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looking for some coral recommendations!

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by CognitiveItch, Mar 19, 2012.

  1. Mar 19, 2012 #1
    CognitiveItch

    CognitiveItch

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    I was wondering if anyone had recommendations for corals that like (or, if at least don't like, do fine in) water that isn't perfectly pristine.  Now, I'm not saying my water is a cess pool or anything, but the nitrates are generally around 5-10 ppm and it seems like plenty of corals still aren't a fan of even that level.  I'm not certain I can get it much lower than it is without adding a sump/separate refugium, which isn't an option right now due to space issues.  So, I'd like to add things that at least will be content in these conditions (the xenia is happy as can be, I've already had to prune it back a bit).
    Also as a side note, we added a powerhead to the tank and while I like the extra flow, it's nearly impossible now to have the flow pointed as such to not stir up large amounts of sand.  Can I like, add some coarse gravel (large particle sand) over the top of the corner where the sand is being kicked up excessively, or is that a big no-no?
     
  2. Mar 19, 2012 #2
    Bela

    Bela Inactive User

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    Most softies do very well in water that isn't pristine. There are tons of colorful zoas to bad head that would do fine in the system you described. There are plenty of LPS that should do well too. I had great success with frogspawn and hammer coral in a tank that I honestly never tested nitrates on, but I would be willing to bet they were never 0.
     
  3. Mar 19, 2012 #3
    mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

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    yeah ACANS possibly as well.
     
  4. Mar 19, 2012 #4
    xroads La Porte City, IA

    xroads Veteran Reefkeeper Vendor

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    Pretty much any softie or LPS should be ok.

    Try an SPS or two. With 5-10 nitrates it may grow better & have nice color. Do you keep your algae in check?
     
  5. Mar 19, 2012 #5
    CognitiveItch

    CognitiveItch

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    There's minimal diatom at the moment is all. Had some cyano for a bit, but it seems to have dried up finally.
     
  6. Mar 19, 2012 #6
    glaspie69

    glaspie69 Experienced Reefkeeper

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    I'm a firm believer in starting with softies and possibly an lps and learning your way to sps, keeping a softie tank thats strong and healthy can take just as much effort as an sps tank and is far more forgiving if mistakes are made along the way.
     
  7. Mar 21, 2012 #7
    fewbert

    fewbert Inactive User

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    I have had good luck with mushrooms zoos and acans. The acans don't like any thing above 20 in my case. Added a refugium and new sand and rubble mangroves and cheatos. Lost most of the cheatos so. Y who knows but when my nit would hit 20 or so the acans were very unhappy. But every thing is starting to get in to check. Hope this helps.
     

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