Advice on next LS addition for Acros

Esdouglass · 09/26/2012, 12:36 PM

I just received some Acro frags, about 1.5" tall each. I am not sure my LS is adequate to produce the waste they need to feed. Here is the current load/parameters.

Verts:

1 Rabbitfish
1 Ornamental Wrasse
1 Cardinal Fish
1 pair of clowns

Inverts:

2 Scarlet Skunk cleaners
4 Turbo snails
10 Hermit crab
1 Clove polyp coral ~4"-5"
1 Frogspawn Coral ~ 4"-5"
1 Zooanthid 5"
5 Acro coral 1.5" spread evenly across the tank

Tank:

75g
All numbers look good with basic and reef tests
Good flow
2 T5 10ks
2 T5 Actinic
20g sump with refugium
about 3 months since new tank cycled
Slight issue with red slime algae (i think) on some part of substrate.

What would be some advisable additions to this tank??

Thanks!

sponger0 · 09/26/2012, 01:09 PM

By you first saying you have cyano, I would say first think you need to do is test your water. By having cyano that means you have some sort of phosphates...but with no number I cant say.

Also with SPS, especially acros, you are really going to need to have a very stable alk, which means it doesnt go all over the place, low phosphates amd mag and calc at the correct level

Reef264 · 09/26/2012, 01:13 PM

If I am reading this correctly,

More fish would be what you don't want, that would create higher nutrient levels in your tank, Acropora's like Low nutrient levels, good flow, and most require higher lighting.Now, your Bioload isnt big, but in a mixed reef with SPS, a smaller bio load will be a good thing.I feed all of my SPS a mixture of Oyster feast, Roti Feast, Cyclops, and Coral Frenzy, about 3 times a week.

Esdouglass · 09/26/2012, 01:43 PM

Hmm - I read quite a bit that they feed on bio waste. How do you go about "feeding" them the diet you mentioned? Do you just add it to the water and they absorb, or is there a direct feeding method you use? Also, would you feed the LPS corals I have, I was told by the LFS hey would be fine with photosynthesis and good water quality.

Numbers:

Ph: 8.3
Am: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
CA: 460
KH: 10
Phospate: 0

sponger0 · 09/26/2012, 01:46 PM

All corals it doesnt hurt to feed them. Some people dont but sometimes it's better if you do. Especially if your system is too clean.

Buy just dosing the tank and turning off your skimmer, is how you would feed the tank. LPS can also take food but usually larger foods than SPS.

Now what kind of phosphate kit are you using?

Also you have no test for magnesium.

Esdouglass · 09/26/2012, 01:49 PM

I am using the API Reef Master kit (phosphate), it doesn't have magnesium (I guess they should consider killing the "Master" bit).

Ill pick one up.

sponger0 · 09/26/2012, 01:54 PM

Dont use the API phosphate kit IMO. The first reading is 0-.25. That doesnt give you any reading you can use in a reef.

Same goes for magnesium. Spend a few more dollars and get a better kit. If all you are using is API, then look at some better kits for alk, mag, calc and phos. They just arent all that accurate.

Esdouglass · 09/26/2012, 01:58 PM

Thanks for the info.. do you have any recommendations? Is there a preferred brand or master kit you would recommend? Red Sea looks good, but availability seems weird.

sponger0 · 09/26/2012, 02:02 PM

I like to use Red Sea Pro kits, the ones in black plastic cases, for alk, calc and mag. But use a hanna checker for phosphates.

You can also use Salifert as people have also had good results with those

Esdouglass · 09/26/2012, 02:20 PM

Thanks for the info. I ordered a Red Sea pro and a Salifert Phosphate and Nitrate.

Back to my question.. Would it be inadvisable to add any verts at this point? Seems like a light load..

sponger0 · 09/26/2012, 02:23 PM

Inverts dont really add any load to the tank. What kind of inverts were you thinking of?

Esdouglass · 09/26/2012, 02:31 PM

I meant vertebrates.. If you think that would be too much and I should stay where I am at with vertebrates, what might be a good addition for color and activity in the tank?

Maybe some different snail breeds? Clams?

sponger0 · 09/26/2012, 02:54 PM

Snails and clams are invert. Vertebrates have spines, such as fish.

Esdouglass · 09/26/2012, 03:02 PM

Haha I know - I think we are miscommunicating.

My original question was what verts (fish) might I add, if any..

If adding verts is not advisable, which inverts might I add, ie snails, clams.

Sorry for the confusion.

Reef264 · 09/26/2012, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esdouglass

Hmm - I read quite a bit that they feed on bio waste. How do you go about "feeding" them the diet you mentioned? Do you just add it to the water and they absorb, or is there a direct feeding method you use? Also, would you feed the LPS corals I have, I was told by the LFS hey would be fine with photosynthesis and good water quality.

Numbers:

Ph: 8.3
Am: 0
Nitrite: 0
Nitrate: 0
CA: 460
KH: 10
Phospate: 0

Now, some corals do get some of there food supply from Fish waste, you Deffinately should feed LPS corals, I used to feed mine brine shrimp, Mysis, and my bubble coral I would feed whole mussels(out of the shell Ofcoarse).I feed my SPS food through a bottle with a long skinny applicator on the end.

-Ray

sponger0 · 09/26/2012, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Esdouglass

Haha I know - I think we are miscommunicating.

My original question was what verts (fish) might I add, if any..

If adding verts is not advisable, which inverts might I add, ie snails, clams.

Sorry for the confusion.

Ok gotcha. Well I typically dont recommend fish unless the person says what they are looking for. There are just so many. Especially when it comes to wrasses.

Are you looking for color? Movement? Any other type of fish you have had your eyes on?

Esdouglass · 09/26/2012, 03:20 PM

Ideally I would like one more larger fish with the Rabbit, and maybe a few small schooling types that might help out with the cyano? I am also considering some mushroom corals.

I had a powderblue tang that did not make it.. It wasnt ich, it went from being fine and feeding to tits up in about two days.. Tangs seems a bit aggressive and spastic, but it might have just been the species.

Large fish I am looking for by priority:

1. Reef compatible
2. Color (bright or dark with bright highlights)
3. Agression (lower)
3. Activity

Small:

1. Help with cyano?
2. Color (bright)
3. Hardiness
3. aggression

09/26/2012, 12:36 PM	#1
Esdouglass Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 10	Advice on next LS addition for Acros I just received some Acro frags, about 1.5" tall each. I am not sure my LS is adequate to produce the waste they need to feed. Here is the current load/parameters. Verts: 1 Rabbitfish 1 Ornamental Wrasse 1 Cardinal Fish 1 pair of clowns Inverts: 2 Scarlet Skunk cleaners 4 Turbo snails 10 Hermit crab 1 Clove polyp coral ~4"-5" 1 Frogspawn Coral ~ 4"-5" 1 Zooanthid 5" 5 Acro coral 1.5" spread evenly across the tank Tank: 75g All numbers look good with basic and reef tests Good flow 2 T5 10ks 2 T5 Actinic 20g sump with refugium about 3 months since new tank cycled Slight issue with red slime algae (i think) on some part of substrate. What would be some advisable additions to this tank?? Thanks!

09/26/2012, 01:13 PM	#3
Reef264 Where's The Reef? Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Southaven, Ms Posts: 2,098	If I am reading this correctly, More fish would be what you don't want, that would create higher nutrient levels in your tank, Acropora's like Low nutrient levels, good flow, and most require higher lighting.Now, your Bioload isnt big, but in a mixed reef with SPS, a smaller bio load will be a good thing.I feed all of my SPS a mixture of Oyster feast, Roti Feast, Cyclops, and Coral Frenzy, about 3 times a week. __________________ I'd rather Die on my feet, than Live on my Knees. Current Tank Info: 150g SPS Reef, 2x250w 14k Pheonix Metal Halides w/T-5 Actinics, 2 Tunze 6095's, Tunze 7096 controller, Ozone, Precision Marine Skimmer, Reef Octopus Bio-Churn Bio Pellet Reactor, GFO & Carbon Reactor, Ozone Reactor, ATO, Reef Keeper.

09/26/2012, 01:09 PM	#2
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	By you first saying you have cyano, I would say first think you need to do is test your water. By having cyano that means you have some sort of phosphates...but with no number I cant say. Also with SPS, especially acros, you are really going to need to have a very stable alk, which means it doesnt go all over the place, low phosphates amd mag and calc at the correct level

09/26/2012, 01:43 PM	#4
Esdouglass Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 10	Hmm - I read quite a bit that they feed on bio waste. How do you go about "feeding" them the diet you mentioned? Do you just add it to the water and they absorb, or is there a direct feeding method you use? Also, would you feed the LPS corals I have, I was told by the LFS hey would be fine with photosynthesis and good water quality. Numbers: Ph: 8.3 Am: 0 Nitrite: 0 Nitrate: 0 CA: 460 KH: 10 Phospate: 0

09/26/2012, 01:46 PM	#5
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	All corals it doesnt hurt to feed them. Some people dont but sometimes it's better if you do. Especially if your system is too clean. Buy just dosing the tank and turning off your skimmer, is how you would feed the tank. LPS can also take food but usually larger foods than SPS. Now what kind of phosphate kit are you using? Also you have no test for magnesium.

09/26/2012, 01:49 PM	#6
Esdouglass Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 10	I am using the API Reef Master kit (phosphate), it doesn't have magnesium (I guess they should consider killing the "Master" bit). Ill pick one up.

09/26/2012, 01:54 PM	#7
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	Dont use the API phosphate kit IMO. The first reading is 0-.25. That doesnt give you any reading you can use in a reef. Same goes for magnesium. Spend a few more dollars and get a better kit. If all you are using is API, then look at some better kits for alk, mag, calc and phos. They just arent all that accurate.

09/26/2012, 01:58 PM	#8
Esdouglass Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 10	Thanks for the info.. do you have any recommendations? Is there a preferred brand or master kit you would recommend? Red Sea looks good, but availability seems weird.

09/26/2012, 02:02 PM	#9
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	I like to use Red Sea Pro kits, the ones in black plastic cases, for alk, calc and mag. But use a hanna checker for phosphates. You can also use Salifert as people have also had good results with those

09/26/2012, 02:20 PM	#10
Esdouglass Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 10	Thanks for the info. I ordered a Red Sea pro and a Salifert Phosphate and Nitrate. Back to my question.. Would it be inadvisable to add any verts at this point? Seems like a light load..

09/26/2012, 02:23 PM	#11
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	Inverts dont really add any load to the tank. What kind of inverts were you thinking of?

09/26/2012, 02:31 PM	#12
Esdouglass Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 10	I meant vertebrates.. If you think that would be too much and I should stay where I am at with vertebrates, what might be a good addition for color and activity in the tank? Maybe some different snail breeds? Clams?

09/26/2012, 02:54 PM	#13
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	Snails and clams are invert. Vertebrates have spines, such as fish.

09/26/2012, 03:02 PM	#14
Esdouglass Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 10	Haha I know - I think we are miscommunicating. My original question was what verts (fish) might I add, if any.. If adding verts is not advisable, which inverts might I add, ie snails, clams. Sorry for the confusion.

09/26/2012, 03:20 PM	#17
Esdouglass Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 10	Ideally I would like one more larger fish with the Rabbit, and maybe a few small schooling types that might help out with the cyano? I am also considering some mushroom corals. I had a powderblue tang that did not make it.. It wasnt ich, it went from being fine and feeding to tits up in about two days.. Tangs seems a bit aggressive and spastic, but it might have just been the species. Large fish I am looking for by priority: 1. Reef compatible 2. Color (bright or dark with bright highlights) 3. Agression (lower) 3. Activity Small: 1. Help with cyano? 2. Color (bright) 3. Hardiness 3. aggression