Just wondering (and hopefully in the right section), does a tank need to mature prior to keeping sps or can they go in immediately? I'm going to be setting up my upgrade in the next few days hopefully and just wondered if I can get a couple of sps frags once its up and running
When can I add SPS?
- Thread starter SteveZZR
- Start date
Ideally waiting is better, but as long as your parameters are within range and you can keep them stable you will be fine. My latest tank took a month to cycle and I added a bunch of SPS frags, they are fine, growing and coloring like crazy. Make sure these are stable:
Salinity
Temp
KH
Ca
Mg
K+ (I find potassium important for SPS specially in ULNS)
Good Luck.
Salinity
Temp
KH
Ca
Mg
K+ (I find potassium important for SPS specially in ULNS)
Good Luck.
Managed to keep them all stable (except recently has climbed somehow to 13 from 10...) in my 100L so with almost 3x the volume I think I'll be alright at keeping levels right.
Is there a good guide for Potassium? Not heard of it being a commonly monitored chemical before. What is ULNS?
Is there a good guide for Potassium? Not heard of it being a commonly monitored chemical before. What is ULNS?
I think you meant KH, 13 is on the high side, I would bring it down to around 8-9. ULNS means Ultra Low Nutrient System, a system with nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates on the very low side, and if you run a ULNS I'd keep KH around 7.
Potassium is one of the Ions used by your corals, unless your tank is heavily stocked with SPS regular water changes should be enough to replenish potassium.
I recommend getting a good potassium test kit.
Oops, yes I meant KH.
My new tank will be all new water so everything should be ok kh wise from the start but don't understand why it has risen though whilst everything else is solid.
I'll start a new thread about the system, I've only ever used rock and a skimmer in the 7 months I've been keeping marines
My new tank will be all new water so everything should be ok kh wise from the start but don't understand why it has risen though whilst everything else is solid.
I'll start a new thread about the system, I've only ever used rock and a skimmer in the 7 months I've been keeping marines
rovster
New member
As soon as things are stable. With a new tank, it may take several weeks to a few months depending on how things go. I added a few tester frags about 6 weeks in. Once I knew those did well, then I started adding more. No reason not to add them sooner, but new tanks go through certain cycles, and adding pretty stix in the middle of those can sometimes be an issue if things start growing and irritating your corals.
+1
Start with some easy SPS. Such as digitadas and montiporas. Most hobbyists will give you frags of these for free. Speacially if this is your first time with SPS.
Chris Lakies
Active member
rovster
New member
If you are new to SPS, then montis birdsnests, and poccis are good starter frags. If you are not new, then a hearty acro like a tricolor or slimer is a good starter. First thing that went into my tank was a piece of my tricolor, birdsnests and a monti. Once I saw that they settled in and showed either improvement in growth or color, to me that was a green light!
Ahh I see, so hysterix and birdsnest aren't the same thing?
I know a lot of users here aren't UK based, but Acro is approx. £30 a good sized frag, Hysterix is £10.
So a Monti is one to start me off?
Pocci is poccilopora I assume?
Will see what I can get hold of locally, lot of shipments are currently confiscated as CITES permits haven't been renewed yet
What colour of Montipora Digitata should I go for if I get a choice?
I know a lot of users here aren't UK based, but Acro is approx. £30 a good sized frag, Hysterix is £10.
So a Monti is one to start me off?
Pocci is poccilopora I assume?
Will see what I can get hold of locally, lot of shipments are currently confiscated as CITES permits haven't been renewed yet
What colour of Montipora Digitata should I go for if I get a choice?
Maxspect Razor should be ample for sps from what I've read? My blue Maxima shows ample growth under it
Currently got a Jebao RW4. I'm going to see how my flow is when I set the new tank up with the RW and the return pump providing flow, might get a second RW when budget allows.
are all colours equally easy to keep colourful? I was under the impression some colours were harder to keep with sps
I noticed that purples and pinks are the hardest for me.
