Reef only ?

[cshack5405]

If I have a coral only tank do I need to do water changes still? If so why?

 

[mc524]

Of course! Corals still poop! Plus they will use up minerals. You could dose, but i don't think its quite the same as adding new water with salt mixed in. You may not have to do as often, but i would still do water changes.

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[cshack5405]

Ok so like prob once every one or two weeks?

 

[acroholic]

If you don't have fish poopin' in the water, you might also want to feed some coral food as well.

 

[elfloyd]

MC524;922258 wrote: Of course! Corals still poop! Plus they will use up minerals. You could dose, but i don't think its quite the same as adding new water with salt mixed in. You may not have to do as often, but i would still do water changes.

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+1

Corals will deplete minerals that need to be replaced.

 

[cshack5405]

Ok very good to know thx and yea I'll prob feed coral frenzy or something like that when I start up the idea I'm just trying to figure out a few details before I get the tank and stuff. It's just an idea right now

 

[nickg]

I would say just as often, unless you dose. Minerals are minerals if mixed reefs, or coral only. I feel like if it was a fish ONLY and you have the right balance of filtration you can do much less WC as a reff with corals.

Just my $.02

And please let me know if you all disagree with my thinking..

 

[mc524]

Yeah Dave brought up another good point. When you feed, you will be adding some unwanted stuff to the water column.
You might want to try a food that is heavily rinsed in RO water to help minimize that. Anything dry is going to be higher in Phosphates. So i would stick with a frozen food that is washed several times. I only know of one. Reef Frenzy.

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[cshack5405]

What about a clean up crew what will I need when it comes to that?

Edit: And yea I ment reef frenzy not coral frenzy lol

 

[mc524]

Cuc, whatever you choose. Shrimps will tend to steal food from the coral. So i would stick with Snails, maybe a couple blue leg crabs, an emerald crab would be fine. Sand sifting star fish would be okay as well.

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[cshack5405]

Ok so a couple snails. Should I toss in a sand sifting starfish?

Edit: And i really appreciate all the feedback guys the info is really helpful!

 

[kirkwood]

you could just skip all the dirtier foods and just feed your corals with aminos with a product like seachem Fuel. I would avoid emeralds in your CUC because I have noticed them prey on zoas when an algae food source wasn't readily available. I would stick with red/blue leg hermits to clean rockwork, astrea snails to clean glass, and tsongan nassarius for sand sifting.

I do think that unless you are absolutely meticulous and steadfast in your quarantine and dipping procedures for new additions that eventually you may need to add a fish. Maybe a wrasse to deal with bristle worms, or a tang for algae. Usually the minimum bioload tanks I see have a yellow tang and a melanarus wrasse. Fish with jobs.