My Transition to SPS - It already hurts...

ReefDoberman

New member
I have a 265 gallon reef tank that I have been switching over to sps for the past month or so. Thus far I made a critical error when my digital thermometer was off by 20 degrees. It read 69 when it was actually 89. I now have 3 digital thermometers on the tank for reference. I lost every sps I had to date. So this has been my journey:

I started out with the following 2 years ago:

265 Gallon Display
40 Gallon Sump
100 Gallon DSB and Macro Algae Refugium
2 250 Watt Metal Halides
2 175 Watt Metal Halides
160 watts Actinic
Custom made Beckett Skimmer that I never had a major complaint for but was affraid wouldn't scale as the system grows.

I've sold off all of my soft corals of 2 years (with the exception of my favorite leather and some zoos, mushrooms and polyps..) And have invested in the following equipment to support the new SPS System:

265 Gallon Display
40 Gallon Sump
100 Gallon DSB and Macro Algae Refugium
4 250 watt Metal Halides (2 10K and 2 20K XM's)
160 watts actinic
ASM G-6 Skimmer
Calcium Reactor - Decision in process: between MRC CR-6 or the next size up.
Closed Loop Run by a Mag 24
Return Pump: Iwaki 2000 Gallons/Hr

Next Steps are:

Another large rubbermaid bin (100 Gallons?) to house the ASM G-6 and the Calcium Reactor.

I will be adding a 140 gallon grow out tank to this system in addition to the current water volume.

Question number 1: Will this set up support a heavy load of SPS?
Question Number 2: I've heard that perhaps the ASM skimmer is a mistake????
Question 3: What Else would you suggest?
 
Sorry about your lost.
I have heard similar story before that is way I don't use digital thermometer and have more than one on my tank.
I have a ASM G3 but the pump is quite weak, perhaps the G6 has more powerful pump. (I also have an Aqua-C, Beckett and H&S)

If you are going for full acropora, you should go for an extra large ca-reactor, don't trust the manufacturer's rating. My 15Kg double chamber reactor can barely keep up with my 500GL SPS tank.
In term of water quality, try to use loads of LR, it makes a difference. I am using two powerful skimmer in 500GL and still get 10 ppm NO3 until I added lot more rocks. More LR also supports more animal.

About lighting, I feel 400W 10000K is the best because the brightness is unmatched by anything else. 10,000K is much brighter than 12K, 14K, 15K or 20K of equal watt. Not to mention 250W. I feel more value because the lux reading I got is 2-3 times higher. (I have tried 8 brands of different watt and kelvin)

Good luck and feel free to ask me if you need help.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6957201#post6957201 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by icliao

I have a ASM G3 but the pump is quite weak, perhaps the G6 has more powerful pump. (I also have an Aqua-C, Beckett and H&S) [/B]

It's still a flow pump.

sfauth If you have the room, dont care about noise and electricity I would go with the bullet3 with a iwaki/pcx 70. Set it to skim wet and you'll have the best.

Not sure you have this covered but

Set up temp controller and Get a litermeter type pump to replace evap at a set rate so you dont depend on float switches.

That will make your tank pretty safe to give the acros enough time to grow.
 
if it was me i would go with 14K because in the fish store that i work at i have seen the same colones grown under 2 different lighting one 10K and one 14 or 20k and the color on the acro's are unmatched with the 14 or 20k. although they do not grow as fast as under 10k bulbs.
another thing is keep up with your water changes you will see a big difference in the coral.
feed ZooPlex/Zooplankton or some anmal base food with some DT's phytoplankton, I find that feeding both is best.
and if you don't have a ph meter then get one it will save you so much time.
I hope this helps and this is what worked for me
 
MTC pro calc reactor is the only way to go.... the best on the market hands down..... have had korallin, knop, and some other cheaper brands none give me the DKH that this does... I can drip 50 dkh on this reactor the others would only drip 30-40 at best!!!! Whatever you get go with a double chaimber reactor they are worth their weight in gold! Good Luck!!!!!
 
ASM G6 is a good skimmer. I run a G4. I would consider doing some mods to it.
Re-plumb it to make it recirculating. Maybe add the gate valve mod also.

Here is a link

For a calcium reactor contact this guy IM_NeO. His custom stuff is awesome and reasonably priced.
Get a PH controller for the calc reactor. You may want to set up a Kalk reactor as well.

I think your lighting is good.
 
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