Coral Placement

[SelectedByNature]

Hello,

 

My tank is still cycling but I've been continuing my nonstop research on everything reefing.

 

I was wondering if there was a good resource for basic coral placement or a (trusted) wiki or guide website for coral care, or a thread here perhaps. I did try searching but didn't find anything tuned for a beginner.

 

I will be starting with softies of course and I'm hoping that my scape will permit proper placement and growth...

 

Thanks for any input.

[HarryPotter]

Placement also depends on your lights and flow.

 

In general,

 

SPS corals prefer high light and flow

LPS corals prefer medium light and medium erratic flow

Soft corals prefer low-medium light and low-medium flow

 

Of course there are exceptions but that should be a general guide to get you started!

[SelectedByNature]

Placement also depends on your lights and flow.

In general,

SPS corals prefer high light and flow

LPS corals prefer medium light and medium erratic flow

Soft corals prefer low-medium light and low-medium flow

Of course there are exceptions but that should be a general guide to get you started!

Thanks Harry Potter,

 

I have an LED Biocube 32 with dual jebao sw-4 and a three pillars style aquascape with sorta smaller flatter pillar, a medium height one and a pretty tall one like 5-6 inches from the surface.

 

I get that I have to research a particular coral and place it accordingly, however about optimal growth paths, taking over other coral, gauging flow effects on the coral etc, are these all "live and learn" type things? Being there isn't really much information that will help me prior to actually placing the coral and seeing how they react in my system? Perhaps I'm over thinking things being my first reef...

 

Thanks again for your comments,

 

http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/hh597/ffejneddilg/IMG_20170113_152824_zpspevkh3ra_edit_1484405345415_zpsqyjteb2k.jpg

[davidinnes]

I'm pretty much a beginner myself so take my words with a grain of salt these folks on here KNOW

 

When I bought my first sps at the LFS the owner (Been in business for a long long timer his dad started it and he is long pasted), he said start it low work it up higher gradually so that is what I have been doing, about a week at a time. Next step will be at it's highest.

[SelectedByNature]

I'm pretty much a beginner myself so take my words with a grain of salt these folks on here KNOW

 

When I bought my first sps at the LFS the owner (Been in business for a long long timer his dad started it and he is long pasted), he said start it low work it up higher gradually so that is what I have been doing, about a week at a time. Next step will be at it's highest.

Start low as in height in the tank? Like start with corals that require less light essentially? Or start low as in don't add too much too soon?

 

Thanks for commenting

[davidinnes]

He was addressing this particular sps I purchased as in height in the tank. As mentioned by HarryPotter lots of factors involved, like where did he have it placed in the tank, what was his lighting, what is my lighting so on.

 

The tank it was in at the LFS had 6 height tiers, this one was very near the top. Not sure why he wanted it to start low but that's what he told me.

[SelectedByNature]

Oh okay gotcha. Yeah I suppose it was advice particularly suited to your situation.

[debbeach13]

When you know what coral you are interested in people can be more detailed in their response. Starting low or reducing the intensity (if possible) of your lights to assimilate the corals is usually required with all new corals. I often look up the coral on Live Aquaria or some other online line vendor for suggestions. I think others have mentioned R2R or Melvin's reef for reference info also. Welcome to nano reef there are some very knowledgeable members that will be able to guide you here.

[SelectedByNature]

When you know what coral you are interested in people can be more detailed in their response. Starting low or reducing the intensity (if possible) of your lights to assimilate the corals is usually required with all new corals. I often look up the coral on Live Aquaria or some other online line vendor for suggestions. I think others have mentioned R2R or Melvin's reef for reference info also. Welcome to nano reef there are some very knowledgeable members that will be able to guide you here.

Thanks Deb helpful and appreciated.

 

Yeah I guess my thread is a bit vague considering coral placement depends totally on the specific coral and my setup.

 

Perhaps I will ask more detailed questions (if needed) when I narrow down specific coral.

 

A more particular question about xenia though, it really does have to have its own island right? How far away from another rock must it be kept? If placed on one of my pillars it would take over the whole pillar in time?

 

Thanks again for commenting.

[Clown79]

There is no perfect placement for any coral.

 

Placement depends on light, flow, and neighbouring corals.

 

With the lighting you have, lps and softies are best. I wouldn't venture into sps until you are more experienced. They need stability and a lot of light.

 

Brain corals often prefer low tank placement, in the sandbed. They don't like high light or high flow.

 

Frogspawn, hammers, torches- like medium light and medium flow. You can place them anywhere that provides this but watch distance between them and others as they have long tenticles/sweepers that do sting.

 

Zoas- are pretty hardy and prefer various conditions.

 

Leathers- my experience, they can live in low light but actually do better in medium light. Thry colour up better too. They don't like low flow as detritus settles on them and sloughing off is too difficult.

 

Gsp- high light, good flow. Put on seperate rock or back wall as they dpread fast

 

Xenia- high light medium flow, same as gsp but easy to frag

 

Lobos, blastos, plates- medium light, medium to low flow.

[SelectedByNature]

There is no perfect placement for any coral.

 

Placement depends on light, flow, and neighbouring corals.

 

With the lighting you have, lps and softies are best. I wouldn't venture into sps until you are more experienced. They need stability and a lot of light.

 

Brain corals often prefer low tank placement, in the sandbed. They don't like high light or high flow.

 

Frogspawn, hammers, torches- like medium light and medium flow. You can place them anywhere that provides this but watch distance between them and others as they have long tenticles/sweepers that do sting.

 

Zoas- are pretty hardy and prefer various conditions.

 

Leathers- my experience, they can live in low light but actually do better in medium light. Thry colour up better too. They don't like low flow as detritus settles on them and sloughing off is too difficult.

 

Gsp- high light, good flow. Put on seperate rock or back wall as they dpread fast

 

Xenia- high light medium flow, same as gsp but easy to frag

 

Lobos, blastos, plates- medium light, medium to low flow.

Thanks Clown!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Cheers and happy weekend

[Clown79]

You're welcome.

Have a great one!

[Newstead]

A more particular question about xenia though, it really does have to have its own island right? How far away from another rock must it be kept? If placed on one of my pillars it would take over the whole pillar in time?

 

Thanks again for commenting.

Simple answer, yes it will. But I have found that the tannish tall xenia will take over much faster than the shorter whitish pompom types. Keep it on its own rock a few inches from other rock and it is usually fine. I actually love my pompom xenia - the movement is mesmerizing and it is a great beginner coral as it doesn't mind (in fact prefers) some nitrates.

[SelectedByNature]

Simple answer, yes it will. But I have found that the tannish tall xenia will take over much faster than the shorter whitish pompom types. Keep it on its own rock a few inches from other rock and it is usually fine. I actually love my pompom xenia - the movement is mesmerizing and it is a great beginner coral as it doesn't mind (in fact prefers) some nitrates.

Awesome thanks Newstead!

 

I'm actually very interested in xenia too! I know people consider it a weed but I find it fascinating. And the point of a softy tank is movement isn't it.

 

I will try to rescape a bit to have a dedicated xenia rock/pillar.

 

Does xenia take itself over? I assume you can't mix and match different xenias on one rock/pillar for the same reasons as matching it with non-xenias?

 

Cheers and thanks again.

[Newstead]

 

Does xenia take itself over? I assume you can't mix and match different xenias on one rock/pillar for the same reasons as matching it with non-xenias?

 

Cheers and thanks again.

Never tried it. But I would assume the faster spreading type would overtake the pompom.

[Clown79]

Xenia is awesome and doesn't always take over. I have some on my back walk.

 

They are easy to remove and frag too.

[Newstead]

Xenia is awesome and doesn't always take over. I have some on my back walk.

 

They are easy to remove and frag too.

Great idea! Do you have a pic on a tank thread?

[SelectedByNature]

Xenia is awesome and doesn't always take over. I have some on my back walk.

 

They are easy to remove and frag too.

Agreed pic would be awesome!