Tips / hints / info on keeping SPS
- Thread starter lolgranny
- Start date
trentdingo
New member
it is pretty simple once you get the hang of it.
main things to monitor are:
1. keep your nutrients (phosphate and nitrate) low
2. have ample lighting
3. have enough flow
4. keep all other tank params relatively stable without fluctuations
main things to monitor are:
1. keep your nutrients (phosphate and nitrate) low
2. have ample lighting
3. have enough flow
4. keep all other tank params relatively stable without fluctuations
SLOW, SLOW, SLOW. Take your time and dont rush anything. Research anything you might want to add before you buy and Quaritine all live stock purchases. Stabilty is Probaly one of the biggest things with sps, and with the proper lighting and flow you should be able to keep a successful sps reef
nano427
Member
+1 to this good advice
nano427
Member
SLOW, SLOW, SLOW. Take your time and dont rush anything. Research anything you might want to add before you buy and Quaritine all live stock purchases. Stabilty is Probaly one of the biggest things with sps, and with the proper lighting and flow you should be able to keep a successful sps reef
once again +1 to good advice
plyle02
Active member
Here is my simple and best advice, hopefully will give you a headstart in the hobby...
1. Understand and test frequently for the following:
a. Alkalinity
b. Calcium
c. Magnesium
2. Keep alk, ca, and mag consistent as you can, understand how much your tank consumes daily, automate with a CA Reactor, or 2 part, which ever you decide, try and automate or dose throughout the day to keep these params from a major swing...
3. Try and keep your temperature from swinging too much from lights on to lights off
4. Experiment and/or study each coral you buy and place where the coral will be happiest based on your desired lighting.
5. Provide plenty of flow, and plan for the corals to grow and have a plan on upping the flow as the corals grow.
6. Have a nutrient good nutrient export plan in mind, heavy skimming is usually advised with sps corals as they need clean water to maintain color.
7. Automate top-off to avoid any swings in salinity, make sure the tds of the water going in to the tank does not have any tds higher than ZERO.
8. Dip and QT new corals as best as you can before going into the display..
Good luck, just some thoughts I thought I might share, most already mentioned...good luck on your sps journey
1. Understand and test frequently for the following:
a. Alkalinity
b. Calcium
c. Magnesium
2. Keep alk, ca, and mag consistent as you can, understand how much your tank consumes daily, automate with a CA Reactor, or 2 part, which ever you decide, try and automate or dose throughout the day to keep these params from a major swing...
3. Try and keep your temperature from swinging too much from lights on to lights off
4. Experiment and/or study each coral you buy and place where the coral will be happiest based on your desired lighting.
5. Provide plenty of flow, and plan for the corals to grow and have a plan on upping the flow as the corals grow.
6. Have a nutrient good nutrient export plan in mind, heavy skimming is usually advised with sps corals as they need clean water to maintain color.
7. Automate top-off to avoid any swings in salinity, make sure the tds of the water going in to the tank does not have any tds higher than ZERO.
8. Dip and QT new corals as best as you can before going into the display..
Good luck, just some thoughts I thought I might share, most already mentioned...good luck on your sps journey
lolgranny
The DQ King
lolgranny
The DQ King
SLOW, SLOW, SLOW. Take your time and dont rush anything. Research anything you might want to add before you buy and Quaritine all live stock purchases. Stabilty is Probaly one of the biggest things with sps, and with the proper lighting and flow you should be able to keep a successful sps reef
What do u recommend using for dips? ive seen a couple around but haven't herd much word on what works the best.
lolgranny
The DQ King
I have a 150w halide / 2- 65w's on a 40g breeder / 20 fuge sump. I have a skimmer rated at a 120g loaded with stock. 500gph main sump and 2-koralia#2's / and 1.... #3.
As long as i keep the water pristine / make sure it doesnt fluctuate i should be golden?
Thanks again guys, you are making everything alot easier for me
As long as i keep the water pristine / make sure it doesnt fluctuate i should be golden?
Thanks again guys, you are making everything alot easier for me
scaryperson27
New member
You will be golden so long as you don't mount that 150 too far away from the corals. I would put 50/50 PC bulbs in and mount the halide close to the tank.
mr.maroonsalty
New member
I'd like to add Patients; this is along the lines of stability. Sps don't like changes, so get happy with the major part of your rockwork, so you won't be making changes, after light acclimating your corals, pick a place you think it will do best at, and leave it alone.
t4zalews
65g Ritteri Tank
I agree with patience, and just set it and forget it. Stability is GOD when it comes to SPS. All these are good pieces of advice. To be honest, researching and reading is the foundation, but experience will teach you the most.
While all SPS are, IMO, easy to care for with proper conditions, I'd suggest starting off with an easy coral such as a montipora (branching or plating) or birdsnest. Get a feeling for how these corals respond to your husbandry. You will see that when you are on a good schedule, these corals will polyp nicely and grow quickly.
Is this your first reef tank? or have you been in the hobby but are now going for an sps dominate tank? I'll wait to respond this question...
While all SPS are, IMO, easy to care for with proper conditions, I'd suggest starting off with an easy coral such as a montipora (branching or plating) or birdsnest. Get a feeling for how these corals respond to your husbandry. You will see that when you are on a good schedule, these corals will polyp nicely and grow quickly.
Is this your first reef tank? or have you been in the hobby but are now going for an sps dominate tank? I'll wait to respond this question...
PogoMonogo
New member
Don't get to attached to anything and expect some failure. That's not being super negative, it just means you almost for SURE will have failures at the begining. It gets bettter as you understand stuff more with the sps.
lolgranny
The DQ King
I had a 75g reef before, nothing like i want to do now tho. I know im going to be dedicating alot of time to it again so i wanted to touch base with the people who have been working with them for a while to get some ideas of what i need to research more. Im sure i will have some failure before i get the absolute hand of things.
lolgranny
The DQ King
The light comes with legs that mount to the tank. You think i should exchange the bulbs it comes with for the 50/50 PC bulbs? Think thats the best bet? I havent really been reading alot about lighting atm. I work 60+ hrs a week so i spend the free time i have browsing forums. soooooo many things haha
I thank you again good sir. You guys are great here, actually care. Better help then i have got anywhere else!!!
t4zalews
65g Ritteri Tank
Oh ok..I wasnt sure if you were new to the hobby completely. Just give your tank enough time to mature (stable out), and things should go pretty smoothly.
