Lots of LPS questions!

[TomDe]

I want to begin to make my tank LPS dominated.

My question is do all LPS have to be fed or is this just prefrence?

Can anybody give me some info on the Pagoda Cup? It is LPS right? ease of care?



How do your tanks do as far as calcium with all LPS? Will I need a reactor?

Thank You

 

[pixburg-reefer]

My aquarium has been LPS dominate for 6 years so....

1. Target feeding/feeding in general is always a good idea-- it increases health, growth, and color. Some corals need to be fed such as the sun polyp because it is not photosynthetic at all. However, most corals are photosynthetic so feeding yourself is just an "enhancer". I usually feed cyclopeeze, brine shrimp, mysis shrimp, and other frozen foods.

2. Yes, pagoda cup is LPS. It is a slow grower, slow recovery rate too (if fragged). But i find that it is very hardy. One problem is that if your flow is too low that particles of food may fall and lay on the tissue, causing a dead spot where the tissue may start to decay away because of the waste/food particle matter.

3. I never add calcium, I just do every other week water changes of 10%. I do not use a reactor nor have I ever.

I also like to target feed my corals and I always feed at night. I also believe that high flow helps increase calcification of these corals.

Kelly

 

[TomDe]

Thank you for your help. It seems that dosing is a debate with everybody I talk to.

I never dosed my softy tank but I realize these and SPS take more calcium

Some say oh no need a reactor
Some say must dose CA/ALK/MG
Some say you will be fine with waterchanges with good salt

Which is it?

 

[pixburg-reefer]

Well what works is different for everyone (so all of the answers above are correct, because that is what probably worked for them and that is there own opinion), and I know it isn't a straight forward answer but it depends on what works for you. People would know if they need to dose or not if they just checked there water levels regularly. You SHOULD be able to not need to dose if you do regular water changes because that replenishes your elements. But this also depends on how much of a water change you do and how often. Your calcium and magnesium consumption depends on what corals you keep in your tank and how "stocked" your tank is. Now if you have a "fully stocked" tank then your calcium will be used up more quickly but if in your tank you only have one coral, I mean it can only use up your calcium so quickly. It also depends on the salt brand you use. There are a different amount of traces in each of them, hence the different brands. I'm not saying "Don't Dose", it's just what works for you with how often you do water changes, how many corals you keep, and your salt brand. If you do decide that you need to dose, that's fine, just keep an eye on the levels because too much dosing can be toxic. You just need to find a balance for your aquarium, that’s the challenge. What works for one person may not work for you.

Kelly

 

[pink_floyd]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8848172#post8848172 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pixburg-reefer
Well what works is different for everyone (so all of the answers above are correct, because that is what probably worked for them and that is there own opinion), and I know it isn't a straight forward answer but it depends on what works for you. People would know if they need to dose or not if they just checked there water levels regularly. You SHOULD be able to not need to dose if you do regular water changes because that replenishes your elements. But this also depends on how much of a water change you do and how often. Your calcium and magnesium consumption depends on what corals you keep in your tank and how "stocked" your tank is. Now if you have a "fully stocked" tank then your calcium will be used up more quickly but if in your tank you only have one coral, I mean it can only use up your calcium so quickly. It also depends on the salt brand you use. There are a different amount of traces in each of them, hence the different brands. I'm not saying "Don't Dose", it's just what works for you with how often you do water changes, how many corals you keep, and your salt brand. If you do decide that you need to dose, that's fine, just keep an eye on the levels because too much dosing can be toxic. You just need to find a balance for your aquarium, that’s the challenge. What works for one person may not work for you.

Kelly

Very well said Kelly!

 

[mitlik1]

With LPS that have many "heads" like a candy cane/trumpet, does each head feed or do they share the food? Same with a brain coral. Mine has two mouths, one of which is bigger. Do they both benefit from a fmysis that only one got?