Can I/should I keep sps in this tank?

Mangodude

Mangodude

The Clown Tang Keeper!
Hey all, so I am in the process of switching tank and I want to know based on my equipment loadout and current maitenence, should I try to keep sps? Is there any thing I should do differently that would make a huge difference in my success rate?

Yes, I have had sps before but sold all of them due to their sensitivity.



Tank: 156g (5ft x 2ft x 2ft)

Pump: Mag24 (thinking about adding an additional mag 9 for extra flow)

Powerheads: Koralia 3 and a larger seio powerhead. Wouldn't mind purchasing a few more koralias.. I'm cheap though so please don't reccomend a vortech.

Skimmer: Euroreef 180

Reactor: TLF 150 (currently I have biopellets but I don't mind switching to anything else)

Lighting: 2 x 250w halides 2 x 96w pc's

Refugium: 21g of total refugium space using multiple graccilarias, multiple calurpas, cheato, codium, etc (i'm using a 75g tank so this is the amount that will actually be used and with water in it)

I want to run carbon this time but not sure where to put it..

Filter is going to be two socks

I have a 18w uv i can hook up

I use heaters and not a chiller.. question on this subject later on

No controller (would like to find a very small one for cheap but that may be a while..)

I dose manually (up to two times a day) but wouldn't mind learning to use kalk

I don't like waterchanges.. not saying I won't do them but doing a 25% change every two weeks is way out of question.

I make my own RO water and top off manually
 
Tank will have sand.. fine grain but does not cloud tank

None of my fish have ever nipped at sps so i'm not too worried..

They are fed flakes once a day and nori once a day

Fish:

Regal angel (has been noted to eat zoas but not palys but otherwise won't touch anything)
Coral beauty (can be gotten rid of)
Clown Tang
Kole Tang
Naso Tang
Yellow coris wrasse
Blue damsel
Algae blenny
2 x lyretail anthias (I want to get more)
royal gramma
strawberry dottyback
 
You have the perfect setup for SPS. I would do regular water changes though, and yes, you will need more flow. I wouldn't mess with adding the UV. I find biopellets work great for me and have eliminated my need for a fuge, carbon, or GFO.
 
Thanks for the response, how often is regular?

Should more flow be provided via the return pump or through bigger powerheads?
 
In my opinion, the best reef tank sand on the market is Tropic Eden Reefflakes. Big enough to not blow around with high flow, nice and white, and clean out of the bag. Best sand ever!
 
Mangodude said:
Thanks for the response, how often is regular?

Should more flow be provided via the return pump or through bigger powerheads?
Click to expand...


At least every two weeks is best in my opinion. Smaller changes more often are better than big changes occasionally. Flow should be through Powerheads, return pumps to me are just for getting water to and from sump for filtration, not for flow.
 
Id shoot for water changes once a week unless your tank is matured over a year.

Currently what kind of corals do you have? id be concerned about those angels. People have said to have them as model citizens and then one day turn

What is your phosphates at?
 
i currently have a 125g that everybody's been in since jul. of 2010

hmm once a week at 5g a week and every 4th week do 10g ok?

not sure about phosphates.. ill test later
 
corals inckude: lobo, favia, chalices, palys, ricordea, gorgonians, mushrooms, fungia, leathers, candycane, pagoda, rbta, carpet nem, anthelia, blue clove polyp, yumas, blasto, brain, maricultured acro, orange/green cap, meteor shower cypastrea
 
You could have some issues with chemical warfare. So you may need to run some carbon.

Also whats the total flow? I would get it close to 1500 gph in your display.

And be ready to do water changes at 12.5-15 gallons a week.
 
sponger0 said:
You could have some issues with chemical warfare. So you may need to run some carbon.

Also whats the total flow? I would get it close to 1500 gph in your display.

And be ready to do water changes at 12.5-15 gallons a week.
Click to expand...

Hmmm ok.

I have a mag 24 for the new tank, if that's the question
 
I'd suggest starting to use Kalk and getting things very stable before adding too many SPS. Also Apex Jr. Controller is not too expensive with great features.
 
Msleckro said:
I'd suggest starting to use Kalk and getting things very stable before adding too many SPS. Also Apex Jr. Controller is not too expensive with great features.
Click to expand...

I'm not very familiar with kalk, is there any recipe better than the one on the back of the jar?

If I use kalk, what else do I need to dose?
 
Mangodude said:
I'm not very familiar with kalk, is there any recipe better than the one on the back of the jar?

If I use kalk, what else do I need to dose?
Click to expand...

With kalk you should use a minimal dose and slowly....key word slowly, move up the dosage until its right or you can do some damage to your livestock.
 
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