Help with SPS

superstein61 · 01/15/2009, 07:14 PM

Ok, when I took down my 37g in August and converted my 72g to SW, I started down the path of adding some SPS.

I am dosing 2-part solution from bulkreefsupply daily, and my alk, calcium and mag are all in the proper range.

As you can see - I am doing a great job (too great IMO) of growing coraline on my back wall but not so much on my rocks (and the rocks which were in my 37g had been covered well in coralline until a Turbo Snail decided to graze on it instead of some hair algae)

And all my LPS / softies are thriving. But the SPS I have added are just doing so-so and I am not sure why. My lighting is more than adequate Nova Extreme Pro with a good mix of bulbs Grim recommended), and my tank parameters (at least the ones I measure which admittedly isn't often) are good

My Birds nest which I bought as a larger frag from Drs Foster Smith is doing the best and has had decent growth:

But the Acro (its either a Purple Tip Tri Color Acropora or a
Blue Stag Acropora ) in the same pic has had some small growth but not much.

Furthermore, the Green Slimer Acropora (which is really more yellowish in my tank) in this pic had some small growth encrusting the plug byut seems to have stopped growing and is even receding a bit if thats possible on the plug (plus you can see another acro that didn't survive on the same rock)

Also have a Pink Pocillopora frag in that same pic and also shown below - its up quite high in my tank and has had some growth but also not a ton - plus I wonder if the color is being bleached form being up so high

Since this is my first experience with SPS I don't know what to expect in terms of growth, etc. All of these frags have been in my tank since mid to late August

For scale - here are a few more tank pics

any thoughts / suggestions?
Thanks

Zebodog · 01/15/2009, 07:41 PM

Good water movement and water stability tend to be the key for SPS.

blakeorme · 01/15/2009, 07:53 PM

I would list some more specifics so that more people can help with the diagnosis. ie. Water params, flow, etc.
-too much light is def. not the issues.
I'm not an expert but with all the softies and LPS you may have some chemical warfare going on. DO you use carbon?

redfishsc · 01/15/2009, 08:41 PM

Take a look at the goofy mix of corals I have in my tank (see sig) and notice it's a 10g.

I am running 4X24W of T5HO over it and the SPS grow like mad. 96W over a shallow tank like this, that is a LOT of light. My mushrooms tend to cower a bit and seek the darker spots, but they still do fine. I am running 1 actinic, two 460 blues, and one 12,000K bulb.

I do run a good bit of carbon (about 3/4 cup full changed monthly).

I also have a 3-gallon fuge filled with chaeto that is boiling with pods (as is the main tank, to my surprise... at night).

As a last note, be sure to check your phosphate. I actually have no idea what my phosphate is, but it's well under the .5ppm that the API cheapo kit I have tests. Since I have no nuisance algae, I am only concerned with SPS color and growth when it comes to phosphate levels.

Ideally you want it under .03ppm.

JustinReef · 01/15/2009, 09:42 PM

We need to know Po4, No3 levels. Actually give Ca, Mg and Alk levels and what kits your using (important). What your doing for flow would also help. Temperature and SG.?

You should give more info when looking for help with sps. There is just so much to consider. Often times it can be a combination of a few levels.

Your frags look nice though, color is good and from what I can see, you have some polyp extension.

You are interested in growth rates right? How long have you had these frags? Often times it takes a while for new frags to get used to your system and take off. Once sps are happy though, some species grow like weeds. Your birdsnest should be a fast grower.

superstein61 · 01/15/2009, 11:23 PM

OK, thanks - I will post some more specifics tomorrow, I will measure a number of levels and update this. Thanks

ihavtats29 · 01/15/2009, 11:48 PM

alk levels and low nutrients are very important for sps to thrive along with good flow ( not direct ) and proper cal , mag , and alk levels

Shmax · 01/16/2009, 12:07 AM

I also noticed in the pic of the Pink Pocillopora it seems you have some dinoflagellate issues. When I had them, my corals, especially my SPS, didn't open as fully as they normally did. I would say that would affect their growth rate as well. Once I got rid of the dino's, even for short periods, like after a lights off cycle, my corals exploded with new growth/polyp extension.

superstein61 · 01/16/2009, 08:52 PM

Ok - here are more specifics on the levels:

72 gallon tank, 15 gallon sump with fuge

Today

Salinity 1.027
Temp 77
Calcium 380 (Salifert kit)
KH 11.5 (Salifert kit)
Mag 1500 (Salifert kit)
PH 8.4
Nitrate - negligble (less than .2 ppm)
PO4 - not sure, need to get a new kit

For flow - I have a closed loop powered by a Ehiem 1262 (rated at 900 gph) with 2 outlets using Educators.

My return from the sump is from a mag 7 - but I do have it throttled back some

Also had a Koralia 1 (400 gph) to supplement flow

Am running Two TLF reactors - one with carbon, one with GFO

Lights are the Nova Extreme Pro T-5 setup (6 bulbls 324 watts)

A month ago, my levels were:

Salinity 1.027
Temp 76
Calcium 420
KH 11.0
Mag 1280
PH 8.2
Nitrate - negligble (less than .2 ppm)

---------------

Given the comments about flow - I just removed the Koralia 1 - and replaced it with a maxi-Jet 900 with the sureflow mod (1600 gph). Also am in process of boosting Calcium back to 420 given it has dropped based on todays reading

Any other thoughts?
Thanks

superstein61 · 01/16/2009, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by justinpsmith

Your frags look nice though, color is good and from what I can see, you have some polyp extension.

You are interested in growth rates right? How long have you had these frags? Often times it takes a while for new frags to get used to your system and take off. Once sps are happy though, some species grow like weeds. Your birdsnest should be a fast grower.

Thanks. yes - interested in growth rates. have had the frags since late August

ihavtats29 · 01/16/2009, 09:15 PM

need to bring the calcium up

Zebodog · 01/16/2009, 10:05 PM

KH and Calcium seem to be out of balance for sea water.

01/15/2009, 07:14 PM	#1
superstein61 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bridgeville, PA Posts: 355	Help with SPS Ok, when I took down my 37g in August and converted my 72g to SW, I started down the path of adding some SPS. I am dosing 2-part solution from bulkreefsupply daily, and my alk, calcium and mag are all in the proper range. As you can see - I am doing a great job (too great IMO) of growing coraline on my back wall but not so much on my rocks (and the rocks which were in my 37g had been covered well in coralline until a Turbo Snail decided to graze on it instead of some hair algae) And all my LPS / softies are thriving. But the SPS I have added are just doing so-so and I am not sure why. My lighting is more than adequate Nova Extreme Pro with a good mix of bulbs Grim recommended), and my tank parameters (at least the ones I measure which admittedly isn't often) are good My Birds nest which I bought as a larger frag from Drs Foster Smith is doing the best and has had decent growth: But the Acro (its either a Purple Tip Tri Color Acropora or a Blue Stag Acropora ) in the same pic has had some small growth but not much. Furthermore, the Green Slimer Acropora (which is really more yellowish in my tank) in this pic had some small growth encrusting the plug byut seems to have stopped growing and is even receding a bit if thats possible on the plug (plus you can see another acro that didn't survive on the same rock) Also have a Pink Pocillopora frag in that same pic and also shown below - its up quite high in my tank and has had some growth but also not a ton - plus I wonder if the color is being bleached form being up so high Since this is my first experience with SPS I don't know what to expect in terms of growth, etc. All of these frags have been in my tank since mid to late August For scale - here are a few more tank pics any thoughts / suggestions? Thanks

01/15/2009, 07:41 PM	#2
Zebodog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mississauga, ON Posts: 692	Good water movement and water stability tend to be the key for SPS. __________________ We don't inherit the world from our parents.... We borrow it from our children.

01/15/2009, 08:41 PM	#4
redfishsc Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 3,696	Take a look at the goofy mix of corals I have in my tank (see sig) and notice it's a 10g. I am running 4X24W of T5HO over it and the SPS grow like mad. 96W over a shallow tank like this, that is a LOT of light. My mushrooms tend to cower a bit and seek the darker spots, but they still do fine. I am running 1 actinic, two 460 blues, and one 12,000K bulb. I do run a good bit of carbon (about 3/4 cup full changed monthly). I also have a 3-gallon fuge filled with chaeto that is boiling with pods (as is the main tank, to my surprise... at night). As a last note, be sure to check your phosphate. I actually have no idea what my phosphate is, but it's well under the .5ppm that the API cheapo kit I have tests. Since I have no nuisance algae, I am only concerned with SPS color and growth when it comes to phosphate levels. Ideally you want it under .03ppm. __________________ "The measure of a life is not its duration but its donation." Corrie Ten Boom “The tyrant dies and his rule is over, the martyr dies and his rule begins” -- Søren Kierkegaard Current Tank Info: ghetto grad school reef.....11g rimless tank, 36X9X9, lit by Cree and Rebels scobbled together. Stocked mostly with free stuff I got from panhandling my fellow reefers.

01/15/2009, 11:48 PM	#7
ihavtats29 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: cordova , TN Posts: 2,882	alk levels and low nutrients are very important for sps to thrive along with good flow ( not direct ) and proper cal , mag , and alk levels __________________ got reef? Current Tank Info: 29 biocube HQI

01/16/2009, 08:52 PM	#9
superstein61 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bridgeville, PA Posts: 355	Ok - here are more specifics on the levels: 72 gallon tank, 15 gallon sump with fuge Today Salinity 1.027 Temp 77 Calcium 380 (Salifert kit) KH 11.5 (Salifert kit) Mag 1500 (Salifert kit) PH 8.4 Nitrate - negligble (less than .2 ppm) PO4 - not sure, need to get a new kit For flow - I have a closed loop powered by a Ehiem 1262 (rated at 900 gph) with 2 outlets using Educators. My return from the sump is from a mag 7 - but I do have it throttled back some Also had a Koralia 1 (400 gph) to supplement flow Am running Two TLF reactors - one with carbon, one with GFO Lights are the Nova Extreme Pro T-5 setup (6 bulbls 324 watts) A month ago, my levels were: Salinity 1.027 Temp 76 Calcium 420 KH 11.0 Mag 1280 PH 8.2 Nitrate - negligble (less than .2 ppm) --------------- Given the comments about flow - I just removed the Koralia 1 - and replaced it with a maxi-Jet 900 with the sureflow mod (1600 gph). Also am in process of boosting Calcium back to 420 given it has dropped based on todays reading Any other thoughts? Thanks Last edited by superstein61; 01/16/2009 at 08:59 PM.

01/15/2009, 07:53 PM	#3
blakeorme Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Asheville, NC Posts: 350	I would list some more specifics so that more people can help with the diagnosis. ie. Water params, flow, etc. -too much light is def. not the issues. I'm not an expert but with all the softies and LPS you may have some chemical warfare going on. DO you use carbon?

01/15/2009, 09:42 PM	#5
JustinReef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,715	We need to know Po4, No3 levels. Actually give Ca, Mg and Alk levels and what kits your using (important). What your doing for flow would also help. Temperature and SG.? You should give more info when looking for help with sps. There is just so much to consider. Often times it can be a combination of a few levels. Your frags look nice though, color is good and from what I can see, you have some polyp extension. You are interested in growth rates right? How long have you had these frags? Often times it takes a while for new frags to get used to your system and take off. Once sps are happy though, some species grow like weeds. Your birdsnest should be a fast grower.

01/15/2009, 11:23 PM	#6
superstein61 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bridgeville, PA Posts: 355	OK, thanks - I will post some more specifics tomorrow, I will measure a number of levels and update this. Thanks

01/16/2009, 12:07 AM	#8
Shmax Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 596	I also noticed in the pic of the Pink Pocillopora it seems you have some dinoflagellate issues. When I had them, my corals, especially my SPS, didn't open as fully as they normally did. I would say that would affect their growth rate as well. Once I got rid of the dino's, even for short periods, like after a lights off cycle, my corals exploded with new growth/polyp extension.

01/16/2009, 09:15 PM	#11
ihavtats29 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: cordova , TN Posts: 2,882	need to bring the calcium up __________________ got reef? Current Tank Info: 29 biocube HQI

01/16/2009, 10:05 PM	#12
Zebodog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mississauga, ON Posts: 692	KH and Calcium seem to be out of balance for sea water. __________________ We don't inherit the world from our parents.... We borrow it from our children.