Can anyone recommend me a good book to purchase on corals. I don't want to kill anything I don't have to. I've been searching on-line, but there are too many books on the topic. I've got my eye on some torch coral and some bubble coral. If they work out and survive me I would like to look more into the leathers, brain and eventually clams. Of course all that will happen after I buy a house and a larger tank. I just invested in a 36" 2 - 96 watt pc fixture and one 6500 bulb and one antic 03 bulb. All that extra said, anyone know a good book on corals to purchase. By the way I plan to make this a fish and reef tank (30 gallon currently).
Need to learn so I won't be a murderer
- Thread starter duhdonutman
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Thanks Dave. One more real quick question for you if you're there. I'm orderin my lights and I told the guy I need a 6500K light and an antic 03 light. He told me that 6500K was for freshwater and 10000K was for salt. All that I've seen says that coral responds to 6500K best. Which do you suggest?
Go with the 10,000k and the actinic...also, Corals: A Quick Reference Guide (Oceanographic Series) by Julian Sprung is a great reference that shows hardiness and placement of corals in the tank. Mushroom corals are a perfect starter coral as well as the bubble coral. Although you see clams being sold everywhere, they really need metal halide to make it, and they can outgrow a 30g tank if they thrive. There are a lot of cool shrimps and crabs and snails you can get. I appreciate that you are doing your homework...I researched reef tanks for 6 months before I jumped in and I've had a happy reef tank for over 3 years now! In my 25g minireef, I have a gold stripe maroon clown, a yellow damsel and a yellow watchman goby. Good luck!
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Just to add a bit, the 6500 K would be fine for corals, especially combined with actinics. It will look a bit warmer, maybe even a bit yellow, but the spectrum is appropriate for coral growth. I use 6500 K Iwasaki lamps and am getting excellent growth. What I am trying to say is that you will be fine whether you combine actinics with 6500 K or 10000 K.
I disagree with your LFS guy about 6500 K's on FW aquaria. It will work for plant growth, but would look awfully harsh.
I disagree with your LFS guy about 6500 K's on FW aquaria. It will work for plant growth, but would look awfully harsh.
also if you start with aquacultured frags they are cheaper, hardier and you don't have to worry about accidentally killing something that could have been left in the ocean and lived... this is what i plan to do when i start my tank in a couple months.