New to SPS need advice

[TRENT_G]

I have tested for the last few weeks. To see where my tank is and it seems to have stabilized at these results.

Temp 77.7
Salinity 1.025
PO4 0
ALK 8.3
Mg 1410
Ca 420
PH 8.2
Nitrates 0
Nitrites 0
Ammonia 0

120 gallon setup W/sump and AquaC EV-180 skimmer

Lighting and flow;
2x250 Phoenix 14K, 2xATI True Actinic
2x Vortech MP40w

Are these parameters good for SPS?
When adding SPS do I start them at the bottom or middle and work my way up over a weeks time?

Any other advice??? Thanks

 

[gofor100]

Those params are definitely good... the main thing is making sure that you keep them stable going forward.

Stability is key... that is why most peolple suggest adding SPS only to mature aquariums. So if you've had your tank running with no problems with livestock, and you're still maintaining those params, then you should be ready for your first SPS (I would try a monti and/or millepora- these are usually more forgiving). Start them out on the lower portion of your tank (can be the sandbed or just a low lying rock), and then move them up slowly (just a couple of inches over a couple of days) until you've placed it where you think its happy.

Good luck! Color sticks are really fun to see grow out...

 

[gofor100]

Oh... and always dip (using either Revive or CoralRx)... the last thing you want to start off with are parasites that will most definitely hinder your success with SPS.

 

[TRENT_G]

Those params are definitely good... the main thing is making sure that you keep them stable going forward.

Stability is key... that is why most peolple suggest adding SPS only to mature aquariums. So if you've had your tank running with no problems with livestock, and you're still maintaining those params, then you should be ready for your first SPS (I would try a monti and/or millepora- these are usually more forgiving). Start them out on the lower portion of your tank (can be the sandbed or just a low lying rock), and then move them up slowly (just a couple of inches over a couple of days) until you've placed it where you think its happy.

Good luck! Color sticks are really fun to see grow out...

Cool, Thanks

 

[krazysps]

Tank seems to be right on que with the params. I would slowly start collecting sps and dip them place them in quarantine for a couple weeks and dip A couple more times while there in time out and then move them to the
Display to enjoy.

 

[rocke_reef]

One thing just take it slow!

 

[TRENT_G]

You guys say dip and QT them. What if they came straight from ORA farms?

 

[gofor100]

You guys say dip and QT them. What if they came straight from ORA farms?

I might be a little paranoid (even though I don't QT), but I've learned to TRUST NO ONE!!! I dip no matter what after learning the hard way.

 

[flyyyguy]

dipping multiple times doesnt really make a lot of sense. Just unecessary stress on the coral and extra work. I suggest getting a little first hand experience if you REALLy want to do yoruself a favor. Go find someone or a LFS who has acro eating flatworms and montipora eating nudibranch.

Get some, set up a temporary small tank, or qt if you have it and prove for yourself what it really takes to know what they look like, what the symptoms look like, what the eggs look like, and how to truly make sure you arent introducing them.

fact is for anyone who has never actually proven for themselves these things I just stated, you are just guessing and following generic motions that without first hand experience can be fairly ineffective. You will lose eventually if you keep adding new stuff all the time

A quality camera with a macro lens is yoru friend as well, especially in looking for eggs

 

[gofor100]

dipping multiple times doesnt really make a lot of sense. Just unecessary stress on the coral and extra work. I suggest getting a little first hand experience if you REALLy want to do yoruself a favor. Go find someone or a LFS who has acro eating flatworms and montipora eating nudibranch.

Get some, set up a temporary small tank, or qt if you have it and prove for yourself what it really takes to know what they look like, what the symptoms look like, what the eggs look like, and how to truly make sure you arent introducing them.

fact is for anyone who has never actually proven for themselves these things I just stated, you are just guessing and following generic motions that without first hand experience can be fairly ineffective. You will lose eventually if you keep adding new stuff all the time

A quality camera with a macro lens is yoru friend as well, especially in looking for eggs

Not sure if you need to actually experience the drama of getting the parasites, but definitely good suggestion to go check out someone that currently has these little buggers (specifically Red Bugs and AEFW). That way, you can see what the AEFW bitemarks and eggs look like and what red bugs look like (and the symptoms/stress the corals show).

It would definitely be extremely time consuming and a pain in the a$$ to purposely get parasites (especially AEFW) and go through the process of ridding your corals of them (even if it is just one or two pieces or a small system). Even if you do have a QT, it would require that you dip multiple times if you have AEFW since their eggs typically survive any dips. Although, I have experimented just putting superglue over the eggs (and surrounding areas), and it seems like this does not allow a majority, if not all, to hatch.

Just my two cents...

Chad

 

[flyyyguy]

I didnt say infect your tank

I said get some infected corals in your hand and prove your dips actually get them off. Using the recommended dip concentration and swishing them around a little, no matter how many times you do this simply doesnt cut it a lot of the time for awfw's. And you wont know what does until you prove it firsthand

red bugs are of no concern in comparison. MEN and aefw's are the problem. Another good habit to get into, ESPECIALLY for those without a qt tank, is to simply not introduce any rock, and to cut the rim off of every coral you introduce. Might sound extreme, but if you want to nearly eliminate the chance of any unseen eggs making it through this is how you do it

many people, including myself prefer fresh cut frags vs encrusted ones for this reason. Im just going to cut it most of it off anyway

 

[gofor100]

I didnt say infect your tank

I said get some infected corals in your hand and prove your dips actually get them off. Using the recommended dip concentration and swishing them around a little, no matter how many times you do this simply doesnt cut it a lot of the time for awfw's. And you wont know what does until you prove it firsthand

red bugs are of no concern in comparison. MEN and aefw's are the problem. Another good habit to get into, ESPECIALLY for those without a qt tank, is to simply not introduce any rock, and to cut the rim off of every coral you introduce. Might sound extreme, but if you want to nearly eliminate the chance of any unseen eggs making it through this is how you do it

many people, including myself prefer fresh cut frags vs encrusted ones for this reason. Im just going to cut it most of it off anyway

Well that clears it up... I can definitely see using different coral dips on SOMEONE ELSE'S corals (or infected frags of their corals) to see which ones work.

Interesting suggestion on cutting encrusted frags... but if you can't QT, then I can definitely see how that would work (especially for AEFW).

On a side note, I've never seen the acronym "MEN" before (I know it stands for moni-eating nudi's), but I kind of laughed the first time I read it. If you didn't know this was a reef-related site, some people could take that the wrong way! :lmao:

 

[TRENT_G]

Thanks guys for all the info. I will slowly start adding a few here and their.