A few questions

[cweber]

Okay I am soon going to start a reef aquarium, and have a few questions. Ive been researching what it takes for a reef to thrive for a few months, and find somthing new every day. These are a few things ive recently read or thought about.

1. Can you have to much light? For instance 70 watt halide on a 10 gal. Ive read that to much will hurt the corals ability to photosynthisize.(?spelling?)

2. What happens when the corals have been in the tank a while and grow close together? Do you have to keep fragging them or do they stop at each others territory? Ive wondered this for quite a while.

3. Corals can sting each other, can they do harm to us? I went snorkling last summer and they said dont get to clos to the fire coral, but what about most of the normal stuff everyone has?

Anyway i think thats all for now. Its funny how you think about stuff then when its time to do something (like ask questions) your mind goes blank. Thanks in advance.

Cory

[fishieness]

hey there
1. There can be too mught light for some corals, but a 70 watt Mh over a 10 gallon is not going to do it. as long as you acclimate your corals to your light from the LFS light you will be all set.

2. some corals will intermingle and do find together. some will stop at the boarder of touching eachother.

3. some corals can harm you and sting you. i have seen many people have a reaction to frogspawns and other euphyllas. i have touched mine pleanty of times and never have had a reaction, it all depends on who you are. also, there are some toxins in the aquarium trade such as palytoxins which are from palythoas. it is highly recomended to wear gloves and eye protection while fragging these.

hope i was able to help

[cweber]

Thanks fishieness! I was going to ask what would be to much, but that would probly be out of my budget. haha. So if i setup my 10, 70 will probly be the way to go. If i setup my 29 instead, would 150 mh be good for that? Im just in a huge debate right now over the cost differences between the two. I am just gonna take it slow and do it right either way. Thanks

Cory

[fishieness]

that depends on what corals you are looking to keep. in some cases, a 150 over a 10 gallon would not be overkill at all. even a 250 would be good assuming that you arent going to run into heat issues.
what corals are you looking to keep?
i would also suggest some actinic or even daylight supplimation for the 10 gallon also.

[cweber]

This will be my first attempt with corals. Polyps are probly my favorite, and then probly acros and then a few shrooms. It sounds like acros are more difficult but if i can afford it i would like to be ready and not upgrade again. Any advice as to what to start off with?

[Germanman]

star polyps, mushrooms, rhodochordias, zooanthids, leather corals, toadstools, and some brain corals are hardy ad will take a bit of stress form beginner mistakes but its best to read up on them before adding them and also make a list of everything you want and go from there.

[cweber]

Oh man! Im way ahead of you there! When I want somthing i get kind of obsesed. Im on this forum off and on everyday,i bet i can recite the foster and smith cataloge, i have 2 books ive read 2 or 3 times. Ive been so interested in aquariums so much i looked into marine bio,the under water world facinates me so much, but im in a good possition were im at. Anyway the fish i want have all been researched for compatability and diet, i just have to decide which ones i want. My boss probly thinks im crazy, i have pieces of paper on my desk that have each fish with there size, diet, reef compatablity. Now im trying to figure out which corals i would like to keep. Anyway sorry bout the rant. Just letting you know im doing my research first. I think ive decided on the 10 gallon w/ 10 gal sump/fuge, mostly for cost.(i will change my mind at least a hundred times before its done) Will 70 wat halide be enough for about anything? At least for what has been mentioned.
Thanks for the replys.

Cory

wow that is the longest post ive ever wrote, sorry if i rambled to much.

[fishieness]

well... you did mention acros. or did you mean everything that germanman mentioned?
if you wan acros, i would suggest a 150. the mushrooms and leathers and zoos will all do fine under it, and some will actualy do better

[cweber]

So the 150 would be my better bet? Would acros do well under the 150? I would like to keep them yes, but germanman just didnt mention them for beginer. Well like i said about changing my mind, do you think i should setup the 29 instead? Cost is just kind of an issue right now. The 29 will make me take my time a little more though. What if i put some power compacts on the 29 to get it going, then put a 150 mh on and change the pcs to actinic. Could i keep anything while it just has the pcs on it? I just know i will want bigger. When i started fresh water, i bought a 10 then 20 then 30 and now my 55, within a year and just blew though the money. Anyway I kind of think i would be better starting the 29. Whats your opinion?

Cory

[Germanman]

all the things i listed will do fine under pc's whats the wattage though?

[cweber]

I was thinking at least two 65 watt lamps possibly three. So do i just need halide mainly for acros?

[Germanman]

yes a halide would be needed for acros or like 5 T-5 lights but a halide with some PCs would be best

[cweber]

Last night i was looking at some that i like. Red and blue mushrooms, orange spot colony polyp, button polyp, super color colony polyp, pineapple brain coral. So these would all do well under pcs? Thanks for the help.

Cory

[Germanman]

Last night i was looking at some that i like. Red and blue mushrooms, orange spot colony polyp, button polyp, super color colony polyp, pineapple brain coral. So these would all do well under pcs? Thanks for the help.

Cory

the brain might need a bit more but should do fine otherwise theyll do great.

[cweber]

Sweet now i just need to keep savin $$$ so i can get everything. Thanks for the help. Do you mind if i im you with questions later?

[cweber]

Another question. I will need at least 30 times turnover, is this in the display tank or total for display and sump?

[Reefscape]

Display tank mate, you only really want a slow flow going through the sump else the macro algae will not be able to do it job properly and colonies of pods etc etc will not be able to establish a colony in a high flowing fuge...

Niko

[Germanman]

Sweet now i just need to keep savin $$$ so i can get everything. Thanks for the help. Do you mind if i im you with questions later?

sure im me anytime but if others might benifit from ur questions make sure to ask on here