What do soft corals need?

Like other corals, soft corals need a salinity of 1.025 or 35 ppt and a temperature of 72- 76 degrees Fahrenheit (22- 24 degrees Celsius).

Do soft corals use alkalinity?

While many soft corals do use calcium and alkalinity to form internal structures made from calcium carbonate, Xenia seems to have few if any such structures. Consequently, it does not significantly impact the demand for calcium or alkalinity in reef aquaria.

When can I add soft corals to my tank?

Coral can first be added to an aquarium when it has finished its Nitrogen Cycle, and the various algae blooms have passed. Adequate lighting, regular maintenance, frequent water changes, and stable water parameters will then help the coral grow.

How much flow do soft corals need?

Most soft and LPS corals will do best in low to medium flow reef tanks. This would be anywhere between 20 and 40 times turnover. If you choose more flow, these corals should be placed out of direct flow from pumps, wavemakers, and powerheads.

Should I Feed soft corals?

Corals are animals. Animals like to eat. In addition to providing a good source of reef-building aquarium light, you may also want to feed your corals. While there is a common belief that soft corals do not require food, that is actually a myth and is quite untrue (Borneman 2001).

What does low alkalinity do to corals?

It is because when the alkalinity level is too low, the water of the reef tank can go through the pH swings which is very detrimental for marine animals. Many organisms in the water need a range of alkalinity to live healthy and sound. If the level of the alkalinity goes poor, the growth of those animals gets hampered.

Do soft corals need magnesium?

The aquarist keeping live rock, a mix of soft corals and maybe a few stony corals will have a higher magnesium demand than a fish-only tank. Maintaining magnesium levels in this type of set-up will usually need a general all-around supplement in addition to water changes.

Are soft corals easy to keep?

Beautiful, live soft corals can be easy to take care in reef aquariums. These are hardy varieties that typically adapt well to aquarium life and don’t require intense light; most do best with low to moderate lighting and water movement or similar reef tank conditions.

Is too much flow bad for corals?

Wild caught fish, especially the big ones can handle a lot of flow. Most SPS appreciate pretty high flow rates. However, most LPS corals will retract or can detach from their skeletons with too much/strong flow.

How many times should a reef tank turnover?

A healthy tank water turnover rate to strive for is six to 10 times per hour. Many aquarists feel that higher turnover is better, especially for a reef tank system.

What should water temp be for soft coral?

Every now and then you will want to confirm that the temperature is stable, somewhere in the neighborhood of ~78 degrees Fahrenheit and that specific gravity is about 1.025 and pH is hopefully around 8.2. You shouldn’t have too many problems keeping water parameters around these levels, as long as you use a high-quality salt mix.

Which is the best coral for a beginner tank?

The green star polyps are the ultimate bulletproof soft corals for a beginner saltwater tank–they may actually be able to survive a wound like that–although I don’t recommend that experiment for a variety of reasons. It is just a metaphor. Green star polyps thrive in the average beginner saltwater tank and will grow on just about any surface.

What should I wear to a coral tank?

As a rule of thumb you should wear goggles and gloves if cutting or fragging Zoathids. Xenia has and always will be a popular coral with beginners to the hobby. Often loathed by people who have let it get out of control xenia can be a stunning addition to any display tank.

Is it safe to take care of soft corals?

So be careful and do not let one get out of hand as it can grow on top of other corals and sometimes certain species of soft corals can be considered pests. Xenia has taken over this entire reef in Venezuela. Anyone can take care of soft corals and they are the first step to starting your reefing adventures.