sps equipment recommendation

[matt604]

hi guys im in the middle of setting up my tank and i need to know what else i need to keep a healthy sps reef. I have a 8 foot 240g tank ,my equipment list so far is 240g tank,2x400w 14k mh ,40g sump, 4x 1400gph power heads ,1200gph sump pump,200 aquaeuro skimmer, salinity salt at 1.024 ,ph 8.1, 100p live rock,100p live sand,tank is nearly cycled. I noticed my aquarium store is trying to sell me the world and dont want a tone of stuff i dont need.

 

[smokenax]

Looks like you are good to go,just keep an eye on your parameters and try to keep them stable.

 

[REEF SMAC]

I would say a quality refractometer, some good Ca/Alk/Mg test kits, eventually a NO3/PO4 kit or meter, an RO/DI unit, a QT tank for coral, a QT tank for fish, and a lot of patience.

 

[matt604]

awsome i forgot tp metion i have a rodi unit and a refractometer and iv been using it, il look into the no3/po4 kit, I wasent aware of using a qt tank for coral,thats a great idea.Ill google how long i should house the corals in it.

 

[REEF SMAC]

It doesn't have to be fancy, but it will be worth every penny.

Read through one of the many AEFW, Monti nudi, or red bug threads you'll see the value of one.

Read through one of the many threads on here that have the OPs talking early on in their thread about how he "carefully dips all his new corals" then fast forward to the end of their thread, where they're breaking down their tanks because they have AEFW.

Sounds like you're new tank is well on the right track so far.

 

[Snowsrfr]

With 240 gallons of SPS, leave room for a Ca reactor.

 

[matt604]

think il need one if im doing a tank simalure to this one? 2 small out crops in a big tank .i perfer an open look versus the giant wall of coral

 

[Bigcefa]

i would say throwing another 400w halide would be good on a tank that size for sps, what kind of supplemental lighting are you running also the return pump seems to small to me just my opinion, i have a 160g with a mag12 i think you can do a mag18 or equivilent easy, also if those powerheads are koralia's they should be fine for now but think about upgrading in the future

 

[matt604]

heres my tank,my two outcrops of rocks are right under the lights and theres nothing in the middle,so il probley be ok without 1 more 400w, i have two 4foot t5 6500k to add a bit of a warm look, my 14k 400w where to blue.I had to add a diversion pipe from above my sump pump back into my sump because it was pumping faster then my overflow was draining.so i think its pumping more like 900gph.the power heads are koralia's,50bucks each

 

[Nam Nguyen]

Very great looking tank from beginning so far. Keep it up buddy.

 

[matt604]

thanks nam ,im getting excited to add some corals. What do you guys think about adding coral, my tank seems to be fully cycled .all readings are zero.I cured the live rock in the tank so does that mean my cycle is complete? iv had a small brown algea bloom then a tiny bit of green hair algea . should i order some sps or wait?

 

[Sammy226]

Very good start. Man there a lot of Vietnamese reefers on RC. )

 

[cdamiano]

You are going to need more flow to keep SPS happy in that size tank. I don't think those 1400gph Koralia's are going to cut it. It's going to cost you a few bucks, but the best option is Vortech or Tunze. Also, your skimmer may be a bit undersized.....unless you stock the tank very conservatively.

 

[krshlln300]

Any updates?

 

[blakers82]

There are some good recommendations in this thread. The two best ones, short and long term, are a quarantine tank(s) and I concur that more flow in-tank will be warranted to keep SPS happy. That's a lot of water to move.

 

[powderbluu]

+1 on flow... eventually you need more than just 4 x 1400

 

[blakers82]

I forgot to mention that I like your aquascape! You may want to leave a few more inches space from the right end. You could use that space for more coral grow out.