Water flow and Lighting requirements for coral defined?

[Sogas]

Does anyone know of a source or can someone provide a quick definition for what some of the parameters that you see for keeping coral are.

When I see some list a coral with the following requirements I am left scratching my head.

Example....
Lighting: Low
Flow: High
Difficulty: Advanced
Placement: High

How do you calculate a low, medium, high flow rates?

How do you know if you fall into low, medium, or high lighting? Does high always mean MH lighting?

How do you know what depth to place them at? I have read that if you have metal halides you might have to place a coral low while with PC you might have to start off at a medium height and move them up.

Finally, there is difficulty of care. Beginner and Expert are obvious but Average, Medium, etc… doesn't mean anything to me. Does this indicate additional feeding requirements, less tolerant to changes in water conditions or a combination? Should I avoid anything but beginner corals for now or venture into average and just be prepared to provide extra care?

I would really like to begin populating my tank with coral but I kinda need to know what the definitions are so I’ll know what to purchase.

Additionally, can you mix SPS, LPS, Zoanthids and Ricordia? Is there a point where you going to have to pick one and stick with it or you can mix and match as long as you meet the care requirements?

Help :shock:

 

[kthomas]

@Sogas wrote:

http://reefkeeping.com/

@Sogas wrote:

I haven't seen an article on this, but they are out there. Basically you just need to find out how much flow your tank should have (return + powerheads) and then calculate what is low, medium, and high

@Sogas wrote:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/subject/lighting.php

@Sogas wrote:

Should be some stuff in the article above.
@Sogas wrote:

If you're new I would stick to beginer coral so that your tank can mature and then when it's been a while and you feel comfortable putting in more delicate coral you can move up to advanced, and expert coral. You don't want to spend 100.00 on an exotic frag for it to die within a week. That's a very delicate coral that requires your paramters to stay the same all the time.

@Sogas wrote:

Start out with zoas, palys, mushrooms, softies and then when you're ready to move to more advanced coral you can sell those or trade with other members

@Sogas wrote:

You can mix, but you have to figure out the spacing between each. I've started keeping SPS which is at the top of my tank, while I moved my zoas, shrooms, and leathers down to the bottom of my tank so the SPS doesn't kill the softies.

 

[Lance]

@kthomas wrote:

Oh I thought it was the other way that the LPS and softies would kill the SPS? Or is it just some of the different families that do this?

 

[kthomas]

@Lance6270 wrote:

Oh I thought it was the other way that the LPS and softies would kill the SPS? Or is it just some of the different families that do this?"]

LPS -> SPS -> Softies

Here is some good reading: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/general-reef-aquarium-discussion/2927-coral-placement-reference.html

I keep my LPS in the middle of the tank and on the sides.

 

[Sogas]

Man, that lighting article gave me tired head :wink:

I talked to someone and they said a basic rule of thumb could be:

High >5 w/g
Medium 4 - 5 w/g
Low <4 w/g

Additionally, they said flow wasn't necessarily about gph but placement of the coral within the flow.

High = direct path of water flow from power head or return
Medium = off center of water flow from power head or return
Low = sheltered from water flow from power head or return

I know that isn't all-inclusive and many other factors have to be considered but it gives me a starting point.