sps questions, levels

codydemmel4

codydemmel4

Active member
so I am getting back into reefing after being out for only 3 months because I moved, yeah I couldn't stay away long at all haha. Anyways I am starting up a 55 gallon tank and I want to make sure it is ready to keep SPS from the start. I am getting already cycled live rock and sand from a fellow reefer and have my led lights ( 2 of the black boxes from china). However I want to know what you guys think or have saw be the best growing/color conditions for SPS. Would you say kalk at 8 or 9 is better Calc at 400 or 450 is better? Also I know you dont really want phophates at 0, but what is too high for SPS? I would like to get a discussion going on this and if there already is one going, please close this thread and direct me to where it is.
 
I noticed a lot of folks around here run around 7, but it seems more about consistency and keeping those levels steady. Im hanging around 9 and doing OK, may let it drop down some to see if there is much of a change. I don't think you want to go above .04 on po4, but again, its more consistency than it is chasing numbers. I like to feed heavy and export heavy.
 
The alk level kind of depends on your nitrate / phosphate levels. A lot of people have experienced tip burn with alk over 8.5 with little to no PO4. if you can keep a little nitrate and phosphate then 8.5 and up doesn't seem to be a problem. This is a hotly debated topic but let's say alk at 7.5, calcium at 450 mag 1350, nitrate at around 3-5, phosphate at .02-.04. Again this is just one guys opinion, i am sure others will chime in. Yes on consistency and high feeding and high export.
 
I agree with both of the previous posters. And I would also say...make sure to be very careful with GFO. If you run too much, it'll strip your water of phosphate and make all your precious SPS colors very pale. And it takes much longer to get the colors back than it does to lose them.

Side note: I've had good luck with the Red Sea Reef Energy for boosting color.
 
Have a drilled 55 gallon myself with lps and sps. Have noticed at the lower alk, say 7, the sps starts to STN from the base. Around 8.5 seems to be a good number for me. Calcium ive been keeping at 400-420. I do have a large sump/fuge connected to it that keeps nutrients balanced to the amount i feed which is sometimes two or three times daily. Like fat fish.
 
I've heard of people running phosphates closer to 0.10 ppm and still had no problems. Nitrates at 10 ppm shouldn't cause any issues either. I'd say keep your nutrients as high as you can get away with (without getting a hair algae/bryopsis outbreak). But I've personally had low-nutrient issues, so that's the side I would err on.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Perth_reefer
Temperature fluctuation for SPS
Replies
3
Views
120
Reefing102
Reefing102
K
SPS Pest?!
Replies
10
Views
974
griss
griss
K
Help: SPS peeling strangely.
Replies
5
Views
699
griss
griss
LJA
Fish addition order
Replies
2
Views
348
OrionN
OrionN
vinstr
Anyone need a Harlequin shrimp?
Replies
1
Views
97
vinstr
vinstr
Back
Top