keeping SPS in my bio29.

[biocube386]

Hey RC!

I have had my 29gal biocube running for abour 3 years now and have done mostly softies some lps and alot of zoas. So about a month ago i upgraded my lights and pumps. I purchased the 20" nova extreme pro HOT5 i went with that beacuse im a fan of atintics :bounce3: and didnt want heat issues and MAJOR evaporation problems with MH. I also bought a MP10. So my question is that i believe i have a decent set up to grow some SPS if not most, with all my pars are great! and water changes every 2 weeks. So i have tryed a few acros but nothing out of them they kinda just died... i think because of water temp fluctuation which i have a heater now and temp gets about 81 then at night 79. Is there anything that i need to know or i should buy to help me to grow SPS in a decent matter? I also have a devils hand leather and i have heard this puts a toxic in the water that kills stoneys?

Any help would be great!
Thanks!

 

[Jeff]

I just setup a Biocube 29 myself and have a 150 watt MH light over it (20K Reeflux). I also added a couple wide flow powerheads, upgraded the stock return pump, and started with lots of live rock and sand. I plan on keeping sps in it, I set it up so that it would be a stable tank for sps. My point is, if you can provide proper flow, light and stability, you should be fine. As far as that leather goes, I wouldnt keep it in there with sps. I speak from experience when I say, some leathers will either stunt the growth of sps or worse. I am not sure which ones do it but I know that my Tyree leather does. I have friends with mixed reefs and sps only tanks and the sps only tanks always seem to do better. Kind of boring, but better.
I am out for quite a challenge. I plan on keeping an angler in there with no clean up crew. I may have lost my mind...

 

[biocube386]

I just setup a Biocube 29 myself and have a 150 watt MH light over it (20K Reeflux). I also added a couple wide flow powerheads, upgraded the stock return pump, and started with lots of live rock and sand. I plan on keeping sps in it, I set it up so that it would be a stable tank for sps. My point is, if you can provide proper flow, light and stability, you should be fine. As far as that leather goes, I wouldnt keep it in there with sps. I speak from experience when I say, some leathers will either stunt the growth of sps or worse. I am not sure which ones do it but I know that my Tyree leather does. I have friends with mixed reefs and sps only tanks and the sps only tanks always seem to do better. Kind of boring, but better.
I am out for quite a challenge. I plan on keeping an angler in there with no clean up crew. I may have lost my mind...

Thanks for reply! Sounds like you will have a nice setup going there! My tank has really maintained it self for the last 3 years with no major problems (knock on wood) ya i would really like to do a mixed reef in away and get into SPS mostly. When i say mixed more like zoas and chalice with SPS. The leather i have is a real nice piece and i have heard rumors like this but there is no real fact that this is the problem so im not sure to get rid of it o keep it =s. I think my biggest problem was the temp change when i got the acro is what killed it but i got my temps ballanced out now.

 

[Jeff]

It sounds like you will be in good shape and know what you are doing. Good luck .

 

[biocube386]

It sounds like you will be in good shape and know what you are doing. Good luck .

Thanks! Ya hopefully it will work out, prob going to find some frags soon!
Goodluck with your new 29gal!

 

[Jeff]

Thanks. Everything in mine test out ok but I am unsure how long to wait before putting an sps in.

 

[justhaag]

as far as i know ive seen people keep sps in a stock biocube but with mine i upgraded the lights and the pump as well as replaced the back filtration and now my sps grows fantastic!

 

[rovster]

Start with easy SPS. Acros can be touchy in nanos. Work on stability. I have a bc14 and SPS grow great. Acros are a little slower, but still grow. Your equipment is not likely the problem. Make sure you keep you parameters stable, and give it time.