sps doesnt do well in my reef

[nano reefer]

a lot of sps (acro type. i.e. branching style coral) doesnt seem to do too good in my tank they just seem to bleach out and die?

biocube 29 with 12" vho t5s and actinic 36 watt pc
for flow stock return and koralia nano
only fish is baby clown

0 phosphate
0 nitrate
440 calcium
12 dkh

gonna test other stuff soon as i can

 

[Gilby]

Better lighting and more flow.

 

[philipchan]

+1 on Better lighting and more flow
AKH 12 a little high, i always keep it at around 10,
and what's yr MG level ? water changes often ?

 

[nano reefer]

p.s. its 4 bulb t5 vho 20 watt with internal reflectors

and i try to do 3 gallon water changes once a week. sometimes takes a little over a week before i can do it

 

[jimbo1]

how long has the tank been running?

 

[nano reefer]

this has been up and running for about 4 months. but was an upgrade from a 10 gallon and used all my water and rock

 

[jimbo1]

ditto philipchan and gilby, on better lighting and more flow. that nano pump can't cut it for sps (10-12x turnover, sps need 40 and higher)
gradually lower alk and take it from there.

 

[Bigmike]

How do you top off? If you do so manually Id suggest you get some kind of ato system going.

 

[nano427]

Better lighting and more flow.

How do you top off? If you do so manually Id suggest you get some kind of ato system going.

 

[Gilby]

p.s. its 4 bulb t5 vho 20 watt with internal reflectors

and i try to do 3 gallon water changes once a week. sometimes takes a little over a week before i can do it

I would get at least a 150w metal halide fixture for your tank, maybe even a 250w. A vortech mp10 would be great for flow or a TUNZE 6045 or a couple of 6025s. Even a Koralia 4 would be ok. The Koralia nano just wont cut it.

 

[nano reefer]

i figured the 4 bulb t5 would be enough for a small tank?

 

[Gilby]

No, it's really not. Try www.nanotuners.com. They have some retro fit kits for the biocube that will get you the proper amount of light. I would also try increasing the bio load. With only one small fish the corals may not be getting proper nutrients. Maybe add a few more fish or AA supplements.

 

[nano reefer]

i have nanotuners 4 bulb t5 so that i could have sps...

 

[NYCBOB]

i think ur problem is more water quality related than light. 4 t5 bulbs for easier acro or montis r plenty over a 29 gallon. the flow could be better. 4 month old tank is very new. any picture of ur setup?

 

[sedor]

4 T5's over a 29 is plenty for keeping relatively anything unless the reflectors are just garbage. Your problem probably lies in the most difficult thing about SPS and that is stability. SPS do not like change which is why a lot of people consider them difficult. You have to keep your Ca and Alk the same consistently or they can STN very quickly. Flow is also very important, not only with the amount of flow, but also that it has some variety which is why many choose a wavemaker type setup for keeping SPS.

 

[danreefman]

try prolonging water change for a week you might need a little bacteria. It worked for me me when I had a 24 gallon nano

 

[nano reefer]

the water change i did last week was only one gallon...

i think im gonna add a k1 and put the nano on a timer. for now

 

[NYCBOB]

K1 is weak. Try at least a k2.

 

[nano reefer]

what seems like my tank would be a vortex? there is also lps and soft corals

 

[Bigmike]

what kind of softies you have in there? If you have leathers and stuff that could be your problem too, are you running carbon in any way? You might have some coral warfare goin on.