Help with hardy corals for new tank

[ken6217]

I have a 90 gallon tank with about 130 lbs of live rock. The tank is cycled and water change done. I have a good skimmer and my lighting consists of two 54 watt T5's and two 250 watt HQI's.

Can someone recommend some hardy corals to start with. Besides wanting to see somthing in my tank, I would like to get the metabolic processes going in my aquarium.

Also, where in the tank would you put these corals for acclimation? Do I move them up later? lastly, how far off the top of the water do you recommend that I put the fixture. I can adjust the hanging height.

Thanks,
Ken

[Dubbin1]

Hardy corals will include zoas, xenia, mushrooms, leathers and green star polyps. Some easy LPS would be hammer, torch and frogspawn. You will want to start everything at the bottom of the tank and then move from there. Lights should be around 8"-10" or so off the water surface but thats up to you.

[ken6217]

Dubbin1,
Thanks for the reply. Would an open brain coral be considered a hardy beginner coral?

besides what the corals are getting from the light, what else should I be supplimenting the tank so that the corals get everything they should be getting to sustain them.

Thanks,
Ken

[Dubbin1]

No I would not consider an open brain to be a good beginner coral. For SPS and LPS corals you will want to keep and eye on your alkalinity, calcium and magnesium.

[theatrus]

Open Brain is relatively hardy, but I would not recommend it for a brand new tank.

The only things you should really supplement (if you find a need for it - this implies testing for it!) are calcium and alkalinity. This is more critical for stony corals of course.

[TekCat]

Since we're on Open Brain coral topic, how is it tollerant to nitrates?

[theatrus]

Keep them at 10 and under and it should be tolerant. It is a stony coral and does prefer them as low as possible, but isn't as picky as other species.

[ken6217]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8565174#post8565174 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dubbin1
No I would not consider an open brain to be a good beginner coral. For SPS and LPS corals you will want to keep and eye on your alkalinity, calcium and magnesium.

My alkalinity is at 12 dkh. New cycled tank after water change with Reef Crystals. I may look at Tropic Marin with a lower alkalinity though. I do have a two chamber calcium reactor, but do not have the CO2 running yet as my alkalinity is high enough.

My question is should I lower my alkalinity with the Tropic Marin first before adding any corals, or is the 12 dkh acceptable for them. I only put on the lights two days ago, so I guess the coraline algae that is left on the rocks and the new corals will start to use up some of the alkalinity (I don't knwo how fast though).

I appreciate your help.
Ken