Luke's Rio 180 Reef

[Luketendo]

What do you reckon I should get first? I don't like zoas too much but maybe a sacro would be nice for my clowns and I kind of like zoas but I'd prefer to get a mix of corals for my money.

I really like lps but dunno if I should be getting any as a first coral? If I was too it'd be an easy one like bubble and hammerhead.

Are you thinking of going mainly the softy route? If so, you want colour and movement, so maybe some pussy coral, clove polyps and some zoas.

If you are going mainly lps - if you really want a toadstool, get that first and allow it to settle for a few weeks, wouldn't be a good idea to add a hammer and toadstool at the same time as the toadstool may start chemical warfare!!!! So maybe get the toadstool and some zoas and start looking for a hammer for latter (many people run activated carbon if they are going for a mixed tank - if you want to do this, do it now, before anything is added)

Seffie x

Don't like softies and love lps and in the future I want a few sps should be able to keep a couple ok. Hmm not sure a toadstool would only be for the clowns and tbh would they be ok in a hammer? If so do you think a hammer is suitable for a beginner or is it too hard? I am going to run activated carbon for 2 days a week.

Do Zoas and mushies and rics and stuff do chemical warfare if so is it as bad?

Also are brain type corals suitable for beginners because they are my favourite?

 

[tropic_john]

Luke, when you can could you upload a fts please. I'm looking around at the usual marine suspects tanks for ideas

 

[Luketendo]

Luke, when you can could you upload a fts please. I'm looking around at the usual marine suspects tanks for ideas

Got some on the first page hasn't really changed much.

 

[tropic_john]

kk thanks,

everyones marine tanks are amazing

What is the green grassy stuf? Macro algae?

 

[Luketendo]

kk thanks,

everyones marine tanks are amazing

What is the green grassy stuf? Macro algae?

Yeah it keeps my nitrates and phosphates at 0 but I've removed all of it since. However it will soon grow back.

Btw I've got a question:

I want to get a pair of narva blue T5 but my halide is at the back of my hood so there is no room to put any T5s behind the halide, would it be ok if I put both the T5s towards the front of the hood one would be central-ish and one would be towards the front?

I realised that I need to get a new halide bulb before I get corals, so what I thought I might as well do is get the blue tubes too has they are needed for corals too (if not needed, beneficial and make my corals look better.) Anyway, once I've got the blues I will be able to work out what halide bulb I want. At the moment I have a BLV 14K but I might get a BLV 10K next time since it gives better growth and will balance the blues out. What do you guys think?

 

[Luketendo]

By the way I've gotten my Coral Beauty it seems confident not out the front quite yet though as its only just got in.

Anyway also managed to get my tests kits and got some rather low parameters that need buffering up!

5.6 dKH or 2meq/L
Ca 400ppm
Mg 1230ppm

I have some Kent marine calcium but that's it, what products do you reckon I should buy to keep it up or what else should I do?

 

[seffieuk]

What are your future stocking plans Luke, do you have a long term goal?

Seffie x

 

[Luketendo]

What are your future stocking plans Luke, do you have a long term goal?

Seffie x

Yeah I want to have a few softies but not many lots of lps and a few sps along the top. So basically I need slightly higher levels especially in KH.

 

[Luketendo]

Unfortunately I have just found my new coral beauty dead so I am taking it back tomorrow along with a water sample. Hopefully I will be able to get a new one. Not really sure on the cause of death it had a tad of hole in the head that I didn't notice in the shop but otherwise I thought it was fine. My parameters are spot on too and everything in the tank is doing great.

 

[TigerIssey]

So sorry Luke, things are not great atm are they.

Never nice to a lose a beautiful fish.

 

[Luketendo]

So sorry Luke, things are not great atm are they.

Never nice to a lose a beautiful fish.

No not really on the upside I may have found a cheap arcadia ballast for my T5s.

Anyway off to watch the Palace match on tv.

 

[Buddyboy67]

Sorry to hear this Luke after the trouble you've had trying to get one..at least your water will show lfs that it wasn't because of your tank.

 

[owlbassboy]

awe luke that sucks hate losing stuff

 

[Luketendo]

Sorry to hear this Luke after the trouble you've had trying to get one..at least your water will show lfs that it wasn't because of your tank.

At least I hope so no doubt knowing my luck some rubbish will be made up, however I will stand my ground.

Yeah I know first marine fish I have lost not really my fault though I don't think.

 

[seffieuk]

Sorry for your loss Luke, it is horrible

Seffie x