Sps setup help

[pandora32]

I dont know if I should post here or not. If it should be someplace else, go ahead and move it. Sorry.
I have a question in regards to setting up an sps tank. Right now I have been hinting here and there to my wife that I want to switch directions and go SPS dedicated.:moony:
I have a 215g 3 sides are starfire display, a 60 or 65g sump that does have a fuge and pc lights for it. A lifereef vs-24 protien skimmer, liverock 275+ pounds, 3 250watt DE MH, 4 96watt PCs, MH & PCs are over display, Display has dual 600gph overflows-bottom of tank is drilled, also have a vertex 24" tall media reactor that is currently bout half filled with carbon.
I would be selling all my current softie and LPS corals. But I would like to keep my fish.
Any help or hints/tricks/tips you can send my way would be greatly appreciated. Pics of your sps tanks would be nice to. You know, to show to the wife...lol

 

[kevinpo]

Hello,
Yes this is the correct forum. The most important things are water cleanliness and mineral content (CA, alkalinity, and MG). Proper water flow is also very important. Some pulsing and/or alternating current is desirable.
Here is my tank from 1 year ago. I will make a new one in a few weeks for comparison.

Aquatic Dreams 600 gal.wmv - YouTube

Regards,
Kevin

 

[jrgilles]

You have a big tank, why clear out all the softies/LPS? It is pretty full already? I have mixed softies, lps, sps and works great. Anyway, just curious as to why you want to be exclusive sps

 

[pandora32]

I currently have a mixed reef also. Lps, very little sps, softies. I like the way the sps corals look. With the lps and softies, I get the feeling that the flow that the sps requires, it would just simply tear up the flesh on lps and softies. If I am wrong, please do let me know.

 

[jrgilles]

I have 2 large tunze running full power in my tank (aswell as a controllable nano tunze and another non controllable nano tunze) with mixed sps, lps and a few softies. All seem fine. I just don't put the LPS in direct flow. Not sure what my flow is right now, but it is pretty large and all seem happy. Guess it depends on your rockwork, tank size, etc. I'm in a 75. Maybe one of the pros here has a better idea

 

[donrando]

wow Kevin, do you have a write up for that tank somewhere?

 

[kevinpo]

wow Kevin, do you have a write up for that tank somewhere?

I don't. I kind of threw it together in a hurry because I had to move it quickly. I do have pictures of the original build (March 2008) before it was moved. You might find it interesting.
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/f46/little-project-34349/

Regards,
Kevin

 

[donrando]

what coral is the thick branched purple staghorn acro?

 

[kevinpo]

what coral is the thick branched purple staghorn acro?

I think you're referring to the Acropora grandis.

Regards,
Kevin