Reef Discussion

[gigglypig]

Ive always wanted to have some SPS corals in my tank. But where do I start? Im confused about all the dosings eg vinegars, trace elements, vodka, zeovit etc...
My main current tank conditions are
Nitrates: around 5ppm
Phosphates: 0
Ph 8.2

My questions are:
1. What do I need to dose?
2. What other parameters do I need to check?
3. What are Beginner SPS? (I really want acros and plating)
4. What am I missing?

 

[Oceanarium]

My questions are:
1. What do I need to dose?
2. What other parameters do I need to check?
3. What are Beginner SPS? (I really want acros and plating)
4. What am I missing?

1. What do I need to dose?
Basics are Ca, ALK and Mg and you can keep SPS well with regular WC

2. What other parameters do I need to check?
Ca, ALK, Mg, PO4, N03, Salinity and temp. Not just check these really should e stable and in the desired range all the time. With PO4 being the big one it must stay stable below 0.05 preferably 0.03 and you need accurate measuring hanna checker at the very least.

3. What are Beginner SPS? (I really want acros and plating)
Best to get ones that are doing well in other peoples tanks and have a history of people sharing frags grown in captivity.

4. What am I missing?[/QUOTE]
The other two big ones that come to mind is water flow and lighting.

You can take it as far as you want checking for K, Sr, I etc etc but really not necessary to keep SPS so long as you keep up with WC.

 

[Sam Parker]

1. What do I need to dose?
Basics are Ca, ALK and Mg and you can keep SPS well with regular WC

2. What other parameters do I need to check?
Ca, ALK, Mg, PO4, N03, Salinity and temp. Not just check these really should e stable and in the desired range all the time. With PO4 being the big one it must stay stable below 0.05 preferably 0.03 and you need accurate measuring hanna checker at the very least.

3. What are Beginner SPS? (I really want acros and plating)
Best to get ones that are doing well in other peoples tanks and have a history of people sharing frags grown in captivity.

4. What am I missing?
The other two big ones that come to mind is water flow and lighting.

You can take it as far as you want checking for K, Sr, I etc etc but really not necessary to keep SPS so long as you keep up with WC.

Can't add anything more than that. Well said!

 

[daveH]

Do what I did. My tanks have all been softies and to try some SPS I bought a cheapest, smallish piece of acropora with a nice bit of green but nothing too exotic just to give it shot.
I just stuck up the top of the tank under full light and 6 months later it's doing really well. New growth, fat and happy.
I do keep my Calc, Mag and Alk and Phos consistently bang on and regular water changes. Other than that it's on it's own.
In fact, I might try some more SPS when I relocate the tank next month.

 

[mcs]

Beginner SPS would be the ones as people said are frags that people have propegated, but also easier species would be, birdsnests, pocci's, green montipora, they tend to be a bit more forgiving. most of the others tend to get harder to keep.