Converting over to SPS only!

[prschaef]

I have recently redesigned my tank and decided to go with SPS only, I have been searching through the forums but figured the best way to get my questions answered was to ask.

Questions?

1. Should you be concerned with placement of the sps? I have seen many tanks and it seems they are all just placed where ever they could find an open spot. Should I be concerned with how close they are placed together?

2. How often should I feed? I have been doing once a day or every other day, should I increase or decrease the feeding?

Also, what would you recommended? I have been using Zooplanktos-S 50-300 um


3. How much water circulation is recommended? Is there a ratio to size of tank

Thank you for your time and responses!

 

[mnswreefer]

SPSs require strong light and flows. They are the most important for SPSs keepers. Beside that all your water parameter have to be constantly at perfect levels. There is no matter size of your tank in this hobby. But most of SPSs keepers, their tanks are bigger. IMHO, it's just easier to keep the parameters of water stay the same all the time. Good luck.

 

[fcmatt]

for flow.. just a rough estimate i use is gallon size of tank times 40 to 50.
so if you have a 40 gallon tank i would look for power heads that can add up to
1600-2000 gallons per hour. I subscribe to the theory of more smaller power heads
is better then a few large ones so you have fewer dead spots. But depending on
the rock work that can be very difficult sometimes.

for placement of SPS please consider how they grow and fill in. Putting frags every
square inch is just a recipe for coral warfare and in most cases one will win out. Placement
should also consider what SPS want the most light versus ones that tend to to better
with less. So this often means high light SPS go up higher in the tank and get the best
positions for it. Naturally one has to consider just how much light you have over the tank
into this equation. If you have a ton of light a high light coral could go right on the sand.
But yes... some tanks look like very little thought went into placement... while other mature
tanks look so dense due to growth. Use your best judgment as it reminds me of planting
plants in a backyard. Learn about the coral and its growth patterns, speed of growth, etc...

If you are a light feeder consider keeping on track with your regular habits. If you are a
heavy feeder just make sure you have a skimmer that can kick some butt and keep up
with you. Also consider heavy feeding will introduce a lot of phosphate into the tank so
be sure to run some GFO. I use oyster eggs for my SPS. This also handles the anemone
crab as well as the feather dusters. I feed when I feel like it.

 

[90ct]

All above and start with some easy SPSs. Montis are good choice. If you could keep it colors, then move up slowly to harder SPSs. You will get hook when you switch to SPSs:thumbsup: