LPS for low flow/low light/higher nitrate

[MissMolly]

Hi guys!

I want to add corals to one of my tanks. This one is 1.5 years old, rocks and fish. Stable. Due to heavy feeding my nitrates are always running quite high, around 20-25. Low light, low flow (flow can be increased though). I could add more macro algae to bring down nitrate but want to make sure that my specific coral can handle the nitrate no matter.)

I guess I'm an LPS girl and would like to start with something robust that isn't too moody. And something that can handling some fluctuations

My deepest darkest coral dream is Scolymia and Nemenzophyllia but I think that might be too ambitious?

Maybe it is wisest to start with caulestrea or Duncan?

Maybe even a chalice but am afraid of the long tentacles and my mollies (I breed these).

Maybe a blastomoussa?

Or fungi of some kind?

I intend to be successful so I don't want to set myself up for failure from the start.

 

[fishguy242]

Hi , maybe try a wellso/trac 1st ?
IMO , blasto's and duncans prefer med flow and light...

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I don't think the nitrate level is detrimental, it can work.
But I always wonder what low light low flow means, since it means different things to different people. Corals need a certain amount of light and flow or they won't thrive.

 

[crazyfishmom]

Fleshy LPS do really well in higher nitrate levels so I wouldn’t really be worried about that. For a low flow/low light tank, blastomussa and acans would be at the top of the list for me.

 

[kevgib67]

My tank runs nitrate at 25 and phosphate at .25 and is lps dominant. The four blastos I have are in partially shaded areas near the bottom of my rock.

 

[xitsmike]

Hi guys!

I want to add corals to one of my tanks. This one is 1.5 years old, rocks and fish. Stable. Due to heavy feeding my nitrates are always running quite high, around 20-25. Low light, low flow (flow can be increased though). I could add more macro algae to bring down nitrate but want to make sure that my specific coral can handle the nitrate no matter.)

I guess I'm an LPS girl and would like to start with something robust that isn't too moody. And something that can handling some fluctuations

My deepest darkest coral dream is Scolymia and Nemenzophyllia but I think that might be too ambitious?

Maybe it is wisest to start with caulestrea or Duncan?

Maybe even a chalice but am afraid of the long tentacles and my mollies (I breed these).

Maybe a blastomoussa?

Or fungi of some kind?

I intend to be successful so I don't want to set myself up for failure from the start.

Duncan was the first LPS I dabbled in years ago. They look pretty cool and are easy to care for, and they grow really fast.

Another would be Favia! They're pretty easy to care for and like low flow/light.

 

[MissMolly]

Hi , maybe try a wellso/trac 1st ?
IMO , blasto's and duncans prefer med flow and light...

Is that Trachyphyllia? Hadn’t thought about these! Sure these are not too sensitive for a newbie?

 

[MissMolly]

Duncan was the first LPS I dabbled in years ago. They look pretty cool and are easy to care for, and they grow really fast.

Another would be Favia! They're pretty easy to care for and like low flow/light.

Yeah duncans look great I think!

 

[MissMolly]

My tank runs nitrate at 25 and phosphate at .25 and is lps dominant. The four blastos I have are in partially shaded areas near the bottom of my rock.

This is sooo pretty. How’s the flow here?

 

[MissMolly]

Fleshy LPS do really well in higher nitrate levels so I wouldn’t really be worried about that. For a low flow/low light tank, blastomussa and acans would be at the top of the list for me.

Sounds great. Sure acans are not too difficult?

 

[crazyfishmom]

Sounds great. Sure acans are not too difficult?

In my opinion they’re easy peasy as long as you don’t have nippy fish.

 

[MissMolly]

I don't think the nitrate level is detrimental, it can work.
But I always wonder what low light low flow means, since it means different things to different people. Corals need a certain amount of light and flow or they won't thrive.

Yes agreed and understood. When you say high and low it can mean a lot of things.

I have a relative small light compared ro tank size. It’s a Fluval Nano light. PAR wise it’s okay but really the light size is too small for my tank so it’s really only lighting up the mid section as it should. I figured I would place the corals here at a suitable level. I do have the PAR description and I will measure the depth and so to know the exact PAR. As I understand - for most of the LPS - the goal is between 50-150 and that is DEF possible with this specific light.

Flow to me is like wind. Low flow to me is “very gentle sway/movement”. Mid flow is like more constant, a good steady breeze, and high flow is when the wind is really blowing your hair around

 

[kevgib67]

This is sooo pretty. How’s the flow here?

It’s low in that area.

 

[MissMolly]

Any of you have experience with Cyphastrea? As far as my research shows they might be able to do well in my tank.

 

[Silverking]

Chalice are easy and would work for you.

 

[crazyfishmom]

Any of you have experience with Cyphastrea? As far as my research shows they might be able to do well in my tank.

Cyphastrea are great, super easy for SPS and can make for some beautiful encrusted structures. There are some that are more difficult than others but if you stick to the classics you should be in good shape. Jingle bells and bizarro are both fantastic and beautiful.

 

[MissMolly]

Cyphastrea are great, super easy for SPS and can make for some beautiful encrusted structures. There are some that are more difficult than others but if you stick to the classics you should be in good shape. Jingle bells and bizarro are both fantastic and beautiful.

YES so I’m so glad to hear that! I really do love them, so prettty like a little flower garden!! I think that this will def be my my first coral purchase.

 

[MissMolly]

Chalice are easy and would work for you.

Love these but scared of the sweepers. Any idea which ones has got the long sweepers and which ones that don't? I read somewhere that not all have them.