Montipora, stylophora, or birdsnest?

[ilikepie777]

Would any of these three be ok to put into a biocube 14 with a full spectrum par38 led bulb from reef breeders, 0 ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate, alkalinity between 9 to 11 and calcium at 500 ppm, and I do dose my tank every other day or so to keep steady amounts of alkalinity and calcium. Under these conditions would any of the corals in the title thrive in my tank if I placed them at the very top of my tank?

 

[Red_Blenny]

Sounds fine to me. Those 3 you mentioned are pretty hardy. Just keep your nutrient levels low...

IMO, I don't think you need to dose since your not going SPS heavy. Just do your weekly (or bi-monthly) W/C and you'll be fine for alk/Ca

 

[peequin]

How long has the tank been setup for?

 

[saltyair]

why is your cal so high? In my experience 500 cal level becomes very tough on pumps. I would let the cal come down to 450 or 420.

alk should be 7-9

Other than that should be fine IMO - dip slowly if coming from a lower alk

 

[Andyf30]

Second what saltyair said. You don't need your calc or alk to be that high. Just keep them in the range of 7-9 alk and 425-475 calc. I honestly just dose when I remember (can range from every day to every 3 days) and have had no problems as far as growth or coloration issues

 

[ilikepie777]

alright thanks guys, my tank is almost half a year old and wow I did not know caring for sps was as easy as your said it was I thought you had to give them basically high everything from dosing to flow.

 

[rovster]

Yes you can. This is an old pic, I don't have a recent one, but I ditched the Pocci and Monti because they were taking up too much room, LOL! Now the top is littered with acro frags, all encrusting and growing nicely. This is under Rapid LED, but I'm sure a Par bulb would be comparable....



FWIW, I run my Cal at 420ish, and alk between 7-9, but shoot for 8. I know it seems like a big range, but for some reason, it seems to work in my tank. I keep a close eye on alk, testing twice a week. I supplement 2 part daily, because my tank is more and more SPS dominant. GL!

 

[ilikepie777]

when you mean ditched your coral do you mean you fragged them and sold/gave away or threw them away I'm hoping you mean the first one LOL and if so do you have any poccilopora frags left?

 

[ilikepie777]

also when you say keep your dissolved nutrients levels low does that mean 0 ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

 

[rovster]

Gave a lot of frags away, took the rest of the colony to the LFS for credit. By dissolved nutrients, they are referring to nitrate and phosphate. After your cycle, ammonia,and nitrate don't even enter the conversation, unless there is a mishap. Fwiw, these corals will also grow under the stock,pc lights

 

[ilikepie777]

well that's a problem as I don't have a phosphate test, I can test for nitrates anytime I want, so should I get a phosphate test, a better question would be do they even sell phosphate tests? Also how fast did it take for your pocci to grow into that massive thing?

 

[dunc101]

well that's a problem as I don't have a phosphate test, I can test for nitrates anytime I want, so should I get a phosphate test, a better question would be do they even sell phosphate tests? Also how fast did it take for your pocci to grow into that massive thing?

The best hobby phophate test kits are arguably the Hannah URL testers. I personally wouldn't buy anything else as these give you a digital read out. I also know of a lot of successful SPS keepers who do not check their phoshates with a kit at all. Instead, they can tell when they have an increase in phosphates by the algae that is growing on the glass (or in the tank for that matter). SPS keepers try to keep their phosphates around .03 fyi.

 

[rovster]

6-8 months from a small frag. Poccis grow fast. It would have been bigger, but as you see it literally grew to the water's surface. Usually poccis grow into a big ball, I had a flat top, LOL!

Fwiw, I didn't have a phos test until recently. Only reason I got it was to check on some rocks I'm cooking for a bigger build. I change 2 gallons / week and never had issues with algae or cyano. No skimmer either. With this tank, just keep it simple, and keep to your routine.