overwhelming hoby need suggestions

kware · #1 01/08/2008, 10:36 PM

Between the chemestry and the biology, there is alot of stuff that go into a reef tank. I have a fowlr tank with one sebae anemone, 2 clownfish a bicolored angel fish, a yellow tang and a three stripe damsel . I have about 3.3 watts per gallon a hob filter and a canister filter. Any suggestions of what I should do next to get ready for coral.

Reef of Eden · #2 01/08/2008, 10:41 PM

protein skimmer and RO/DI

kware · #3 01/08/2008, 10:46 PM

ohh yeah I forgot I have a skimmer
red sea skimmer rated for 100 gal tank

kc9dre · #4 01/08/2008, 11:13 PM

If the tank has been up and running for 6yr like in your profile, then it should be stable at this point... RO/DI, reef test kit so you can test for Ca, and Phosphate. If you are not already doing so.

demonsp · #5 01/08/2008, 11:39 PM

Test kit and powerheads. There is alot of things that could go wrong but if you research and take your time it really isnt very hard. These may help.GL.

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/sta...opmistakes.htm

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/1/aafeature/view

Deb91 · #6 01/08/2008, 11:55 PM

You need better lighting. What type to you have now?

kware · #7 01/09/2008, 12:04 AM

I have a coralife 48'' 260 watt power compact( 2 65 watt actinic and 2 10,000k bulbs). and a normal florescent 48'' with 2 24'' 20 watt 20,000k bulbs

cilyjr · #8 01/09/2008, 12:12 AM

you skim already.
do you have nitrates?
i think a lighting upgrade might be in order... do you have ideas on what you want to keep for coral....the zooanthallae in coral photosynthesize so lighting would be the biggest upgrade from a STABLE FOLR system.
good luck....

p.s. i spend more time and money on my corals now than i ever did with fish

kware · #9 01/09/2008, 06:57 AM

I'm thinking about adding some T5 ho lighting.

Shooter7 · #10 01/09/2008, 08:16 AM

I think one of the main things you need to do to get ready for coral is look at getting rid of that bicolor angel. From what I've ever heard, they'll do a job of munching on coral really well.

and from Liveaquaria's site:

"Not a good reef dweller, the Bicolor Angelfish is prone to nip at stony and soft corals (sessile invertebrates) and clam mantles."

Neptune420 · #11 01/09/2008, 02:01 PM

I agree with shooter on the angel. Personally I wouldn't keep any angel in a reef. Although most dwarf angels are ok I wont risk it. I had a flame angel in my reef for a while, but he loved clam mantles and xenias. I decided to set up my community tank just for him. As far as lighting, I would either go metal halide hqi or t5 or both. Or just add some metal halide to your pc's.