Newbie SPS Help

[alf1096]

I have a 65 gal tank with the reefbreeders leds. The lights are new but the tank is about 5 years old. This is the first time I have had the lights to even try SPS corals. I would like to know the following.

1. Beginner SPS....I have to order all of my stuff because I don't have a LFS that has good coral. Thinking a birdsnest and a monticap

2. How to acclimate the coral do they just temp acclimate or drip them.

3. Do I need to dip the coral before putting in the tank.

3. With a water change once a week and 2 SPS with a clam will I need to supplement.

Thanks guys I am getting excited about giving this ago and want to be prepared so I can have some success.

 

[Craigdillman]

1) most birds nest and montepora is considered beginner but honestly if your water and lights are good and levels are good most sps is "do-able"

2 and 3) like any coral i acculamte via drip or other methods to ensure salinity temp and everything else is matched then i dip in a coral dip for what the bottle says 10-15 min and i inspect it so i don't get pests...some go farther and QT all coral thats up to you, i usually put most coral low on the sand or lower and slowly move up closer to where u want it

4) all depends what your parameters are if in a week your calcium drops to 300 you need to dose if after a month all parameters are within range then WC alone are good all depends

Do a waterchange test the water... 1 week later test all water again before WC then you see what all was used in that week

lastly i found the single best thing did was buy a hanna checker and get my P04 down to low levels thats when i truly seen happy and good growth on my sps

Just my 2 cents
cheers

 

[plyle02]

1. Yes, good start, monti and BN usually easier to keep, monti digitata another great one.
2. Acclimation is something I never have done, the coral will adjust over time to the conditions, stability is key here, so really need to know the relationship of Alk, CA, and Mag, how they play a role in reef building inhabitants, mostly those like clams or sps corals. SPS corals are very resilient, they are fully exposed during low tide in their natural habitat, baking in the sun, that said, I would again think in terms of stability and flow.
3. This one is debatable, Most of the people I deal with in terms of corals, dip before the coral leaves. I would definitely dip if possible, or know the source you are dealing with closely. Unfortunately, it seems many who quarantine, follow rigorous dipping procedures, observe, and dip again, find themselves facing the challenge of pests regardless. Common sense seems to be the best approach, that and understanding trends associated to sps coral health. For example, tissue recession, burnt tips, little polyp extension, lack of coloration, and or just looking off. Encrustation of the frag plug is key to me, that shows the coral is happy and ready to deal with the fluctuating environment on the reef.
4. Yes, Ionic balance is a must and something I would freshen up on, sps prefer very stable conditions, as they grow, the consume alk, ca, and mag, so they need to be added back into the system to avoid fluctuating parameters. Whether CA rx, dosing/balling, or kalkwasser supplementation, stable ionic balancing will keep the sps corals very healthy and happy. You mention 2 sps corals, lol, once you get the first one, you will be thinking of sps only within 6 months, lol.... That said, read some of the tags on top of the sps forum, educate and enjoy

Best of luck!

 

[Art13]

Just to chime in here, I used to drop acclimate but was told by many people, unless you are getting them locally, that after getting the shipment it's best to temp acclimate and then dip, then straight into the tank or q/t. Whatever gets built up in the bag, ammonia I believe, turns even more toxic when exposed to oxygen. I do it this way with any coral I get now with no issues.

 

[dunk373]

normal water changes keep up with a low load like that. I dip and place the coral where I want it and don't touch it, I used to move corals around and that seems to stress them out more. There surely are easier sps and hard ones but I find the most hardy corals are frags from other reefers or ones grown out in captivity. Good wide flow and stability is key IMO good luck!

 

[trueblackpercula]

All the advice you have gotten is great but please as a newbe to Sps I can't emphasize this enough. >>>>>>>>> dip everything for pest <<<<<<<< aefw are running wild in the hobby right now so treat everything.

Michael

 

[alf1096]

Thanks guys. If dipping will not hurt them I don't see why I would not do it. What order do you do things.

Float for temp
Drip acclimate
Dip in new saltwater with dip
Into tank.

 

[trueblackpercula]

Dip everything first

 

[alf1096]

If I dip first do you got into tank with no acclimation. Or put it back in shipping water then drip.

 

[mylittlejade]

I've never acclimated my corals temp or drip wise. When I get any corals in via shipping or LFS, I first pull off of the plug and use Bayer and magnifying glass to dip and inspect the coral. I do this for 15 minutes..sometimes longer when I forget about the coral when it's in the dipping solution. Then I put it into a clean container to rinse off the Bayer and in my tank it goes. I keep all new frags in my rack about half way down from the lights for a couple of weeks and then I place in their final spot on a piece of rock rubble. I feel that temp and drip methods are a bit much for corals and you can get away with not doing them. Quarantine is the best method but if you can't then the method above works well. I've done it this way for a long time and never had to many problems. Just make sure your perimeters are good and don't introduce any pest and you'll be OK.

Bryan

 

[alf1096]

Hope it grows.

 

[Art13]

I think the only real way to know besides looking for eggs and such is just to observe the coral and look for any negative effects.