the biological filtration needed. Carbon is nice for heavy macro tanks.

Yes people mix them but you are dosing and doing a lot of things without knowing how much of the elements you are adding.

This is my macro/coral tank I had, one of many I’ve had. I never dosed the things you are. I just did water changes and dosed po4/no3 which I could test and dose accordingly.

I guess what I am saying is you are doing so much that you are making it harder on yourself. So many uneeded variables.

 

[Tinnerito]

Reading this entire thing and knowing your age tells me that you should be the LAST person to give up. You are highly intelligent and articulate, and you are trying and failing. IMO, outside of the money aspect of it, trying and failing and getting back up will not make you good. It will make you GREAT.

I promise you, you will figure out what it is that is keeping you from achieving your goals in the hobby. Don't give up, especially at your age and level of wisdom for your age. If you need a time out because of money, take it, but I can tell that you want to succeed.

I would have killed to have your drive in my teenage years.

Just remember, stable parameters are what corals love. What has been working for me is test, test, test. Add nutes as needed but try to keep things steady. A happy reef will begin to run itself after 6-12 months of steadiness. Thats when you really see things take off.

Hope to see you here someday with a reef that is mind boggling.

Believe it or not, I've loved marine life since I was 2 years old, and I most definitely will not be giving up on reefing ever no matter what. I only said I'd be giving up on coralsx and only temporarily, as I cannot afford to kill anymore. I still will be on r2r, and will be continuing to keep fish, seahorses and really every non-coral thing. (Except nudibranchs. Their care requirements scare me.)

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

Believe it or not, I've loved marine life since I was 2 years old, and I most definitely will not be giving up on reefing ever no matter what. I only said I'd be giving up on coralsx and only temporarily, as I cannot afford to kill anymore. I still will be on r2r, and will be continuing to keep fish, seahorses and really every non-coral thing. (Except nudibranchs. Their care requirements scare me.)

You need to send a little bit of that thing you got to my 5 year old. I'm trying to plant the seed for him as well.

Happy to hear that response.

 

[Tinnerito]

My tank HATES Reef Roids... I don't use them at all anymore. Corals always seem to have negative reactions, slime up, close up, etc... FYI, My Blastos are at the bottom of my tank which still gets over 200 PAR and they are doing great. I wouldn't shade them.

Also, small tanks are really tough... Much harder than larger tanks are to keep coral. More water volume = more stability. It's really hard when you have such a small water volume, just putting your hands in the tank can cause a reaction. I truly love your effort though. When I was your age, I had fresh water with Oscars and Dempsies, no way that I could dedicate the time and money to saltwater! I am impressed bud! Some day you will be a master at this...

This is kind of one of the hardest parts about reefing in my opinion, that being mixed opinions. I've heard that blastos love shade, and that corals thrive with supplements. But I've also heard the exact opposite. I've just been trusting my gut with the decision making all this time, but I'm open for trying new things.

 

[PharmrJohn]

Believe it or not, I've loved marine life since I was 2 years old, and I most definitely will not be giving up on reefing ever no matter what. I only said I'd be giving up on coralsx and only temporarily, as I cannot afford to kill anymore. I still will be on r2r, and will be continuing to keep fish, seahorses and really every non-coral thing. (Except nudibranchs. Their care requirements scare me.)

I understand that. Myself, I've been utterly fascinated by clocks going back to my first memories. My house is filled with antique clocks. When I retire I plan on dumping a few grand and getting into wristwatch repair and restoration. Same with antique clocks. It'll keep me busy.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

This is kind of one of the hardest parts about reefing in my opinion, that being mixed opinions. I've heard that blastos love shade, and that corals thrive with supplements. But I've also heard the exact opposite. I've just been trusting my gut with the decision making all this time, but I'm open for trying new things.

Good point. Case in point- I have a lobo brain that isn't supposed to like tons of flow and tons of light. It gets both and it was literally dying for a few days before I moved it up higher. It absolutely loved the strong flow from my mp40 and a little more light and is nice and fat and displaying some of the most beautiful colors ive seen from a coral.

What works for some doesn't work for all. This hobby is about trial and error. And patience.

 

[AmazingYocool]

Believe it or not, I've loved marine life since I was 2 years old, and I most definitely will not be giving up on reefing ever no matter what. I only said I'd be giving up on coralsx and only temporarily, as I cannot afford to kill anymore. I still will be on r2r, and will be continuing to keep fish, seahorses and really every non-coral thing. (Except nudibranchs. Their care requirements scare me.)

what were the easiest corals you have kept? Ive found my luck with zoanthids, every other coral I get wouldnt do well. At the same time however, ive had pulsing zenia and it never grew despite it infecting many other tanks.

The fluval light isnt the best... It can work for some softies such as zoas leathers or gorgonians. I wouldnt try much else on it unless you know an exact PAR reading.

As for the biocubes, dont get one. Better off saving for a waterbox at a similar price.. The lights they come with are only good for super easy coral (or macroalgae)

 

[Spare time]

I really appreciate your reply. It made me feel like I've made progress in my passion for aquatic life. I will give you everything I know about my setups.

Filter - I use EHEIM canister filters for every setup that I kept coral in. I rinse the media in a tub of tank water monthly.

Temp-79-80 degrees F
Alk-8.0 ppm
Po4- 0.15
No3- 8ppm
No2- 0
Ammonia- 0.25ppm
Calc- 430ppm
Salinity- 35ppt
I assured all params were consistent for atleast a month before adding corals.
I dose chaetogro, and neonitro every week to keep nutrients and minerals consistent, since I keep a lot of macroalgae in all of my tanks.
I am unsure of the exact content of every mineral(fe, mg, etc) but I dose enough that it keeps all of my macros healthy.

Heater brand- hygger

Lighting- Fluval Sea full spectrum led light.
Blue-35%
Violet-15%
Cyan-15%
Red-10%
White-5%

All of my tanks are between 5 and 60 gallons since these are all crammed in my bedroom, except for my freshwater systems. Therefore, I use a fluval sea nano light for each of the tanks that I intended to house corals in.

All of my tanks have a heater, light, and atleast one powerhead facing the general direction of the filter return pump.

Coral acclimation: I float the bags in display tank for 20 minutes. I inspect corals, and remove visible pests in a tub of bag water. I place in dip for 10 minutes, observe, and periodically blast the corals with a turkey baster. The dipping solution that I use is Coral RX. I use according to instructions. I rinse and inspect in another tub of saltwater, then I place into an acclimation tub, where I drip acclimate for about 40 minutes, and remove half of the water every 10 minutes.

I use BSI IC-GEL coral frag glue to mount the corals. I take notes on care requirements given by reef shop workers, and mount the corals accordingly. (Ex: I place blastomussa's in shadier areas with medium flow towards the bottom of the tank)

I use thawed mysis shrimp to feed fish, and I gave my corals reef roids every week. I check on them every few minutes to make sure that they eat it all, and I remove some reef roids if it looks to be too much.

Corals look great the first week, and go the rest of the month looking a little sad. The following month they tend to slowly shrivel, shrink, and disappear leaving only skeleton.

Thats all of the information I can think of on the spot, but if theres anything else you'd like to know, feel free to ask.

I bet its the light. That light is not strong plus you are running it at a low setting.

 

[Tinnerito]

You don’t need anything for filter except rock and flow. That’s all the biological filtration needed. Carbon is nice for heavy macro tanks.

Yes people mix them but you are dosing and doing a lot of things without knowing how much of the elements you are adding.

This is my macro/coral tank I had, one of many I’ve had. I never dosed the things you are. I just did water changes and dosed po4/no3 which I could test and dose accordingly.

I guess what I am saying is you are doing so much that you are making it harder on yourself. So many uneeded variables.

you, and others with replies like this have completely changed my perspective of reefing. I appreciate it.

 

[Rappa]

you, and others with replies like this have completely changed my perspective of reefing. I appreciate it.

My first reef tank was a 50 gallon Oceanic tank. No sump. I had a HOB freshwater filter that I used for filtration, and then made it into a small refugium for Chaeto. I had maybe 60lbs of live-rock directly from the ocean, live-sand, a heater, two small power heads, and an HOB Skimmer that never really worked right. I kept Softies, Nem's, and LPS in that tank for 19 years. This was before the internet forums were so helpful too! We had forums but they were not super active like they are now. The last ten years of the tanks life, I did maybe 3 water changes a year. Never dosed anything after first 5 years. I just scraped the coraline off the glass every couple weeks. Tank was beautiful, I had more branching Torch and Frogspawn than I could fit in the tank. Tons of Shrooms of all colors, and I was constantly giving or trading to make room. At one point, I had a Toadstool that was almost 12" diameter, and was shading everything. I cut him from his base and traded him for something else. It ended up growing back to the same size from the foot that I left on the rock. It was crazy how stable that tank was. I had a metal halide 150 watt HQI light with PC actinics that I bought on Ebay in like 2004-2005. With that said, there were things that I couldn't keep at any time. Zoa's for instance, would just wither away and die off. Pulsing Zenia I couldn't keep, they would never do well as soon as they went into the tank. I tried both of those many times. I never tried SPS, as I didn't appreiate them at the time. In it's heyday though, the tank was gorgeous, and was my addiction! I did lose interest a little, then a lot, when I ran out of room in the tank for new things. Then we bought a house, and started a family... so the tank went downhill and slowly died off. It had a leak, and was time to move on. Luckily, I have a great wife, and she pushed me to build my dream tank in the wall of our house. Now that I am older, have some money, and my kids don't need me as much (changing diapers, can feed themselves, etc , I was able to put the time and money into the equipment that would make my reefing more successful and enjoyable. But, we are talking 20 years from when I started out with salt water. Anyways, I'll wrap this up sorry... You can have a phenomonal tank with minimal effort once it's established. I know this because I've done it. Get yourself a piece or two of real live rock from someone, or from the company in florida (forget the name). I think that makes all the difference in establishing the tank properly, and quicker. Oh, and I still have one of my original clowsfish in my new tank that I bought in 2004. His mate only recently passed away... but she got to enjoy her new tank for almost a year, which made me happy. Both of them have/had been with me around 20 years! Keep at it, enjoy the awesome selection of saltwater fish, crabs, shrimp, etc, for now... and you will progress naturally as you earn the means and have the ability to do so.

 

[AlanS]

Hi everyone. I've been trying to keep corals for a long time now, and after each attempt, and after every new knowledge, and experiences I gain, I can't seem to stop failing. And as a 15 year old teenage reefer, buying new corals time and time again after deep consideration and research following the previous fails, costs a ton of pocket money which takes me years to save. I've been reading books, watching videos, and speaking to professionals in person on every specific of captive marine aquaria since I was 11, but to this day regardless of how many mistakes I may fix, or how many precautions or measures I take, corals always seem to die on me.



I just spent the last of my money on my third attempt at keeping a coral after 5 months prior to the previous faliure, speaking to more reefers, watching more videos, and reading more books and yet...



What the reefing community considers to be the easiest coral in the world to keep, is dying on me. I've been trying everything I can like multiple dips, different acclimation and quarentine methods, dosing nutrients and minerals, changing light, flow, parameters, and simply leaving the coral alone for self resolution, but nothing seems to work. I am told waiting awhile is the solution but my corals die so rapidly it seems like there's nothing that I can do anymore. I've never had a coral survive for more than 2 months, and I've definitely never seen any of my corals grow.



Fortunately, every saltwater aquarium that I own has a variety of fish, anemones, macroalgaes, sea sponges, crustaceans, and mollusks that all thrive and grow under my care. So I guess these years of research aren't for nothing. But if I ever try to inch toward keeping a coral again, I'm bound to get the same end result. And now, my bank account is empty, and I officially give up on corals... for now; until I am old enough to get a job, and maybe my own place to try again.



Any advice?

Soft corals are much easier and cost less. Many beautiful varities.

 

[Tinnerito]

Soft corals are much easier and cost less. Many beautiful varities.

I've never gotten a hard coral. Soft corals just melt rapidly though.

 

[VintageReefer]

I don’t add any coral supplements, I don’t do water changes, I use natural filtration with an algae scrubber. And for the last year I’ve been maintaining alk, ca, and trace with all for reef

I really don’t add any products to my tank.

Keep the parameter stable. Get the placement correct. Get a better light.

Flow, light, and correct - stable parameters are all you need for most coral