New to SPS... sorta

[toothybugs]

Hey guys -

I have a bunch of history running tank full of softies - zoas, palys, etc - but this time around I want to run a good SPS system. I just set my system up at the beginning of the month and while it's nicely cycled, it's blowing hair algae all over the place so I still have some time.

Lighting is not going to be a problem, if anything I have too much! 2x250W halides and 4x39W T5s light up a 40B. Lately I've just been running the T5s since there's nothing in the tank but microalgae. I have 65-70lbs LR right now. No livestock has yet made it to the system, so it's still really fresh. A couple of the LR pieces have coralline all over them.

So, "when" is the question for when you folks would be okay starting SPS in a new tank? Like I said, no livestock yet so there has been no mineral depletion. Oh, and I'm using IO Reef Crystals at 1.025 to 1.026 with RODI of course.

Didn't find a beginner SPS thread anywhere so I'm posting this here. If I missed it, a link to it will suffice. Of course, other responses are appreciated

Thanks folks
NG

 

[Reefer54]

wow....those lights are way over the top for a 40B. most people say give your tank a year until everything is stable before adding sps. if you are gonna be really on it, using all established LR, you could get away with 6 months. And others still will add sps from day 1, using very established components.

with the hair algae phase still going on, you have quite a while at the least IMO.

Thing is....everybody's systems are different and mature at different rates....for instance (but a year is the typical rule of thumb), if you are turning your halides and t5s on at all right now, your hair algae will stick around for some time longer....

 

[toothybugs]

Yea I knew I had a long while to go, that isn't really a question. But your comment as to 6mos minimum and likely a year is what I was looking for.

BTW, the halides are staying off. It's actually a 42" fixture so one day it'll sit over a 75 or 90 nicely, but for now I'm just running the T5s a bit every day to put the nutrients in to something I can rip out. Funny thing is I don't have much hair in the tank, it's surprisingly clean. Old tanks I've had were way more crudded up than this one.