Making my sps thrive!

[yellowwatchmen]

How do I make my sps thrive?
Here are my specs.
40gal aga
Current USA Sunpod 2x150w Mh 14k
1 Hydor Korolia #3 850gph
1 hydor korilia #2 600gph
euroreef rs80 protien skimmer
40lbs of aragonite
40lbs of figi LR
20gal sump/fuge

I have my return pump split to go into a 20gal tall with my LPS and softies (no leathers). Then it drains back into my sump. My system is a total of 80 gallons.

I run carbon (change every 2-3 weeks). I mix kalkwasser in to my ato container. I also use kents coral-vite.

I haven't checked my water paremeters in a week or so but this is what they were last time I checked.
ph-8.3
nitrates-0ppm
nitrites-0ppm
ammonia-0ppm
phosphates-0ppm
calcium-420ppm
I do 2 10gal water changes every week (Wednesdays and Sundays). I use reef crystals
Is there any thing that I should be doing different? Anything I should be testing for that I am not. Any thing you see wrong with my equipment?
I will get some pics and updated water parameters tomorrow.

Thanks, Brian

 

[Skeptic9962]

whats your alk at? thats a big one that i have ran into alk needs to be around 9-12dkh when i had mine at 7 or so the sps just didnt seem to have much color now its around 9-10 and they have gotten much deeper in color...just my 2 cents

 

[barrierreefcf]

Alkalinity and Temperature would both be important. 8-12dkh and 76-80F have both given us our best results.

 

[yellowwatchmen]

my temp is at 80F I do not have a alk test kit yet. I am going to try to get out and get one this afternoon.

 

[yellowwatchmen]

I forgot that I actually did have an alkalinity test kit that I used for my old planted tank.
Here are the water parameters.
ph- 8.3
nitrate,ammonia,Nitrate, Phosphate-undetectable
calcium-420ppm
alkalinity-7dkh
salinity-1.024

Here are some pics.

 

[yellowwatchmen]

As you can see the sps are kind of lacking color. Is there any thing you would change about the tank? Or the parameters?

 

[matts125]

Hey, Just a little info on my tank parameters: I keep my calc at 500, alk 10DKH and mag 1500-1600, PH 8.3

I have had stunning sucess with my tank since I raised my levels up. my sps grow like crazy and have amazing color.

One thing I would suggest is move from 150 watt halides to 250's

Matt

 

[yellowwatchmen]

The only thing about switching my halides to 250watt is heat. How would I get my alk. up? I will try to get my calcium up by kalkwasser. Should I be testing for magnesium?

 

[matts125]

The only thing about switching my halides to 250watt is heat. How would I get my alk. up? I will try to get my calcium up by kalkwasser. Should I be testing for magnesium?

you must test mag.

Keep this in mind it is important:
if you cant get your calc up then your alk is probably high, if you cant get your alk up then your calc might be too high, there is a balance, also if your magnesium is low it can make it difficult to keep your calcium up. if things arent in balance then your Alk (buffer or kalk) will just precip)

also one thing we all seem to learn the hard way in this hobby is the significence of a (CHILLER) with out this one thing on a hot summer day you may lose your entier investment...

Hope this helps..

Matt

 

[kevinpo]

Hello,
You can use buffer or Kalkwasser to raise your alkalinity. I like to keep it about 8dKH. I see you have some Shallow water SPS corals that will need at least 250W halides to grow fast and have optimum color.

Here most people use fans blowing across the surface of the tank or refugium for cooling. This works only in dry climates with an ambient temperature of 74F or less.

Magnesium helps to keep the alkalinity calcium relationship more stable and should be about three times your calcium level. In your case 1260ppm.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[yellowwatchmen]

So should I trade some of my shallow water sps? How do I raise magnesium?

 

[kevinpo]

There are magnesium supplements made by most of the manufacturers of reef supplies.

So should I trade some of my shallow water sps?

That is entirely up to you. They certainly won't die if you don't. In a tank your size you may not want 1" a month growth unless you plan on farming them. Using carbon to keep the water clear and placing the coral high up in the tank will also help to get the most out of the light you have.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[yellowwatchmen]

I will do some research on shallow sps and try to figure out which ones I need to move.

So from what I understand this is about where my water should be at for my sps to thrive.
calcium- 450
alk- 10-11dkh
magnesium-1350
And I can achieve this by kalkwasser for the calcium and alk. And for the magnesium there are commercial product I can find at the lfs. I am thinking kent makes a supplement for magnesium.

I am running carbon for water quality. And the 2x10gal waterchanges will really help.
I am planning on fragging these corals when they get big enough. I am looking for a halide for the 20 tall and switch that to a frag tank.

Thanks, Brian

 

[kevinpo]

Kalkwasser will work at first but as the corals grow you will need to increase evaporation (so you can add more kalk) or buy calcium and buffer to add along with the magnesium. I would recommend water changes once every 1-2 weeks for cost effectiveness.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[yellowwatchmen]

I will look around and see what I can find on supplements (any suggestions?). And I don't need to be doing as may water changes? Should I cut back to 15gals a week (5gal on Wednesday and 10gal on sunday)

 

[kevinpo]

I would suggest dry rather than liquid additives as they are more concentrated and a better value. Unless you are having nitrate or algae issues I would cut the water changes back to 15% every two weeks. If the nitrates or algae rise then increase the volume of water changes.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[matts125]

to buy all your kalkwasser, calcium chloride and magnesium chloride go to (twopartsolutions.com) they sell in bulk and is atlease 10 times cheaper then any LFS... you can buy a 5 gallon bucket of kalk for $45 in the stores a tiny bottle like 16 oz is $20-$30...

Matt

 

[tamarindthai]

Hello,
You can use buffer or Kalkwasser to raise your alkalinity. I like to keep it about 8dKH. I see you have some Shallow water SPS corals that will need at least 250W halides to grow fast and have optimum color.

Here most people use fans blowing across the surface of the tank or refugium for cooling. This works only in dry climates with an ambient temperature of 74F or less.

Magnesium helps to keep the alkalinity calcium relationship more stable and should be about three times your calcium level. In your case 1260ppm.

Regards,
Kevin

i am with Kevin the the way,,,advised from pro,,cheer

 

[JasonD]

The only thing about switching my halides to 250watt is heat. How would I get my alk. up? I will try to get my calcium up by kalkwasser. Should I be testing for magnesium?

You could do a single 250 watt centered. It should give you pretty good coverage except and the very extreme edges of you tank. You could place the light lovers directly under the light. Then place the less demanding corals off to the sides. I like the reeflux bulbs (12k for a really blue look).

Water changes and "two part solution" to get everything in balance.

 

[yellowwatchmen]

My friend has a single 250watt over his 40 and if it is not directly underneith the light it is in shadow. But wouldn't 2x150watt be more then a single 250watt?