The mature SPS tank: 12 things to keep in mind

[markalot]

Thanks for making this thread Peter, great information for those of us still on the first go around.

 

[Peter Eichler]

Thanks for making this thread Peter, great information for those of us still on the first go around.

Thank you for the kind words, I'm happy you found some use in it!

 

[machodik]

The mature SPS tank: 12 things to keep in mind

My tank now mostly DIGI (green and red) grows and flourished, LPS also growing with good health but All Acros RTN and only one left with no good color.

Much wonder that is it because DIgI easy to raise and if they growing well does not indicate tank is mature and capable to raise other SPS species ? My parameters still stay normal range with all equipment functioning well too.

Any comment to my said questions ?

Cheers,


MD

 

[DSMpunk]

Acros can be a little more finicky than montis. Have you looked for pests? (red bugs, flatworms etc.)

 

[machodik]

The mature SPS tank: 12 things to keep in mind

I did not found any pest , these Acros has been around for a while already they stay alive but no good colors but just suddenly begin Stned and then Rtned so I ruled out any issue of pest or else it should gone long ago .

Just want to know ;

1) if my tank can grown Digi very well the. It is supposed to be Mature for SPS?

2) irregardless that normally saying Digi is much easier to grow but if water parameters or other surrounding issue (such as lights , flows etc) does not fit , still they can not survive ?

 

[Bpb]

My tank now mostly DIGI (green and red) grows and flourished, LPS also growing with good health but All Acros RTN and only one left with no good color.

Much wonder that is it because DIgI easy to raise and if they growing well does not indicate tank is mature and capable to raise other SPS species ? My parameters still stay normal range with all equipment functioning well too.

Any comment to my said questions ?

Cheers,


MD

This is my story exactly. I grew some fantastic acropora in my previous tank. Took some 1" frags into volleyball sized colonies over 1-2 years. Got a bigger tank, kept literally everything and now over a year later I cannot keep a single acropora alive despite my best efforts. I've given up. Switched to LEDs because I see no way to justify the cost of halides if I cannot keep acros alive. Scrapped my plans of a calcium reactor and have decided to just cease testing and dosing and let the montipora take over the tank. They'll grow in toilet water

 

[shih87]

Excellent list, and base on the list, I am going to make some changes to avoid problem later.

9.) If you're running low nutrients avoid alkalinity going too high at all costs (usually 9+ dKH). "Burnt tips" on a large colony that took many months to grow hurts a lot more than when it happens to a frag or small colony.

Regarding item #9, I remember there is another thread discussed but not conclude ULNS and high Alkalinity direct relationship, but always good to move out from dangerous zone.

My personal experience with ULNS + 11+ dKH accidentally (guilty..), zero burn tips on all my coral for at least 12 months, though. However, when I run a slow alkalinity correction to bring down to desire 7.5 dKH, I experience burn tips, all recovery now since take care carefully.

 

[machodik]

and let the montipora take over the tank. They'll grow in toilet water

So this means my tank is not mature enough to grown Acros?

I have gone all this far and have invested quite a lot of money in building my system , I think by choosing the much easier species to grow without knowing what and why I can not grown Acros seems to be a big shame to me. Moreover , I think monthi also SPS even they are easy to grow but there much also be some rule that make them able to grow and I hope those specialist can give me some advises why it is difficult to grow Acros while monthi can grown in my tank?

Cheers,


MD

 

[shih87]

So this means my tank is not mature enough to grown Acros?

I have gone all this far and have invested quite a lot of money in building my system , I think by choosing the much easier species to grow without knowing what and why I can not grown Acros seems to be a big shame to me. Moreover , I think monthi also SPS even they are easy to grow but there much also be some rule that make them able to grow and I hope those specialist can give me some advises why it is difficult to grow Acros while monthi can grown in my tank?

Cheers,


MD

Why not ask a local reefer pay you a visit to diagnose it? I saw your post in Taiwan PH8.4 forum in the past , but not quite often.

 

[machodik]

Hi shih ,

Thanks for your feedback.

Are you in Taiwan? I have once consulted some local reefer here but I did not opted some of their advise to go change to KZ system .

I wish to go with the way with most of the people I met here in RC and beside I have already invested all hardware and they go steadily stable such as calcium reactor , Bio Pellet , GFO etc.

I was not able to go more often with PH 8.4 due to my slow skill in mandarin letters typing . Sorry to say that is a shame of me.

If you are in Taiwan , perhaps you can be my savior!

Cheers,


MD

 

[shih87]

Hi shih ,

Thanks for your feedback.

Are you in Taiwan? I have once consulted some local reefer here but I did not opted some of their advise to go change to KZ system .

I wish to go with the way with most of the people I met here in RC and beside I have already invested all hardware and they go steadily stable such as calcium reactor , Bio Pellet , GFO etc.

I was not able to go more often with PH 8.4 due to my slow skill in mandarin letters typing . Sorry to say that is a shame of me.

If you are in Taiwan , perhaps you can be my savior!

Cheers,


MD

I will PM you to avoid hijack Peter's excellent thread with separate topic....

 

[Wally.B]

Peter,

Great post. Thanks for sharing your wisdom & experience.

I already have broken rule #1-3, but am at the early stage (1st year) of a Frag only tank, so can start thinking forward to Early adjustments for the long run.

What are your thoughts about mixing SPS with other corals (ie Zoos, LPS, mushrooms. etc)? I have been strict to be SPS only. Should I stay this way, and consider other corals later for fillers? Or stay SPS only to keep things simple.

I certainly know the risk of LPS with SPS, since LPS stinger tentacles can damage neighbours quite quickly (reaching out silently at night). But some zoo's is a bit safer.

 

[Wally.B]

Peter,

Another question. You mention keeping backup of your favourite corals in a Frag tank.

So I assume Frag tank is totally isolated from Display tank (should something go wrong in DT). If so, how do you keep proper nutrients, NO3, and PO4 level in your frag tank successfully without fish and feeding.

 

[Peter Eichler]

Peter,

Great post. Thanks for sharing your wisdom & experience.

I already have broken rule #1-3, but am at the early stage (1st year) of a Frag only tank, so can start thinking forward to Early adjustments for the long run.

What are your thoughts about mixing SPS with other corals (ie Zoos, LPS, mushrooms. etc)? I have been strict to be SPS only. Should I stay this way, and consider other corals later for fillers? Or stay SPS only to keep things simple.

I certainly know the risk of LPS with SPS, since LPS stinger tentacles can damage neighbours quite quickly (reaching out silently at night). But some zoo's is a bit safer.

Just be careful with corals that base heavily, I've had some of I've removed and chopped out and they come back with a vengeance and then just have to deal with some crowding. However, a little kalk paste after removal probably would have gone a long way.

I add whatever corals I like and have plenty of zoanthids, faviids and gonipora. With this last two crowding becomes a bigger issue so all my goniopora are on the sandbed as are some of my faviids. I do have one favia that has grown large fairly quickly and stings the hell out of nearby SPS and wish I had gone about that one differently. Most of my favia dont throw out the long stinging tentacles like this one does, so some of them are quite safe. In general, just buy what you like when is comes to LPS and zoas.

 

[Peter Eichler]

Peter,

Another question. You mention keeping backup of your favourite corals in a Frag tank.

So I assume Frag tank is totally isolated from Display tank (should something go wrong in DT). If so, how do you keep proper nutrients, NO3, and PO4 level in your frag tank successfully without fish and feeding.

Ideally, it's iosolated, but not always necessary. I've had colonies RTN while the frag in the same system does fine, but since it's not always the case it's best to keep backups in a different system

 

[DiscusHeckel]

Nice thread. I would call this thread "12 Principles of SPS Keeping". The title is inspired by Prof. Alan M. Davis' (Colorado Springs) article published in IEEE Software: "15 Principles of Software Engineering" as the style of your writing is very similar to his and your content is as informative and helpful as that of Alan's.

Thank you.

Bulent

 

[DSMpunk]

I try to keep a "backup" in friend's tanks on condition if I lose my colony I get a frag back and vice versa. It's a win win situation.

Usually they realize its a good idea and I end up growing out their favorite frags too.

 

[agcneves]

Actually my Achilles heel is the back up of corals that I admire. I own a design of a small aquarium frags separate from the main system, but never leaves the paper. I have no time.

One item that I find important is the partial water change.