our new tank

[kpharm6]

hello...

while we have been involved in the hobby for two years now successfully maintaining two reefs (30 gal and 20 gal), we have only cared for soft and lps corals thus far...

we recently purchased a complete set up from a fellow reefer that we would like to develop into an sps tank...we are doing a lot of research as we want to make all of the right decisions for our future reef...

the tank has been running since october...it is a 33 gallon long aquarium and only 12" deep...we have a 15 gal tank running in the system that houses a massive protein skimmer (schuran) and a 20 gal sump with various macroalgae...

we are now looking into purchasing lighting - probably an aquamedic ocean light and ballast with two de 250 watt mhl and t5's (2x54 watts)...appropriate if suspended and cooled?

we also were wondering about the best way to maintain calcium and alkalinity levels in a tank of this size...some seem to think a calcium reactor is overkill, but we don't mind spending the money, we want a system that runs most efficiently and that most importantly best supports the corals we'd like to keep. some mention also of a kalkwasser drip with a calcium reactor to prevent possible ph fluctuations...any advice would be appreciated...

we are also wondering what the best way to maintain adequate flow in our tank...we've heard that it's flow, not velocity that matters...

any advice would be much appreciated...

thank you...

kelly

 

[ChunksInClemson]

Most SPS like a good amount of flow. Maybe a water turnover of 40-50/hr. Some would argue that you can never have too much lighting but I think the 2 250's are overkill. If you want duals, go with 150s. You could prolly get away with one 250. Definitely one 400. How long is the tank?

 

[Blown 346]

I like to go by if your test kits show proper levels of calcium etc, do not add any supplements. I have a 90 gallon and house several LPS,SPS, softies, and a clam. I dont supplement anything, waterchanges replace all the elements my tank needs. Unless you are going to have corals that demand alot of calciumetc would be the only time I would supplement.

 

[civicss1]

i think that the lights are fine ...just suspend them ...also the cal reactor is overkill big time...i would jsut do the kalk drip to maintain the calcium levels in the tank...just test the calcium to get it at the right level than do the drip to top off the water that evaps and maintain the calcium....they sell autodosers so i would look into one ,,,hope this helps

 

[MCary]

I have been running a mixed reef with predominantly SPS. I have a 24"w X 48" L X 30" H 150 gallon tank.

I use a pendant fixture that is 2 250w 10,000 kelvin DE metal halides and 2 T5's actinic. Even with the 30 inch depth my corals have thrived and colored up beautifully. I'm sure that a 150 watt system would work fine. 250 surely couldn't hurt, but do you need 2 of them. Might be a waste of electricity. Check the coverage area of the light.

I've never tryed a BB tank, but a small tank like that would be so easy to keep clean with a bare bottom. I might try that. You also wouldn't have the sand problems from a high flow in such a shallow tank.

Flow is easy with that small of a tank. Wavemakers and power heads are a cheap available option. You can also get a big pump, a couple of sqwds and build a manifold system around the top. If you wanna spend the big bucks, get a tunze system and controller.

I started with using a 2-part. B-ionic to be exact but you can try randy's 2 part. Chck the chemistry forum. Cheap easy available. I have a friend with a 500 gallon system that only uses Randy's. His tank is beautiful. I then swithed to Kalk dosing. Also easy and cheap. I now have a calcium reator. The only real noticable advantage is less tank maintenance. I don't have to remember to dose the 2 part or mix up the kalk. I have seen great SPS systems using all three.

The thing to realize is that if you have the right equipment, SPS is no more difficult than any other. It is just different. It requires a different plan for setup and stocking. But thats the nature of any choices we make in life.

Mike