Just a few tips and tricks for those new to SPS and reefing....

[macreefster]

i think whats so interesting are all the differant methodologies that produce great results. i think one must be careful in just administering these tips hodge podge as what works for one tank might not on yours. IMO it would be better to adopt someones whole approach to their tank rather than taking one tip from many differant ppl.

 

[slow_leak]

I agree, especially for an established tank. Even if condition are not optimal changing system quickly is a terrible idea.

 

[Oldude]

SunnyX - I also have fed my fish Spectrum for about 6 years now and they have always been healthy. Does the flour effect the fish or the system?

My understanding is that fish don't digest flour very well so it increases their waste output. I can't say I ever really noticed a negative impact on my system but less waste is likely a good thing.

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14805164#post14805164 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Oldude
My understanding is that fish don't digest flour very well so it increases their waste output. I can't say I ever really noticed a negative impact on my system but less waste is likely a good thing.

Ahhh....so that explains my SPS growth.

 

[Oldude]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14797750#post14797750 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kaskiles
Formula One pellets:
http://www.oceannutrition.com/product_marine.php?file=bc01.html&head=03

4th ingredient is wheat flour...

You're right I don't know how I missed that. I guess that makes my flour point pretty much mute. Spectrum lists flour 3rd and F1 lists it 4th. I guess there is no getting away from it. Perhaps they use it as a bonding agent when making the pellets. I also use the F1 flakes and they don't say they have flour but whatever the case, flour or not my fish get a pretty balanced diet and are healthy, sand is white and system clean.

 

[rreed]

tips

tips

I've gone thru all 5 pages of this thread. Not too sound arrogant, but before I take anyones advice proofs in their tank. You can always see how knowledgable a person is by their tank an setup.
I've always done 10 pecent water changes an biggest advice I can give is keeping all parameters in check, alk,calciun, ph!! Unless ur carbon dosing then u have another set of parameters to follow.

 

[Reefer08]

Anyone notice negative effects from skimming too wet? Should we worry about the trace elements were stripping from the water?

 

[rreed]

wet skimming

wet skimming

Iused to skim very wet, I would always measure what I taken out an replaced with salt water that I mixed up to prevent salinity changes an also parameter changes as well.

 

[eggiel]

One other thing is temp for keeping SPS
What are your settings ?
I keep mine 79-80 F

 

[dustinP]

i keep mine at a constant 82

 

[eggiel]

I read that keeping the Temp at 84 aids to growth could this be true
anybody experience this

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14811457#post14811457 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by eggiel
I read that keeping the Temp at 84 aids to growth could this be true
anybody experience this

Increasing you temperature can increase rates of growth in coral but it can also bring about bleaching and increase the growth of harmful pathogens affecting fish. The growth takes off because the increasing temperature accelerates the creatures metabolism.

I would push my temperature past 84. Personally, mine never gets over 80.

 

[SunnyX]

Re: tips

Re: tips

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14806257#post14806257 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rreed
I've gone thru all 5 pages of this thread. Not too sound arrogant, but before I take anyones advice proofs in their tank. You can always see how knowledgable a person is by their tank an setup.
I've always done 10 pecent water changes an biggest advice I can give is keeping all parameters in check, alk,calciun, ph!! Unless ur carbon dosing then u have another set of parameters to follow.

 

[eggiel]

so Sunny were you think keeping the temp is best for growth but not having problems with harmful pathogens

 

[volcom69]

Can we talk alittle more about feeding. Some people feed every other day and some everyday even more then once a day. Sonny you say you only feed everyother day, do you feel you corals look better by only feeding everyother day, if you feed everyday do they become brown. I think this is what confuses me alot, like how do you know if you are feeding to much or to less. What if some of your corals are light brown, but you have no nuisence algea anywhere in your tank does this mean your not feeding enough. I understand that if you have bad algea outbreaks that your probably over feeding, but what if some of your corals are brown but without the algea, what does this mean, your tank does not have enough nutrients in it. Can someone please explain this.

 

[macreefster]

great question volcom and i am looking forward to sonnys answer. so many times i've read to feed the fish more to color up your corals, especially if you're vodka dosing and then i'll read in another thread that over feeding causes too many nutrients which causes the corals to brown. which one is it? while i love my fish, my corals come first so if cutting feeding will get me better colors i'll try it.

 

[Oldude]

I find if I don't feed every day because since the fish haven't much algae to munch on they start picking at the corals and clams. I personally advocate daily feeding but there are a lot of variables depending on the live stock one keeps including both fish & corals. I think a lot also depends on the type of system you have as well.

 

[volcom69]

I was reading some tank threads from a ways back from reefers who had good sps success, and they started feeding coral food everynight or everyother day, and there corals started to grow and color better then before. I might start to try this at night, with a turkey baster and blast some food over top of my sps to see what happens, but i will have to watch my po4, and no3 levels. Now that im dosing a carbon and bac source ill see how that works with keeping these levels down. I think ill try to feed my fish once a day and everyother day feed frozen foods. I guess its just a guessing game, but i find this is the hardest part of sps keeping how much to feed.

 

[Rodrigo_BG]

Volcon in the sea corals are eating all the time, day and night. Unfortunately we can't do this at home because aquariums are closed system. This means that they can't export everything that comes in. My tip is, have and huge skimmer, do watter changes weekly and feed your corals everyday. Check your PO4 and NO3 weekly, keep cleaning and keep feeding. non stop..

 

[slow_leak]

I'd bet the last picture in that series is the latest set up. I like the rock work much better and would be the easiest to maintain. I am in the process of breaking down an 8 year old system and making a simpler display with my favorite corals remaining.