SPS Par

[Luke Schnabel]

So I'm starting to dab into Acropora, I've successfully been keeping 3 Porcilopora and a Stylopora frag for about 3 months. They have had great growth so I've decided to get my first Acro Frag. My tank is lit by three Hydra 26's, with a par level on my top of rock between 160-220 PAR. I just placed the Acro at a spot with 175 PAR. I've read Acro are very light/flow demanding so I didn't know if 175 was too low or not. I don't believe my LFS keeps them under extremely high PAR.

I've been dusting my SPS with "Reef Roids" about 2-3 times weekly, Lookong to start culturing micro algae and rotifiers here soon to feed my tank as well.

I have done lots of reading and video watching about Acro Care and I've seen a hugely scattered care requirement. Could you guys let me know what you keep most of your Acros PAR at and what and how often you feed?

Thanks

 

[JohnnyHildo]

i don't go by par as i don't have a meter but i certainly watch over my sps to see if the polyps are extending and the color looks right.
i also wanted to add that you should keep an eye on feeding reef roids so frequently. there was a fairly noticeable drop in my water quality when i get too crazy with it.

 

[Art13]

I think 150 and up is good for sps, at least that's what i remember reading. My par in my tank is 300-350 on the top rocks and 150-200 down the face of the rocks, no problems with sps that are all the way to the sand bed.

 

[Luke Schnabel]

i hope to replace the reef roids soon with live food. Microalgae and live rotifers. I can't really see much polyps on the Acro. Just tiny little things popping out a few places. Not everywhere.

 

[Scorpius]

Any polyp extension is better than no poly extension.

 

[j_mazzy]

microalgae like live phytoplankton?

 

[Luke Schnabel]

I believe Phytoplankton is micro algae, and the rotifers feed off Microalgae and the corals then feed off rotifers.

From what I've gathered most reef tanks are missing the two fundamental blocks of the ocean which is Phytoplankton and the next step up the food chain which are rotifers. So providing both to my tank should help everything I would assume.