New to SPS, would appreciate any advice

[sphelps]

I've kept LPS for over a year but I've always wanted to start getting into SPS. Just looking for some reviews and advice for my current system from the SPS experts.

This was my old tank:

I built my new tank specifically to handle some SPS and clams. It's a 3 foot cube 2 feet tall, approx. 135gal.

Lighting:
400W XM 10K SE MH with Lumanarc III reflector
6 36" ATI T5's - 2 aquablue specials, 2 pure actinic, 2 actinic +

Circulation:
Closed Loop with Quiet One 5000 (1330gph) and modified OM squirt.
Sump return pump outputs approx. 700gph at given height.

38gal Sump

29gal Refugium:
Mangroves - lit by 30" Normal Florescent
Cheato - lit by 70Watt 10K DE MH
4" DSP

25Watt LifeGaurd UV - 0.5 Duty Cycle

Custom Recirculating, inline Skimmer using Ocean Runner 5000 needle wheel.

Fluidized filter containing 250mL RowaPhos

Approx. 500mL of Carbon is used bi-weekly

Current Tank Parameters
Temperature - 80 F
Nitrate - Undetectable
PH - 8.2-8.3 (depending on time of day)
Calcium - 430ppm
Alkalinity - 3.5 meq/L
magnessium - 1300

Current Corals - Mostly LPS, two types of Acro

Fish:
Naso Tang
Regal Tang
Yellow Tang
2 Percula Clowns
3 Female Scribbled Anthias
Tomatoe Clown
Purple Firefish
Orange Spotted Prawn Goby
Lawnmower Blenny
Golden headed Sleaper Goby


Can anyone give me any pointers or advice for keeping SPS with this system, I have two types of acros, but their colors are pretty brown. The tank is only one month old.


here's some pictures

More photos in Gallery

 

[djcool563]

Is that a morrish idol in there?

 

[DarkXerox]

What are you feeding the idol?

 

[minimalist]

That's a truly gorgeous tank you have there.

 

[sphelps]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6778863#post6778863 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by djcool563
Is that a morrish idol in there?

yes I was trying him in the new reef tank, however he started eating LPS after a few days and he's now back in the preditor tank.

 

[sphelps]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6778911#post6778911 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DarkXerox
What are you feeding the idol?

I feed him flake food, mysis shrimp, scallops, cocktail shrimp, krill, nori, and ah.. everything else.

 

[sphelps]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6779181#post6779181 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by minimalist
That's a truly gorgeous tank you have there.

Thanks, I made everything myself including the tank. The starphire glass is also very nice.

 

[drake66]

I think this will be one nice SPS tank

 

[sphelps]

I was kind of hoping on getting some input on my setup with respect to keeping SPS corals. Any comments??

Other my SG is 1.026

Thanks

 

[examiner]

The only thing I think you are lacking is flow. If I calculate correctly, you are only turning your tank about 15x, and that includes your return pump. I think most would encourage you to get up in the 40X plus range if possible.

It's a great looking tank! I assume you don't want to clutter it with powerheads (i.e. Tunze's), so your only option will be a massive upgrade of your CL pump. And be aware that the flow levels that SPS crave can often be problematic for LPS, so you may have to stop straddling the fence. If you really want to go SPS, trade off/sell the stuff like the open brain, and go with the flow!

As far as your current SPS being brown. let the tank age a bit, keep your parameters stable within the accepted ranges, then maybe try some SPS with good genetics (something you know is colorful in another local reefers tank).

Nice tank! good luck

 

[sphelps]

Thanks for the input. I could easily upgrade the closed loop pump, but I would also have to upgrade the OM squirt to a higher flow model, however I would be willing to do so if better results would be the outcome.

As far as the LPS goes I've created somewhat of a valley with the rock work and was planning on keeping all LPS on the outside of the valley and keeping SPS on the inside. All the outputs of the CL are positioned to push flow through the inside of the valley where the sps will be located. I really didn't want to give up my current LPS but I was not planning on introducing anymore just SPS. All LPS are happy with current flow, do you think with a pump upgrade the flow would increase a huge amount on the outside of the valley??

Can anyone recomend a good external (quiet) pump that will produce enough flow for all SPS?

Thanks again

 

[doody]

For the 135? I'd go with a sequence reeflow dart or the one bigger. I forget the name.

 

[ctsieber]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6784990#post6784990 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by doody
For the 135? I'd go with a sequence reeflow dart or the one bigger. I forget the name.

a dart will be good for a tank that size.

also you will need to add a 2nd MH.

 

[sphelps]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6785209#post6785209 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ctsieber

also you will need to add a 2nd MH.

Are you sure, I did a lot of research on lighting this tank. How could I position 2 400W metal halides over a 3 foot cube?? Thats why I went with one with a lumanarc III reflector.

I'm pretty sure I have enough light for anything, If you could actually see the tank with the lights on, I'm sure you would agree with me. The picture posted above shows the tank lit with only the T5's, the MH isn't even on.

 

[doody]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6785304#post6785304 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sphelps
Are you sure, I did a lot of research on lighting this tank. How could I position 2 400W metal halides over a 3 foot cube?? Thats why I went with one with a lumanarc III reflector.

I'm pretty sure I have enough light for anything, If you could actually see the tank with the lights on, I'm sure you would agree with me. The picture posted above shows the tank lit with only the T5's, the MH isn't even on.

Yeah, I'm sure you'll be fine with the one 400w + all those t-5's

 

[jsweir]

You will find that the pure actinic T5s don't add much. I ended up switching to all actinic + bulbs. If your acros stay brown, I would guess high nutrients. Give them some time. A good indicator would be your cheato. If I put some in my sump it is toast within a few weeks.

 

[sphelps]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6786538#post6786538 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jsweir
You will find that the pure actinic T5s don't add much. I ended up switching to all actinic + bulbs. If your acros stay brown, I would guess high nutrients. Give them some time. A good indicator would be your cheato. If I put some in my sump it is toast within a few weeks.

I like the pure actinics better than the actinic +, just because of the way they make the corals glow.

It's funny you should mention that about the cheato, cause mine isn't doing very well, is this because of a lack of nutrients??

 

[MiddletonMark]

Could be dying back. Though if so, I'd harvest it down to the stuff that looks good - remove the dying or likely to be lost stuff.

Provided you put your Acropora by your 400w, I don't think you should have a problem there.

Flow might be good to upgrade, maybe double ... but if you keep the SPS in the higher flow - probably don't need to wildly increase it.

Be sure to keep nutrients low, parameters stable - and I guess the rest is patience and genetics. Some corals/colors seem to do better/worse under 10k vs. 20k ... but I've been able to color nearly all of my corals under both IMO - so concentrate on the basics IMO.

Where did you get the Acropora?
Wild or captive?
Colored nice when you got them or not?
A lot can depend on this ... though some folks can color any coral IMO.

Have you seen these threads?
Let's talk about water quality in an SPS tank.

Lets talk about lighting an SPS tank

Let's talk about water movement in an SPS tank

 

[sphelps]

Thanks to all for the advice! I will check out those threads.

The acro's are just from freinds, one is most likely always brown with blue polyps. The other had a good amount of blue in it when my freind first got it, however it faded to a more brown over time in his tank. Now I have it and actually today I noticed a little blue is staring to come back so I think all is well.

Thanks again

 

[MiddletonMark]

I forgot to say earlier ... you've got a gorgeous tank :thumbsup: