SPS Stability Equipment.

[Bubbaboy]

Hello. I need to get my water perimeters stable before I can start growing SPS. So I was wondering what are the most important pieces of equipment for a stable SPS tank. I need to keep ph and alkalinity stable also so what do I need for this, a doser? Also I tested my water this morning and my alk was 13. How do I keep around 8?

Thanks everyone.

 

[Allmost]

what salt do you use ? a salt mix with KH of 13 is not okay for SPS. My opinion.

you will need test kits, and some sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and some calcium chloride, to boost up CA++ and KH, and keep them stable.

 

[Bubbaboy]

I use LFS salt water

 

[GR214]

I recommend you mix your own salt that way you know exactly what your putting in your tank there are alot of opinions on what salt is best.

 

[JustinM]

Yeah, mix your own salt. IMO water changes are your most stable piece of equipment. Depending on tank size, how much SPS and how large they are. A weekly water change, with a good salt will keep you stable. Test, test and test again.

 

[mcoomer]

Ditto on what the others said about buying salt and mixing your own water. Consistency is the title to your thread and the only way to ensure that is to mix your own water. As for Ca and Alk, I dose BRS two part and recommend it. I use two Drew's Dosers, two gallon jugs, and control the timing with my ReefKeeper Elite. I set it so that dosing occurs in small amounts several times a day. My corals have never looked happier.

Mike

 

[Laurier]

ATO

keeping your salinity stable. Found a noticable difference in growth after adding my new one

 

[allsps40]

Agreed, mix your own salt. If the LFS is using Reef Crystals then that would explain the high alk. I like Tropic Marine PRo Reef and DD H2Ocean salt mix for sps tanks. I also agree on the ATO I also saw a huge difference in my sps once SG was stable. Plus the added benefit of daosing kalk in top off water, it also keep ca and alk stable.
Most important pieces of equipment for sps
1. Good skimmer
2. Lighting
3. ATO. I like to dose kalk in my top off water saves the need for a doser
4. Media reactor for GFO or bio pellets, I run GFO
5. Good water movement from power heads or CL
6. Good test kits
7. Patients, nothing good happens fast in a reef tank

 

[samuelkl]

I think you mean patience. Definitely needed with sps. You can bleach em in one day from swinging salinity or lighting and it can take weeks to months to regain that color

 

[allsps40]

Ops yeah sorry
7. Patience, nothing good happens fast in a reef tank
Every one that follows my posts knows I cant spell LOL

 

[Bubbaboy]

Ok thanks guys and I'm kinda new to the complex equipments. I am looking for an ato now and hopefully a controller like reefkeeper elite. Also Im looking fir Dosing pumps. I picked up a cheap monti cap to test out. So I stopped buffing also since that raises alk. And if I got a 2 part doser how do I use it? Put on timer or controller? And do I hook up a diy reservoir with the calcium I dose normally? Thanks guys

 

[Bubbaboy]

Also if I can find a rodi setup I'll try it

 

[Chyendra]

For most people who dose two-part, I think they set their dosers up on a timer and dose a small amount throughout the day, especially w/ alk to keep the ph more stable.

But for YOU, I would definetly start with an RODI set-up. Dosing won't do you any good if you're starting with bad water.

Hopefully, you're already testing your calcium and alkalinity, so that can give you a place to start for how much you tank uses everyday, and how much you need to dose.

 

[Bubbaboy]

Yes I do test calc and alk. Yesterday it was cal440 and alk 13. So will Dosing alkalinity drop or raise it to 8.3? Or only raise? And if I need all these equips which order do you think is most important? Dosing pumps, ato, controller, wavemaker. Obviously rodi first to maintain good water perams. Easier.
Thanks again guys

 

[Chyendra]

ok.... you should maybe start reading some of the chemistry articles before you get too worried about equipment.

What are you dosing for alkalinity? You need to stop dosing because your Alk is too high. Generally Alk should be in the 8-11 dkh range. Are you asking if dosing alk will raise or lower your ph? well, that will depend on what you are using. Plain baking soda doesn't have much impact on ph but will raise alk. Baked baking soda, soda ash, randy's recipe 1, & kalkwasser will all raise ph.

Do you have a protein skimmer? Most people agree that is a pretty important piece of equipment and quality varies greatly.

 

[Bubbaboy]

Yes I have basic reef required equipment, just nit SPS yet. I have Cone 120 swc skimmer. Ok I'll read around.

 

[drummereef]

Yes I do test calc and alk. Yesterday it was cal440 and alk 13. So will Dosing alkalinity drop or raise it to 8.3? Or only raise? And if I need all these equips which order do you think is most important? Dosing pumps, ato, controller, wavemaker. Obviously rodi first to maintain good water perams. Easier.
Thanks again guys

Unless you are doing massive water changes on a small system I doubt the salt mix will have a dramatic effect on alkalinity. Especially if you have corals up-taking alk and ca. I suspect your dosing methods are uncalculated thus the increase in alk levels. Read through the articles below and always use the calculator when dosing any chemical into your tank.

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=102605

 

[collie man]

so are you guys saying that is i get my NSW from y my LFS its not a good idea? arent we all trying to replicate NSW anyways?

 

[Chyendra]

He didn't say he was getting NSW from his LFS. I think the artifical saltwater vs natural saltwater debate has been played out in other threads and everyone has their own opinion...

The point people were making in this thread is that you should mix up your own saltwater verses buying what the LFS is mixing up. You have no idea what quality of water they are using (and some people don't even know what brand of salt?!). For example, I bought some RO/DI from my LFS once.... it measured a TDS of 38! This is the same water they're mixing their saltwater with... that was the last time I bought water there, and now my tank gets 0 TDS water from my own RO/DI system. IMO one of the best purchases I've made for my tank.

 

[Bubbaboy]

Thanks, and guys.. What should I do if I'm minimal on space for a reservoir? And do I leave it on all day or how do I regulate how much to make?And where does the water source come from? My ideal setup is this. hookup to Rodi to reservoir. Then from there to jugs. I saw a cool diy Rodi setup and the guy cut and plumbed a valve about 3feet up in a 50 gallon barrel, for easy quick fills for 5 balloon jugs.