Saltcorner
By Bob Goemans
By Bob Goemans
Dear Bob,
Thanks for your last letter. After a major rethink and some substantial research, I've finally figured out what corals, fish, equipment and decor I'm using. For corals I'm sticking with large polyped stony corals; the list is as follows: a large group of different colored mushroom anemones, a group of yellow polyps, a torch coral or candy cane coral, a Pineapple or true brain coral, a tooth coral, a bubble coral and an anchor coral. I understand that all these corals have similar requirements. I'm also having a small group of Asterea snails, and later on four blue legged hermit crabs and for crustaceans a pair of boxing shrimp.
For fish I've made substantial changes. Instead of a flame hawkfish, I plan to keep either a long nosed hawkfish or a royal gramma, a midas blenny instead of a bi-colour blenny as they are more peaceful and don't nip corals, a pair of fire gobies for colour and a pyjama wrasse. The pyjama wrasse will be added last as I heard they can be quite aggressive to anything which is added later on.
For equipment I'm not using a plenum as it will take up too much room, which I can't spare in my small tank. So instead I'll place 1.5" or 2" of coral sand on the bottom. I don't like the idea of making a kind of bridge as this sounds a bit dangerous, so I'm going to use a largish protein skimmer and one 1500lph circulation pump or two 1000lph circulation pumps. With lighting I'll use two triton tubes at 24" long in a single hood. (confused on the right amount of watts).
There's a lot of confusion as to what supplements I should use for my intended reef tank, and I'm wondering if you can advise me on what to use? For water changes there's also some confusion. The confusion is in the purification of water and if it's necessary, as the water we get from the tap is very clean. I'm clear that you need to let the water and salt mix for 24 hours but why do I need to purify my water?
Thanks for your thorough help with the last letter.
Regards
Adrian Keene,
Australia
Dear Adrian,
Thanks for your return posting. As for corals, they all basically have the same requirements, which is moderate water movement and medium light. And medium light would about 3 watts per gallon. As for the shrimp, Boxing shrimp do not provide cleaning services in captivity, and they must be a male and female, as two of the same sex will fight each other.
As for supplements, since you're not using a calcium reactor, I would highly recommend using a two part calcium and buffer additive. An iodine additive would also be useful, and use as directed. Otherwise, since your system is less complex than if it contained a lot of reef crest stony corals, no other additives are really needed. Of course those that sell them might disagree, but honestly, your calcium and alkalinity levels are the most important.
When it come to the quality of water from the tap, only you can be the best judge. If there is little or no nitrate, no phosphate, and no copper, then the tap water should be fine. In the United States every user is entitled to a free test of the water coming to their home. If that is possible in Australia, I would take advantage of it and see what the different levels are. Otherwise, unless you test it, its guesswork.
Cheers,
Bob Goemans
