Hungry acros???

[Mark75]

Okay,...lets talk about feeding/supplements targeting sps.

I have a 50g. cube that has 3 acros and 1 birds nest that have been in the tank for about 2 weeks. They look good, good poly extension and color, I can even see where they are just starting to encrust the plug. I am adding more in the next few weeks planning a sps dominate tank.

As of now I have only 3 fish, 2 clowns and a Kole Tang. I am feeding PE Mysis, pellets and flakes twice a day. I have no algae to speak of, every 3-4 days I clean the glass and and there is just a very light dusty film, cant even tell it needs cleaned.

I have 0 nitrates (3month old tank) and I only have API test kits for phosphates so I haven't even bothered testing it. I am maintaining cal.440 and alk 9 with Kalk in the ATO ready to start two part as soon as my acros take off (hopefully):lol2:

My last sps tank I had good growth with very pale pastel colors, we have since learned (this was several years ago) that my tank was probably to "clean".

So what else should I be adding? I am very leery of magic potions, there where several back in the day that did nothing but waste your money and grow algae.

I am looking for proven additives that will improve the health of my sps.:thumbsup:

 

[nemodan]

Okay,...lets talk about feeding/supplements targeting sps.

I have a 50g. cube that has 3 acros and 1 birds nest that have been in the tank for about 2 weeks. They look good, good poly extension and color, I can even see where they are just starting to encrust the plug. I am adding more in the next few weeks planning a sps dominate tank.

As of now I have only 3 fish, 2 clowns and a Kole Tang. I am feeding PE Mysis, pellets and flakes twice a day. I have no algae to speak of, every 3-4 days I clean the glass and and there is just a very light dusty film, cant even tell it needs cleaned.

I have 0 nitrates (3month old tank) and I only have API test kits for phosphates so I haven't even bothered testing it. I am maintaining cal.440 and alk 9 with Kalk in the ATO ready to start two part as soon as my acros take off (hopefully):lol2:

My last sps tank I had good growth with very pale pastel colors, we have since learned (this was several years ago) that my tank was probably to "clean".

So what else should I be adding? I am very leery of magic potions, there where several back in the day that did nothing but waste your money and grow algae.

I am looking for proven additives that will improve the health of my sps.:thumbsup:

Fish poop.

Many well feed fish will feed your SPS tank

Cheers....

Ps: 0 Nitrates, low Phos ~0.04 and WELL feed fish to feed corals will need an Alk ~7 dkh. Your 9 dkh will be too high.

Cheers again

 

[SeargentSlice]

Your tank is young And its about balance of no3 and po4. More fish more no3 add foods for po4. I use reef pearls and selcon as foods and have to control my no3 with VV. The key is keeping them all stable by testing and tweaking your regimens accordingly. They will change as the system finds a balance over time.

 

[Mark75]

I know with low nitrate/phosphate I should be running my alk lower than 9 but that is where it is steady adding 3 tsp Kalk per 5 gallon top off water. Should I reduce how much Kalk I am adding to my top off water? I don't like adjusting for no reason and when everything looks healthy.

 

[nemodan]

I know with low nitrate/phosphate I should be running my alk lower than 9 but that is where it is steady adding 3 tsp Kalk per 5 gallon top off water. Should I reduce how much Kalk I am adding to my top off water? I don't like adjusting for no reason and when everything looks healthy.

You are correct, I will not change anything if things are going ok . That is the reason why I used the future (will). Burnt tips will be a sign. I hope all continues well with your 9 dkh. Each tank is a different world.

Sorry, I never used Kalk. I used always Bionic 2 parts with dosing pump. I can't help there.

Best !
Daniel