Please help me have some SPS

Angel*Fish

Angel*Fish

cats and large squashes
1. ~2 year old tank - 100g 29g fuge +20g sump
2. DSB & lots of LR (lost track # of lbs. will post photo below)

3. 2 Seios + 2 1200maxijets + return Quiet One 5-6000

4. 36 " Lifereef skimmer with mazzei & big pump (sorry :( I'm not at home)

5. 2 x 175 w 14,000 k about 12 hours + 660w VHO ~4 hours 2 actinic & 2 "pink" (maybe 50/50's?)

6. 80-83 degrees calcium - ~420-450, alkalinity`400, salinity.0026 , ammonia, nitrites/trates -0-trace, magnesium - not tested, etc.) (the more the better).

7. 3 euphyllias, yellow gorgonian, mushrooms, 2 plating montiporas, turbinaria cup shaped, BTA, ricordias, fungia, hairy mushrooms, alveopora, pink goniapora, green sinularia, finger leather -shrinking for some reason & open brain in fuge also clam

8. RO water no DI

9. kalkwasser drip & add CaCl with water changes

10. Feeding - 2x/ day Cyclopeeze, mysis, enriched brine, DT's not same every day. Always feed live newly hatched brine shrimp 2x a day

A few months ago I tried an Acropora - OMG it was so beautiful that is until it turned brown & died. I never saw anything so beautiful. :(

It was kind of bad timing, but I was running skimmerless at that time. I also just discovered that my RO system was not working.

I'd like to try again but I don't want to kill another one - the one I killed at least was tank raised.

Maybe I could start with "easier" ones? Not necessarily Acros but maybe other SPS. Any opinions as to which would be more like starter SPS? A couple of times I've almost ordered purple montipora capricornis & digitatis (sp?) but I'm afraid. Are bird's nest more of a starter Acropora?

I'm lost - please give me some guidance

Here'a a photo
---------------------v That's it right there turning brown
5247125new_full_tank_resized.jpg
 
Birdsnest would be a bad idea IMHO, they tend to like great waterquality.

I would start with a frag (preferably from a local reefer) of montipora cap, or montipora digitata. They seem to be the easyest to keep happy, and grow fast so there will probably be plenty to be had for cheap in your area.

HTH,
Whiskey
 
Looking more cosely at your stats, you seem to feed alot, you may want to feed only once per day.

I don't understand an Alk of 400, what units is that in?

You don't list phospate, that is a SPS killer, what is it?

Could you also give a fish list?

You also might want to try to cut that temp swing down a bit, although I know people who have tanks that swing further, less is better here.

You have a very nice tank, what you have now looks to be doing well, if you fill us in on some more details perhaps we can help you be sucessfull with acropora too.

Thanks,
Whiskey
 
Pocillopora. They're hardy, treelike, and grow fast. Acropora yongeii---it's pretty robust, and signals its displeasure by sliming---besides being colorful. (don't touch any of these with your fingers.) I second the montipora in the digitata and foliosa forms. It's quite unflappable and interesting to watch grow.
 
One thing i noticed about your tank that will continue to cause failure in keeping acros is your livestock. No matter what corrective measures you take(id suggest a good skimmer, ro/di, and decrease feeding particularly the live brine) you wont have success if you are to keep mushrooms and leathers in the same tank. These corals are extremely noxious and will almost always outcompete acros and kill them. YOu may see some shorterm success with acros mixing with leathers and shrooms but no true long term. People are going to tell you contrary, but i challenge them to post the pics and then come back and post them 5 years from now with the same pieces. Before you try the acros make sure you get your feeding down some, have a good skimmer running, use ro/di water and trade in the leathers and shrooms and at the very least the leathers. I could never seem to maintain these mixed species that dont occurr naturally with such close proximity, but i can keep all of them very successfully when i dont mix them.
 
also good sps to start with are montipora's. Digi's and cap's can be kept under Power compact lighting and will still give good grow.
 
And test for magnesium at least once a week or so. It will explain anything odd going on with cal and alk. If you test faithfully for cal, alk, salinity, temperature (with 2 thermometers: they fail) and magnesium and write the results down in a log, plus what you've added, or changes made, you won't forget something critical; and if you do have a problem, re-read your record: it may well tell you things. Some things the corals do, but with the chemistry, you're pretty well in charge of that, and good records are a real help.
 
Oh my gosh! It was so great to find all these helpful posts! I have really been pretty aggravated about this issue. And I am so glad I asked for some help. You guys are great!
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7161376#post7161376 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Wiskey
Birdsnest would be a bad idea IMHO, they tend to like great waterquality.

I would start with a frag (preferably from a local reefer) of montipora cap, or montipora digitata. They seem to be the easyest to keep happy, and grow fast so there will probably be plenty to be had for cheap in your area

Looking more cosely at your stats, you seem to feed alot, you may want to feed only once per day.

I don't understand an Alk of 400, what units is that in?

You don't list phospate, that is a SPS killer, what is it?

Could you also give a fish list?

You also might want to try to cut that temp swing down a bit, although I know people who have tanks that swing further, less is better here.

You have a very nice tank, what you have now looks to be doing well, if you fill us in on some more details perhaps we can help you be sucessfull with acropora too.

Thanks,
Whiskey
Click to expand...
Thanks for helping!
Uh oh...I do feed a l-o-t. My fish like it. I may need a third tank :(
The alk is 4.00 meq/l (Sorry)
I'll get a phosphate test this weekend. Thinking of getting a Mg kit also
Holy buttfish - please don't ask for a fish list - you guys are gonna think I'm nuts -I'll post the list at the bottom.
Temperature fluctuation - I just bought a temp. controller for my fans on Sat. - what do you think if I can stabilize it to 82-83 degrees?

Thanks for the "very nice tank" :D
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7161515#post7161515 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sk8r
Pocillopora. They're hardy, treelike, and grow fast. Acropora yongeii---it's pretty robust, and signals its displeasure by sliming---besides being colorful. (don't touch any of these with your fingers.) I second the montipora in the digitata and foliosa forms. It's quite unflappable and interesting to watch grow.
Click to expand...
Thanks so much for the recommendations. That really helps. I will zero in on these. The "easy" ones may be the best I can do with so many fish.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7161570#post7161570 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Serioussnaps
One thing i noticed about your tank that will continue to cause failure in keeping acros is your livestock. No matter what corrective measures you take(id suggest a good skimmer, ro/di, and decrease feeding particularly the live brine) you wont have success if you are to keep mushrooms and leathers in the same tank. These corals are extremely noxious and will almost always outcompete acros and kill them. YOu may see some shorterm success with acros mixing with leathers and shrooms but no true long term. People are going to tell you contrary, but i challenge them to post the pics and then come back and post them 5 years from now with the same pieces. Before you try the acros make sure you get your feeding down some, have a good skimmer running, use ro/di water and trade in the leathers and shrooms and at the very least the leathers. I could never seem to maintain these mixed species that dont occurr naturally with such close proximity, but i can keep all of them very successfully when i dont mix them.
Click to expand...
I'm hoping you missed my 36" Lifereef skimmer - I am really proud of it & work it into the conversation whenever I can ;) I don't need to upgrade it, do I?

I only have RO - Will DI make enough difference that I should go for it ASAP?

Wow - I had no idea about this issue. Thank you for telling me. The leather is dying for some reason anyway - I'll move the shrooms to another tank. I have what I think is a green kenya tree is that noxious?
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7162511#post7162511 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ICURN
Why is the open brain in the fuge?
Click to expand...
The yellow fish in the middle :D All my other angels are "angels". No one bothered the Acropora - until it was dying - they liked the rotting flesh - doesn't sound very angelic does it?

5247125angels.jpg


<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7162955#post7162955 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sk8r
And test for magnesium at least once a week or so. It will explain anything odd going on with cal and alk. If you test faithfully for cal, alk, salinity, temperature (with 2 thermometers: they fail) and magnesium and write the results down in a log, plus what you've added, or changes made, you won't forget something critical; and if you do have a problem, re-read your record: it may well tell you things. Some things the corals do, but with the chemistry, you're pretty well in charge of that, and good records are a real help.
Click to expand...
OK. I was thinking about picking up a Mg test with the phosphate. Any thoughts about using RandyHolmes Farley's 2 part system? Our local club had a presentation on it & they sell the chemicals cheap. Anyway it involved adding Mg. I didn't think I needed it because I just don't have all that many stoney corals. But I guess when you think about it each coral needs what it needs whether there are 5 or 30 corals in the tank. OK I talked myself into it.

I will keep a log book. I will keep a log book. I will keep a log book...It's just that it always gets wet & the ink smears. OK but if I want SPS ---I will keep a log book.
 

Holy buttfish
Click to expand...


Where can I buy one of those? :lol:


I'll post the list at the bottom
Click to expand...


Well :confused:

From the looks of things you have a HUGE fish load, and you feed alot. As you know SPS like clean water, and fish polute water, pending P04 results of course, I still think you can do well with digi's or cap's, but for more delicate sps I think you need to make some changes.

HTH,
Whiskey
 
Umm.. here's the fish list
6 Anthias- the tuka needs the live artemia
5 Dwarf angels (2 Flame + cherub, Herald's & CB)
1 Singapore angel - 3 in. at this time
3 Oscellaris clowns
3 damsels
2 Spotted mandarin
1 Striped high fin shrimp goby
4 Threadfin cardinals
1 Lubbock's fairy wrasse
1 Purple firefish
1 Bicolor blenny (He'd be to catch in a rock if he nips coral)

I know that sounds like a lot - but if you stacked them all together on one side of a scale & just one big fish, like some have, on the other side - it's not that much, bioload speaking is it?

I don't have a nitrate problem - as a matter of fact I just bought a 30g system to run with high nitrates largely so I can grow some macro algae for the flames and anyone else who wants them. I can't hardly grow chaeto in my 100g system.
 

6 Anthias- the tuka needs the live artemia
5 Dwarf angels (2 Flame + cherub, Herald's & CB)
1 Singapore angel - 3 in. at this time
3 Oscellaris clowns
3 damsels
2 Spotted mandarin
1 Striped high fin shrimp goby
4 Threadfin cardinals
1 Lubbock's fairy wrasse
1 Purple firefish
1 Bicolor blenny
Click to expand...


Holy buttfish indeed.


I know that sounds like a lot - but if you stacked them all together on one side of a scale & just one big fish, like some have, on the other side - it's not that much, bioload speaking is it?
Click to expand...

How big of a fish are we talking here? Remember dolphins are mammels.


I don't have a nitrate problem
Click to expand...

Ok, but a DSB has a tun of room for denitrifying. I am willing to bet your Phospate is through the roof though. Please post the results from your Salifert phospate test kit.

Are you willing to remove some of the fish? Or setup another tank to run cleaner? I think you would go through Phosban like no tomorrow if you tried to go that route.

Whiskey
 
OK I will post as soon as I get my phospahte test. And thanks again :)
How big of a fish are we talking here? Remember dolphins are mammels.
Click to expand...
:lol: :lol: :lol:
I'm glad you have a sense of humor about it - i was really nervous to post that. And I lied... it's 7 Anthias not 6.

I will get the Salifert brand- that's why it may not be till this sat. - it's a long drive thru Houston traffic to the store that carries Salifert- can take an hour one way.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7163373#post7163373 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Wiskey
Lol, I thought you were trying not to be censored, that one slipped right past me. Amasing what is alive out there.

Whiskey
Click to expand...
I thought it was a clever combination of avoiding the censors & being "scientific" all at once :D ;)

That is one funny thread isn't it?
 
It's great! I have only made it to the second page so far though. I have to sneek some work in at least :D

Whiskey
 
OK Believe it or not I didn't just fade into cyberspace - things got hectic. Plus I finally made the drive to LFS that has the Salifert tests & came home with livestock instead of PH test :rolleyes:

Even had a PH & a Mg test in the bag at the counter and put them back because I'd just spent too much and really wanted the new rose BTA & 2 big ricordia rocks that I later found out were illegal :(

I'm starting to wonder if I have the guts to be an SPS girl...

Good news, I've decided I can move the corals that are bad for SPS, alleopathically speaking, to my 30g. Does that include ricordia? I really do love ricordea...

Anyway I really do appreciate the help I'm gonna get from anyone I don't lose to the "Angela's buttfish" thread.
 
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