First SPS questions

[FishWrangler]

Think it's a SPS anyway.....we got it over the weekend at Go Fish. We were in a hurry to get home so I didn't ask as many questions as I should have. Justin said it was "hardy and ok in different lighting and flow areas...

Is there anything special we need to do to keep it healthy?

Any trace elements I need to start testing for and dosing? (besides calcium, already adding that daily) Will bimonthly WC's take care of it?

Think it was "whiter" at Go Fish, is that just the difference in lighting?

 

[BfishLpond78]

You should always have an idea of what your water parameters are. Calcium, alkalinity and magnesium. It could be a difference in lighting, just look for good polyp extension.

What lighting did go fish have? What lighting do you have?

 

[FishWrangler]

You should always have an idea of what your water parameters are. Calcium, alkalinity and magnesium. It could be a difference in lighting, just look for good polyp extension.

What lighting did go fish have? What lighting do you have?

We test for everything biweekly and keep everything consistent. we stay at:

Alk 1.024
Ph 8.4
amm and nitrites 0
nitrates -around .10 ppm and getting lower each time we test. (new skimmer rocks!)
Cal 300 (trying to get it to 400 but always at 300 when we test)

Never tested for mag, should we/ do we have to start? I was hoping the wc's will replenish it as needed.

I have the stock lightning in the biocube and I have no idea what the lighting was at Go Fish, it was in the big Lion Fish tank. It's pretty high up in my tank and it looks as extended as it was at the LFS.

 

[Blitzie]

Your first number 1.024 is your SG not your ALK
Get the Red Sea Reef Foundation Pro Multi Test Kit as you will be able to test Calcium, Alkalinity and Magnesium. The initial kits are more expensive but once you use them up you can purchase refills which are cheaper.

I feel you calcium number is low but with your PH at 8.4 I am thinking your ALK may be within its desired range.

Read this article by Randy Holmes-Farley as its excellent and when using the charts makes it easy to track you Calcium and Alkalinity numbers
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/11/chemistry

 

[Stepho725]

I dint think PC bulbs give adequate light for SPS.

 

[FishWrangler]

Your first number 1.024 is your SG not your ALK
Get the Red Sea Reef Foundation Pro Multi Test Kit as you will be able to test Calcium, Alkalinity and Magnesium. The initial kits are more expensive but once you use them up you can purchase refills which are cheaper.

I feel you calcium number is low but with your PH at 8.4 I am thinking your ALK may be within its desired range.

Read this article by Randy Holmes-Farley as its excellent and when using the charts makes it easy to track you Calcium and Alkalinity numbers
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2002/11/chemistry

I got lost alittle reading the above article so I took a step back and have been reading about the "basics" and the difference between SG and alk. I thought they were the same thing basically. It's clear now as my tank matures I'll have to start testing and dosing for alk for long term success.

 

[FishWrangler]

I dint think PC bulbs give adequate light for SPS.

You may be right, after researching SPS, stock biocube lighting, etc is doesn't look like it might be a very good fit. It will depend what kind of SPS it is I guess, some are more light dependent than others it seems. Others need good water conditions and flow over light...

According to Go Fish, it's an easy one to keep so I'll monitor it and hope for the best.

 

[FishWrangler]

got Star Trek on the mind today...


Kirk says "Scotty, we need more light and flow." Scotty replies, "Captain, we're giving it all the light and flow she's got!!"

Anyway, we just moved the coral up to the very top and directly in front of the return. We'll see if that's enough to keep it happy.

OK, finally got an Id on it and it's not a SPS..which is a good thing. It's a soft leather called Sinularia.


It prefers moderate to high light and flow...so where we just placed it should work.

 

[Stepho725]

That's good news good luck with it!

 

[gmate]

I grew SPS (montipora caps) with power compact lighting.

 

[Stepho725]

I grew SPS (montipora caps) with power compact lighting.

For real?? How?? It couldn't have been very deep of a tank? How did they do??

 

[PL-Reef]

For real?? How?? It couldn't have been very deep of a tank? How did they do??

I also grew caps and other monties under PCs. I got decent growth but the colors were lacking. Mine were around 6 to 12 inches below the water's surface. Good flow and clean water.

 

[gmate]

Same as PL-Reef. Not very colorful but they lived and grew. It was a standard 30g tank (36 long 12 deep 16 tall) and the light was no more than 4 inches off the water level.

 

[staninct]

I grew SPS (montipora caps) with power compact lighting.

I did the same. Birdsnest and green slimer did fairly well also; though the colors never popped. I had them in a 20 high with a 24" coralife pc fixture. I also experimented with a cap and lps under the stock pcs in a biocube 8. Flow and water parameters can do amazingthings for hardier sps!

 

[Stepho725]

I thought there are lots of LPS that can go under the biocube lighting?

 

[PL-Reef]

I thought there are lots of LPS that can go under the biocube lighting?

There is but it not the best choice for them. You can easily mod different lights into a bio cube hood. 12 leds, heat sink, driver for under $100.