Adding Coral to 55 gallon Reef

[sharkman07]

Hi, I purchased 9 corals on A online live sale yesterday that will be the first corals I add to my new 55 gallon reef tank. Any tips on the care of these species?
Hulk Lepto
Watermelon psammacora
Sweetheart Cyphastrea
Jingle Bells Cyphastrea
Daisy clove polyps
Riddler Chalice
Pacman Acro
Teal Capnella
Captain jerk palys
I have a 48 inch 4 bulb T-5 light over the tank. Will this be enough par?

 

[tzabor10]

Can’t wait to see your tank. It sounds amazing. Acropora early on in your tank. I see you like a challenge.

 

[sharkman07]

Yes got the Acro for $10 and figured I would try it. This is my 2nd reef tank and I currently have a 225 gallon fowlr, so I have some experience with corals.

 

[sharkman07]

And yes I love a challenge!

 

[Lavey29]

Generally speaking, SPS top 3rd, LPS middle to lower half and softs near the bottom.

 

[sharkman07]

Will my light be good enough for the sps?

 

[Lavey29]

Will my light be good enough for the sps?

I don't know, never used T5 but they are a proven light for reef tanks. Best to rent a par meter and map your tank par.

 

[Reefering1]

4 48" t5 on a 55 is sufficient, par reading not necessary

 

[Lavey29]

I honestly wouldn't spend to much on coral right from the start. Your first year is going to be filled with ups and downs and ugly phases and you're going to lose corals as your biome develops biodiversity and microfauna.

 

[Lavey29]

4 48" t5 on a 55 is sufficient, par reading not necessary

Little confused how you can say par numbers not needed? We don't know his rockscape. Is it set high, mid, low, spread, overhang, shade areas, etc... it is impossible to say with certainty that his light spread is sufficient in all places of his tank. What is the spread? Are there any hot spots, etc.... just to many variables to say par numbers not needed. They are an important element as you add coral to your system

 

[sharkman07]

Here is the tank it is an AIO

 

[sharkman07]

I will likely not be buying more corals for a while. I bought all these for $75 total so not a ton to lose

 

[Lavey29]

Here is the tank it is an AIO

So it is an open minimimalist design that is only mid and low level in relation to your tank.

 

[sharkman07]

So it is an open minimimalist design that is only mid and low level in relation to your tank.

Yes

 

[sharkman07]

I will likely rent a par meter before I buy any more sps

 

[Lavey29]

You can use the free photone app on your phone to get a decent par reading at your water surface.

 

[Reefering1]

Little confused how you can say par numbers not needed? We don't know his rockscape. Is it set high, mid, low, spread, overhang, shade areas, etc... it is impossible to say with certainty that his light spread is sufficient in all places of his tank. What is the spread? Are there any hot spots, etc.... just to many variables to say par numbers not needed. They are an important element as you add coral to your system

It's 4 48"t5 on a 55. Nothing provides better spread/no hot spot. He can pack that tank full of acros and be fine. Maybe add 2 more in a few years if they start shading. Think of all the fantastic sps tanks under t5 before par meters were a common thing.

 

[Lavey29]

Yes

It's early but you need to plan what you want as the dominant aspect of your corals in your tank. SPS high light, LPS mid to low light and softs generally low light. I have an SPS dominant mixed reef so 300 to 400 par up top, 150 to 250 mid tank and 50 to 125 par at the bottom.

 

[sharkman07]

It's early but you need to plan what you want as the dominant aspect of your corals in your tank. SPS high light, LPS mid to low light and softs generally low light. I have an SPS dominant mixed reef so 300 to 400 par up top, 150 to 250 mid tank and 50 to 125 par at the bottom.

What would you recommend I like the looks of both lps and sps but know lps are easier most of the time

 

[Lavey29]

It's 4 48"t5 on a 55. Nothing provides better spread/no hot spot. He can pack that tank full of acros and be fine. Maybe add 2 more in a few years if they start shading. Think of all the fantastic sps tanks under t5 before par meters were a common thing.

Yes now that he posted a tank picture his light spread should be good but he also bought LPS and soft corals so how will that aspect mix in under that light spread along side SPS?