SPS in Small Tank - Carbon?

iwishtofish · 08/01/2007, 07:49 AM

I just obtained a small Green Bird's Nest frag and I've placed it under MH in my 29 gal tank. I believe I have pretty good flow with twin 600 gph powerheads and a 300 gph return pump.

I'm aware that SPS need pristine water conditions, so I'm wondering if I should run carbon. I'm afraid of depleting the needed nutrients, though, if I do so in such a small tank.

I am hoping some SPS pros can give me some advice to improve my odds with this beautiful coral.

plyle02 · 08/01/2007, 08:13 AM

I don't run carbon and I have thriving sps corals. Like you said, having pristine water that is stable in salinity, ph, alk, and CA would be the things to mostly consider. I run carbon only when I change out my phosban media. Other than that, I really cannot see any positive or negative effects from carbon. Good luck, based on your equipment, you should have no problem keeping sps... Do you dose Calcium and Alk or use a CA Reactor? Also, if you don't have a large enough fish population, than you may need to supplement feedings to keep those nice colors, otherwise you may run the risk of your sps turning pale. JME, hope some of this helps.....

easye123 · 08/01/2007, 08:28 AM

ya i use to have a 29g with 6 or 7 sps pieces. didnt run carbon, just a 10g sump and water changes weekely. every thing thrived

LobsterOfJustice · 08/01/2007, 08:39 AM

Carbon shouldn't deplete the needed nutrients. I have always run carbon in all my tanks... mainly for water clarity.

What is more important is maintaining a proper and CONSISTENT calcium and, even more so, alkalinity level.

iwishtofish · 08/01/2007, 09:31 AM

Thanks everyone for the advice and encouragment! I think it will be a challenge, but I'll do my best to keep my calcium and alkalinity levels correct.

plyle02, I only have one fish that I feed a small amount of omniverous frozen mix daily. I'm not sure I understand about the supplemental feeding - I always thought that excess dissolved proteins were bad for SPS? I was planning on dosing a small amount of phyto maybe twice a week.

Serioussnaps · 08/01/2007, 10:42 AM

Carbon isn't very effective at removing nutrients in the first place...at least compared to skimming and water changes.

plyle02 · 08/01/2007, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by iwishtofish
Thanks everyone for the advice and encouragment! I think it will be a challenge, but I'll do my best to keep my calcium and alkalinity levels correct.

plyle02, I only have one fish that I feed a small amount of omniverous frozen mix daily. I'm not sure I understand about the supplemental feeding - I always thought that excess dissolved proteins were bad for SPS? I was planning on dosing a small amount of phyto maybe twice a week.

Fish pooh is actually a great source of food for sps corals... When I see the pooh suspended in the water column, the PE on my sps corals is insane. I run bb, and it is actually encouraged to beaf up your fish population(w/ in reason), this way, you really don't need to feed the corals, just feed the fish 2-3 times per day, and run an over-rated skimmer/ usually wet... I do however, rotate between frozen cyclopeeze, frozen rotifers, and DT's oyster eggs. I feed my sps about every 2-3 days. I am by no means a pro when it comes to sps, however, I do have a very healthy sps reef with some nice colorful corals. I would visit the sps forum, there is alot of Q&A, sps care info, and some real pros that have thriving sps reefs. Watch out for the addiction though....LOL... Good luck.....

iwishtofish · 08/01/2007, 08:03 PM

Thanks for elaborating, plyle02. I guess I interpreted "pristine water conditions" to mean water having little waste or uneaten food, etc. I now interpret that to mean water clean of toxins (such as ammonia, nitrite, foreign chemicals) and having good levels of necessary elements.

With my hopes pinned on one little coral, I think perhaps I can feel the addiction coming on already!

08/01/2007, 07:49 AM	#1
iwishtofish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 4,949	SPS in Small Tank - Carbon? I just obtained a small Green Bird's Nest frag and I've placed it under MH in my 29 gal tank. I believe I have pretty good flow with twin 600 gph powerheads and a 300 gph return pump. I'm aware that SPS need pristine water conditions, so I'm wondering if I should run carbon. I'm afraid of depleting the needed nutrients, though, if I do so in such a small tank. I am hoping some SPS pros can give me some advice to improve my odds with this beautiful coral.

08/01/2007, 08:13 AM	#2
plyle02 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Lake Helen, FL Posts: 5,526	I don't run carbon and I have thriving sps corals. Like you said, having pristine water that is stable in salinity, ph, alk, and CA would be the things to mostly consider. I run carbon only when I change out my phosban media. Other than that, I really cannot see any positive or negative effects from carbon. Good luck, based on your equipment, you should have no problem keeping sps... Do you dose Calcium and Alk or use a CA Reactor? Also, if you don't have a large enough fish population, than you may need to supplement feedings to keep those nice colors, otherwise you may run the risk of your sps turning pale. JME, hope some of this helps..... __________________ Perry "Anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die" ~Buddha~ Current Tank Info: 50 Gallon AIO Cube, Aquamaxx WS-1 Skimmer, LED/ Hybrid 4x24 watt t5

08/01/2007, 08:28 AM	#3
easye123 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 1,505	ya i use to have a 29g with 6 or 7 sps pieces. didnt run carbon, just a 10g sump and water changes weekely. every thing thrived __________________ Loading...... Current Tank Info: 90g BB sps 30g sump. 2x175w mh. 2x110w vho act. Vortech. tunze 6025. ER rs 135. TLF phos. ACjr

08/01/2007, 08:39 AM	#4
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	Carbon shouldn't deplete the needed nutrients. I have always run carbon in all my tanks... mainly for water clarity. What is more important is maintaining a proper and CONSISTENT calcium and, even more so, alkalinity level. __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

08/01/2007, 09:31 AM	#5
iwishtofish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 4,949	Thanks everyone for the advice and encouragment! I think it will be a challenge, but I'll do my best to keep my calcium and alkalinity levels correct. plyle02, I only have one fish that I feed a small amount of omniverous frozen mix daily. I'm not sure I understand about the supplemental feeding - I always thought that excess dissolved proteins were bad for SPS? I was planning on dosing a small amount of phyto maybe twice a week.

08/01/2007, 10:42 AM	#6
Serioussnaps Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 3,703	Carbon isn't very effective at removing nutrients in the first place...at least compared to skimming and water changes.

08/01/2007, 08:03 PM	#8
iwishtofish Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 4,949	Thanks for elaborating, plyle02. I guess I interpreted "pristine water conditions" to mean water having little waste or uneaten food, etc. I now interpret that to mean water clean of toxins (such as ammonia, nitrite, foreign chemicals) and having good levels of necessary elements. With my hopes pinned on one little coral, I think perhaps I can feel the addiction coming on already!