Beginner Corals

Well, it shouldn't matter what type of water is in your local area, as you should already be using RODI water in your tank. Iowa has terribly high phosphate in the water, in general, and I certainly wouldn't want to add that to my tank, not to mention whatever else (chlorine in city water)!
Depending on the wattage of your bulbs will depend on what types of coral you can keep. You just have them listed as "fluorescent". As in the ones that came with the tank? Are they power compacts? T5's? Any actinic? For high light coral like sps, some lps and some softies, metal halides are needed a general rule is 5-6 watts per gallon, but it will also depend on things like whether they're 14k, 20k etc. For zoanthids, softies such as mushrooms etc, florescents will be ok, but they will need to be something like a power compact or T5. Sps coral will also need much more flow than the one (?) powerhead you have....... softies will not.

 

Please provide us with more details, especially lighting. If it is a standard flourecent light fixture, nothing will do well under that low of light.

 

Yes, please more details and we will be glad to help. Also, how long have you had your mandarin? It is EXTREMELY rare for them to eat anything but pods. I am very happy for you if he is eating frozen food, but this will shock many but we have heard of it.

 

Mushrooms would be my first recommendation. I would recommend colorful ricordea. Blue, pink, green etc. I find it impossible to kill mushrooms. Believe me, I've tried...