SpS advice

[mikeadams1985]

After seeing a few corals ive decided to give some SPS a try.

Im just after some information on requirments on keeping the following coral, (mainly the one on the right of the picture im interested in keeping)

tanks been running for about ermmmmmmmmmm 8 months ?
all params are fine.

All stock is healthy and growing.

Just trying to gather some advice on what i need to do to keep this coral.
what extra additives to i need to add what other leves i need to monitor?
flow and lightin conditions? etc etc?

any adivce much appreciated :)

Am i right in assume this is acropora?

picture from clippo taken at acropora house
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploader/2006Q4/DPP_3336.jpg

[ickypimp]

I think you are gonna struggle for light to be honest mate, you will have to place these at the top of your tank, which will leave little room for growth

JMO... i am sure many will disagree,

[mikeadams1985]

i can add a third 150watt metal halide to the system already in place.

I would only really want 2 or 3 and they would be near the top of the tank any way tbh.

light aside, what else do i need to keep these corals?

[maestro]

You need to keep the parameters very stable, they dont deal well with sudden changes

Calcium levels 400-440
Alk 8-12
Magnesium around 1350ppm
Phosphate and Nitrate as low as possible, phosphate undectable really.
Temp and PH should not vary much over a 14hous period

A low level of organics is needed if you want them to keep their colour

[SCOOB]

you need stability, real stability.

if you don't already start a log and test your water every 2 days for 3 or 4 weeks, see what the variation is and then plan accordingly.

you need ample flow, at least 30 times total volume.

you need a low nutrient tank for complete success so either low stock low feeding or nornmal stock normal feeding but a mahoosive skimmer/mud/dsb tank.

you need to make sure that you can keep calcium, alkalinity and magnesium all in balance and a means to keep on top of the monitoring as when sps corals grow they absorb these numbers out of your water, the trick is to replenish as fast as they are absorbed without any swings, remember, stability is the paramount bit.

[mikeadams1985]

sounds good to me.

i shall monitor my params for a couple of weeks.

How do i go about introducing/raising magnesium and alk levels?


ive got 35x turnover with just my streams, ive then got my or3500 so My turnover is prob around 45x

[ickypimp]

mag sulphate and sodium bicarb are a good way to go, you need to keep your calc/alk balanced mind

on the light front i didnt mean "you dont have enough lights" what i meant was a 150 watt light especially with a 20 k lamp will lack the punch (PAR) that SPS need at the bottom of the tank

[mikeadams1985]

i get ya.
there 14k now tho :) Didnt like the 20k one bit.

the sps will be kept near the top and will be put on the tank walls near the top.

where can i get hold of mag sulp and sod bicarb?

[ickypimp]

mag sulphate = epsom salts = boots /chemists

bicarb= supermarket baking section make sure you byt bicarb and bot baking powder

[mikeadams1985]

excellent :)

will get hold of them and some test kits.

what test kits do you recommend for these? salifert?

[Tony B]

http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=189334

[mikeadams1985]

cheers :)
didnt see that one there :)

[maestro]

I think we should have a sticky at the top of the sps with info on their basic needs like at Reefcentral

[ickypimp]

whynot start out with some more forgiving SPS such as montis and hysterix ??

[mikeadams1985]

yeah will look into them :)

What test kits do you recommend for the mag and alk testing?

[mikeadams1985]

just googled the montipora - very nice.
think thats going to be my entry SPS coral :)

will do some testing over next 2 weeks and reading then maybe pickup one :)

[SPS Hoover]

Salifert for all tests apart from phosphate For phosphate use D&D one

[mikeadams1985]

shall invest in some salifert tests then :)

hoover u got any pics of your tank?

[SPS Hoover]

Look at my website in signature or http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/showthread.php?t=184055

[mikeadams1985]

nice :)