Having trouble keeping SPS happy.
- Thread starter JG1
- Start date
Alex T.
Active member
I don't even know what my true percentage is to be honest. I think I have around 125 gallon water volume in the display and around 35 gallons in the sump equalling 160 gallons estimated. I change 15 gallons per week so that's approximately 9.4%
When I change my RODI cartridges every six months I do a 50 gallon water change. I'm quirky that way.
When I change my RODI cartridges every six months I do a 50 gallon water change. I'm quirky that way.
Toadally
New member
dzhuo
Active member
Just throw out one comment...
It's easy to blame "coral food" for your algae bloom because that's what you added to your system in large quantity recently. However, this addition does not necessary mean it's the sole culprit because you also suddenly stop all Zeovit. The removal of all Zeovit products could have an unforeseen change to your bacteria culture (and who knows what other effect) which upset the tank balance. For another reference point, I dose high quantity of Oyster-Feast and Roti-Feast as well after I removed both GFO and carbon. I add them nightly and I have now used up both bottles. I have no algae bloom but my corals do not seem to benefit from them either. The skimmer also wasn't affect (that much). Roti-Feast has no affect on skimmer because it does not contain oil that change the tension of the water. Oyster-Feast, on the other hand, did stop the skimmer for a couple of hours but far less than any frozen food. The only good think that I see from adding these coral foods so far are the increasing bio-diversity of micro-funas which I like. However, I don't think I will continue using them.
As for water change. My total tank val is roughly 170g and I do 20g change every 2 weeks.
It's easy to blame "coral food" for your algae bloom because that's what you added to your system in large quantity recently. However, this addition does not necessary mean it's the sole culprit because you also suddenly stop all Zeovit. The removal of all Zeovit products could have an unforeseen change to your bacteria culture (and who knows what other effect) which upset the tank balance. For another reference point, I dose high quantity of Oyster-Feast and Roti-Feast as well after I removed both GFO and carbon. I add them nightly and I have now used up both bottles. I have no algae bloom but my corals do not seem to benefit from them either. The skimmer also wasn't affect (that much). Roti-Feast has no affect on skimmer because it does not contain oil that change the tension of the water. Oyster-Feast, on the other hand, did stop the skimmer for a couple of hours but far less than any frozen food. The only good think that I see from adding these coral foods so far are the increasing bio-diversity of micro-funas which I like. However, I don't think I will continue using them.
As for water change. My total tank val is roughly 170g and I do 20g change every 2 weeks.
Alex T.
Active member
Michael, I've read that article before. IMO it doesn't mean a hill of beans in my aquarium. From what I've stated in other threads, what SPS corals see in the wild in the order of planktonic life is simply not possible in our aquariums. I personally don't feel it's even necessary.
If we were trying to mimic every parameter that a natural reef provides we'd all have Solatubes providing natural, 5.500 Kelvin sunlight, dKH between 5 & 6, one fish in our aquarium, and 10 Vortech MP40's on each side of an average 6 foot tank. While natural reefs are nutrient rich but DOC poor, it's a full time job to achieve that in the average reef tank.
Thank you though...I appreciate the link.
If we were trying to mimic every parameter that a natural reef provides we'd all have Solatubes providing natural, 5.500 Kelvin sunlight, dKH between 5 & 6, one fish in our aquarium, and 10 Vortech MP40's on each side of an average 6 foot tank. While natural reefs are nutrient rich but DOC poor, it's a full time job to achieve that in the average reef tank.
Thank you though...I appreciate the link.
Toadally
New member
I agree....every system is different and we can never duplicate the natural habitat that these animals come from. But it makes me feel better if I try.
Alex T.
Active member
Hey man...whatever works. Since I like fish as much as corals, reef foods are taboo for me. I've tried them all, even in extremely small quantities with no benefit. It's taken me a few years to dial in exactly what works for me. My nature is to tinker. I've finally dialed in parameters that work for me coupled with feeding regimen and amount. I use to feed a lot of different foods like Mysis, Bloodworms, Cyclopeez, Oyster Feast and Omega One Pellet. After noticing very ho-hum results and a need for larger water changes I felt I needed to tinker more.
I heard so much about New Life Spectrum pellets from a friend who has extremely delicate fish in a relatively small body of water. He has a Regal Angel, Achilles Tang, Emperor Angel, Moorish Idol and a team of Anthias that are fed nothing but the NLS pellets. They are some of the most colorful and fat fish I've ever seen in a fish tank. After a few months of feeding the NLS pellets exclusively, I noticed that my skimmate production decreased, SPS corals colored up and had better polyp extension and the fish are just brighter and more colorful. I don't know what's in this stuff, but it's been working for me very well. It's also a lot easier on me than thawing out all the frozen food that I was feeding. I honestly think that the decreased skimmate is a result of the fish finding more nutrition in the NLS pellets than any other food I've offered. This may make them produce less waste. The waste that is produced may be a supersaturated concoction of protein rich nutrients that the corals seem to love. I'm sticking with this regimen for now.....at least until next week.....:lmao:
I heard so much about New Life Spectrum pellets from a friend who has extremely delicate fish in a relatively small body of water. He has a Regal Angel, Achilles Tang, Emperor Angel, Moorish Idol and a team of Anthias that are fed nothing but the NLS pellets. They are some of the most colorful and fat fish I've ever seen in a fish tank. After a few months of feeding the NLS pellets exclusively, I noticed that my skimmate production decreased, SPS corals colored up and had better polyp extension and the fish are just brighter and more colorful. I don't know what's in this stuff, but it's been working for me very well. It's also a lot easier on me than thawing out all the frozen food that I was feeding. I honestly think that the decreased skimmate is a result of the fish finding more nutrition in the NLS pellets than any other food I've offered. This may make them produce less waste. The waste that is produced may be a supersaturated concoction of protein rich nutrients that the corals seem to love. I'm sticking with this regimen for now.....at least until next week.....:lmao:
JG1
New member
Have a 10oz jar of this stuff but never gave it a try....always fed formula one flake food and PE mysis.
Will give the spectrum pellets a try
Alex T.
Active member
Not to derail the thread but Sunny's tanks are truly inspirational. You should see how many large tangs he just stuffed into his new 240 rimless. I love the new Sohal. I know a healthy budget helps but it's amazing what he's done with this tank in only 4 months. Here's the YouTube link....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFZLoG3xG1M&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
As for the pellets, it really depends on what I'm seeing as far as how I feed. I wanted to keep some zooanthids in my shaded areas near the bottom so I change the feeding a little until I like what I see. If my zooanthids aren't fully opening I feed a little more until they start to color up a little. It's always a little bit of a see saw keeping the SPS and Zooanthids happy. I guess I hover between a half a teaspoon to 3/4 a teaspoon of NLS pellets per day. I know that seems like a lot but it's gone pretty fast.
As for the pellets, it really depends on what I'm seeing as far as how I feed. I wanted to keep some zooanthids in my shaded areas near the bottom so I change the feeding a little until I like what I see. If my zooanthids aren't fully opening I feed a little more until they start to color up a little. It's always a little bit of a see saw keeping the SPS and Zooanthids happy. I guess I hover between a half a teaspoon to 3/4 a teaspoon of NLS pellets per day. I know that seems like a lot but it's gone pretty fast.
pm me your cell broski
JG1
New member
Alex, sounds good, thanks!
