cant keep sps, heres the setup whats the problem?

reefpimp#1

reefpimp#1

New member
150 gal RR, 230 lbs live rock, 2 400watt MH 14K hamiltons (1 year old), only 10-15x's turnover with power head and two returns ran through a SCWD, 100lbs live sand.
tank has been up for 3 years.
It has several large leather corals, mushrooms, zoas, frogspawn, large bubble coral, xenia and GSP.
Bubble tip anemone, carpet anemone.
Yellow tang
Blue tang
Sailfin tang
pair orange skunk clowns
pair pink skunk clowns
pair false perculas
flame hawk
green mandrin
engineer goby

2 cleaner shrimp
3 cucumbers
hermits
anemone crab

I havent been able to keepsps for long peiods of time. Could all the soft corals have anything to do with it?

Only thing I can think to do is suck all sand out make it a BB. move the several large leathers and mushrooms to a new tank or sell them do massive water change.
parameters are normally real good nitrate 0 nitrite o amonia 0 ph 8.2 dkh 12-15(what is optimal?)
 
reefpimp#1,

what brand of test kit you use?

what brand, and type of skimmer, and have you tested for phosphate

how long you it takes your front glass to get dirty after a clean,

sam
 
An average dkh is around 9, calcium at 425, spG at 1.025, Mag 1300, temp at 80. Every one is different. I would say the normal suggestions. Stability of your water is Key - temp, ph, salinity. Don't everfeed. Make sure your flow is random and well placed if only 10x. Keep the lights fresh and on a timer - 1 year is time to change. Use a refugium if you run a DSB and have it on a reverse photoperiod. Keep up on water changes.
 
Low flow could be a problem, as could high dKh, as could the other corals alleopathy.

I'd work on the first two, and then consider carefully what SPS you choose. I would shy away from wild Acropora and Seriatopora colonies - perhaps try a couple hardy SPS [Monti digis/caps, Pocillapora] as I've found them easiest to make thrive.

Then move to Acropora and other types. JMO.
 
I'm adding two MJ 1200's today and doing a large water change to make sure everything is in check. I do use tap water although it does test real clean I dont knoiw if that may contribute to the problem.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8648466#post8648466 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefpimp#1
I do use tap water although it does test real clean I dont knoiw if that may contribute to the problem.
Click to expand...


Tap water??? Your need to stop wasting money on SPS and purchase an RO/DI.

I can almost guarantee your use of tap is contributing to your lack of success with SPS
 
You have a decent bioload with a wetdry filter, weak skimmer, and low flow, in a 3 year old reef. Going BB is not the answer since this will not help to remove the waste in your tank. To go BB an be successuf you really need the right equipment for flow and nutrient removal.

I suggest getting a salifert testkit for phosphate to be sure. If it does read high phosphate you may want to run Phosban in a reactor for an immediate fix. Cutting down on feeding, increasing water changes, getting a better skimmer, are changing mechanical and chemical media more frequently are ways to permanently fix the problem. You should get an ROdi filter also. Ebays has them cheap.
 
Tapwater may very well be the cause. It contains small amounts of copper, ammonia, nitrates, phosphate, siliate, etc. Even if you dechlorinate, these things are still there, and accumulate over time as you top off evaporation.

Leathers produce compounds that are toxic to sps, but I keep two in my tank and have no problem with my sps. Water changes and carbon can help keep the toxins in check.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8648466#post8648466 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefpimp#1
I'm adding two MJ 1200's today
Click to expand...
Go with much higher flow devices, IMO. [Seios, Tunze/Vortech other high-flow devices] FWIW, I run a Tunze 6060, a Turbelle [variable flow] in my 58 ... doesn't need to blow the flesh off the coral - but worth consideration.

I too would consider a RO or RO/DI.
 
Ok how about this I take the corallife super skimmer200 and four mj1200's, a pengiun bio wheel 350(already on it) put them in my 29 gal bare bottom with 20-30lbs. extra live rock and I buy the 150watt HQI 14k clip on light and use ro water to fill it. Then do I have an sps tank?

P.S. tank has currently been running about a year, (recently made a bare bottom) with live rock and the pengiun biowheel 350(minus the biowheels)
 
Yup, but I would drop the biowheel. I dont like them personally. Make sure there are fish as well. I also have heard of smaller tanks not doing well with BB.
 
Personally, I love having a biowheel....on my QTs.

They really don't fit well into the BB methodology, where the mantra is high flow and export (heavy skimming). They are very good at processing ammonia and nitrite, but you will most likely end up with nitrate accumulation. I'd skip it on a reef tank, especially SPS.
 
so ditch the peguin350 go with the css200, 150watt 14k hqi, BB, 30lbs live rock, 2-4 mj1200'sand I got a sufficent sps tank?

will the 150watt 14k hqi, give good color to the sps in a 29 gal?
 
I would say go up to a 250 watt bulb if you can. I went with 150 watt bulbs on my tank and I am definetly regretting it. the only things that seam to grow are softies.

This is what I would do with a 29 gallon:

250 watt pheonix 14k metal halide

2 moded maxi jets, About 2000GPH each (yes, I like LOTS of flow)

your coralife skimmer should be fine for that size tank

Phosban or rowaphos Is a Must IMO even if you do use RO water

Finaly, Start using RO or RO/DI water. you can probably get water from your LFS. with a 29 gallon tank that wouldnt be to bad. Just buy 2 or 3 5 gallon gas jugs and have them fill them up for you. I went this route on my 120 for the first few months. than I decided it was time to purchase a unit for my self. :)


Good Luck

Just remember, High water quality, High flow, High light, an stability
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8648914#post8648914 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jeffbrig
Tapwater may very well be the cause. It contains small amounts of copper, ammonia, nitrates, phosphate, siliate, etc. Even if you dechlorinate, these things are still there, and accumulate over time as you top off evaporation.
Click to expand...

So does Tropic Marin Pro.


I vote for not enough flow, too much phosphate.

Buy maximods, buy big skimmer.
 
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