What do I need to considder to keep sps

emilecilliers · 03/01/2009, 09:12 AM

What do i need to consider if I want to keep SPS corals.Im currently looking into some hamerheads and sun corals.

Please if you can include water paramaters and lighting.

My tank is currently 72" x 28" high x 18"

2 x 250w mh(1x 14000k 1x 20000k)

Circulation:
1 x 5000l/h powerhead on left of tank
1 x 12000l/h powerhead on right of tank
Both connected to a maxijet wavemaker.
Think I need more poerheads in diffrent positions
Return pump from sump oceanrunner or3500 head hight is 1.4m thus getting 2500l/h return

Sump:
48 x 15 x 15(47 gal US filled 70% thus water content is 32gal US)

Lava rock in 1st chamber

Second chamber:
Miracle mud
Skimmer inlet an return(TMC V2 800)
Chaeto algae approx 200grams

Third chamber:
Return pump to dispay tank
Pump to refugium
Return from refugium
Rowa Carbon(in media bags)getting phos reactor soon to place media in there

Refugium:
24 x 15 x 12(18 g US)
Live sand
6500k mh 150w
Peppermint shrimp x 2
Cleaner shrimp x 1

If any more info is needed I will post it
Thanks

drparker · 03/01/2009, 09:21 AM

The corals you mention are LPS not SPS.

You'll need to have salinity around natural sea level 1.0264

Calcium = 400 to 480
Alkalinity = 9 to 11 dKH
Mg = 1250 to 1400
pH = 8.1 to 8.3
Nitrates should be below 5
Phosphates = 0

Stability is the key and you might want more flow.

bsbarton · 03/01/2009, 09:28 AM

A funny thing happened along the way to the SPS... From what I could see of your tank it looks health. The trick to SPS is slow and constant. You can add flow as needed. Start with some of the simpler SPS. Like Green slimmer or Digi's.

You do not have a calc reactor. You will end up having to dose to maintain your Alkalinity, Magnesium and Calcium.

emilecilliers · 03/01/2009, 09:29 AM

Thanks.
I just need to raise my alk then as everything else is fine

How much more flow do you think?
Maybe another 12000l/h powerhead(3200g/h US)

46FiatYamaha · 03/01/2009, 11:22 AM

keep in mind as well SPS uses calcium and alkalinity abundantly, you will need a reliable and consistant way to keep these levels up

bsbarton · 03/02/2009, 07:46 PM

More flow is always better. As mentioned before the Hammerhead and Sun coral are both LPS. That type of coral does not like more flow. So if that is what you are planing. Add more flow carefully.

You can have both worlds just watch your stock placement closely.

03/01/2009, 09:12 AM	#1
emilecilliers Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: salisbury,uk Posts: 165	What do I need to considder to keep sps What do i need to consider if I want to keep SPS corals.Im currently looking into some hamerheads and sun corals. Please if you can include water paramaters and lighting. My tank is currently 72" x 28" high x 18" 2 x 250w mh(1x 14000k 1x 20000k) Circulation: 1 x 5000l/h powerhead on left of tank 1 x 12000l/h powerhead on right of tank Both connected to a maxijet wavemaker. Think I need more poerheads in diffrent positions Return pump from sump oceanrunner or3500 head hight is 1.4m thus getting 2500l/h return Sump: 48 x 15 x 15(47 gal US filled 70% thus water content is 32gal US) Lava rock in 1st chamber Second chamber: Miracle mud Skimmer inlet an return(TMC V2 800) Chaeto algae approx 200grams Third chamber: Return pump to dispay tank Pump to refugium Return from refugium Rowa Carbon(in media bags)getting phos reactor soon to place media in there Refugium: 24 x 15 x 12(18 g US) Live sand 6500k mh 150w Peppermint shrimp x 2 Cleaner shrimp x 1 If any more info is needed I will post it Thanks __________________ Click red house to see my build thread ______________________________ See my tank live here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/my-200g Current Tank Info: 200g tank 50g sump 20g refugium, 1x5000l/h powerhead,1x12000l/h powerhead,oceanrunner 3500 return pump,prizm skimmer 1x250w 20k halide,1x250w 14k halide

03/01/2009, 09:29 AM	#4
emilecilliers Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: salisbury,uk Posts: 165	Thanks. I just need to raise my alk then as everything else is fine How much more flow do you think? Maybe another 12000l/h powerhead(3200g/h US) __________________ Click red house to see my build thread ______________________________ See my tank live here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/my-200g Current Tank Info: 200g tank 50g sump 20g refugium, 1x5000l/h powerhead,1x12000l/h powerhead,oceanrunner 3500 return pump,prizm skimmer 1x250w 20k halide,1x250w 14k halide

03/01/2009, 09:21 AM	#2
drparker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 2,652	The corals you mention are LPS not SPS. You'll need to have salinity around natural sea level 1.0264 Calcium = 400 to 480 Alkalinity = 9 to 11 dKH Mg = 1250 to 1400 pH = 8.1 to 8.3 Nitrates should be below 5 Phosphates = 0 Stability is the key and you might want more flow.

03/01/2009, 09:28 AM	#3
bsbarton Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Harrison Township Posts: 33	A funny thing happened along the way to the SPS... From what I could see of your tank it looks health. The trick to SPS is slow and constant. You can add flow as needed. Start with some of the simpler SPS. Like Green slimmer or Digi's. You do not have a calc reactor. You will end up having to dose to maintain your Alkalinity, Magnesium and Calcium.

03/01/2009, 11:22 AM	#5
46FiatYamaha Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Matthews NC Posts: 990	keep in mind as well SPS uses calcium and alkalinity abundantly, you will need a reliable and consistant way to keep these levels up

03/02/2009, 07:46 PM	#6
bsbarton Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Harrison Township Posts: 33	More flow is always better. As mentioned before the Hammerhead and Sun coral are both LPS. That type of coral does not like more flow. So if that is what you are planing. Add more flow carefully. You can have both worlds just watch your stock placement closely.