Requirements for SPS???

Discussion in 'SPS Corals' started by aquariaman, Dec 8, 2010.

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How hard to care for SPS coral compared to LPS.

  1. Never had SPS before.

    10 vote(s)
    28.6%
  2. 1

    2 vote(s)
    5.7%
  3. 2

    1 vote(s)
    2.9%
  4. 3

    3 vote(s)
    8.6%
  5. 4

    1 vote(s)
    2.9%
  6. 5

    5 vote(s)
    14.3%
  7. 6

    2 vote(s)
    5.7%
  8. 7

    6 vote(s)
    17.1%
  9. 8

    3 vote(s)
    8.6%
  10. 9

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  11. 10!

    2 vote(s)
    5.7%
  1. aquariaman

    aquariaman Pajama Cardinal

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    Can someone tell me the requirements for SPS coral? Such as parameters and i would like lots of people with experience to tell me how hard it is to have on a scale of 1 to 10. I have tried one sps coral and failed. It started to get this red slime on it and died from tip down. I would love to grow some sps and it would be my reefing dream to have a complete sps tank! Thanks! PLEASE PLEASE anything, and i mean anything will help. This video keeps me going in the hobby! BTW cycling frag tank now :)

    http://www.youtube.com/user/sengreef
     
  2. Click Here!

  3. Claic Yuzolt

    Claic Yuzolt Bubble Tip Anemone

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    Location:
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    I've recently started within the last few months. I'd say 2/10 on hard but takes 8/10 effort!!!

    Salinity - 1.025
    Temperature - 79.6
    Calcium - 450
    dKH - 10.9
    Magnesium - 1350

    I mean if you have the lighting and the flow and a established tank it is easy. But you have to put forth the effort to keep your chemistry correct!
     
  4. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    I voted 7 out of 10 with 10 being the hardest.

    Probably because my tank is so small I have a harder time keeping everything dialed in. One huge swing in alk or temperature and it can all go to pot. Most everythings else can do ok with some swings but sps they need it consistant, all the time.

    With that said, I will take corals over fish any day.:)
     
  5. aquariaman

    aquariaman Pajama Cardinal

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    I am going to go check my parameters right now so keep posting my peps!! hehe :) I will put up the results in 30 mins hopefully!
     
  6. Seano Hermano

    Seano Hermano Giant Squid

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    Location:
    Northwest Ohio
    While I do not have sps corals, over the past six months I have learned quite a bit about them. Here's the main things I know of for SPS.

    -high flow: SPS corals demand the highest flow rate of corals. about 40-70X turnover is recommended. In my 29g, I will have a little over 60X.

    -high par: (but not too high) is best. MH has always been recommended for SPS. Some of the Better T5HO units are capable of keeping most SPS, with LEDs being the new thing. LEDs are still in "testing", but some have seen sequential growth over the past few months.

    -stable water parameters: keep your chemistry in check. Stability is the number one key to growth. Keep track of calc, mag, phos, alk(just as you would with other corals) in addition to the norms for a FOWLR
     
  7. aquariaman

    aquariaman Pajama Cardinal

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    Alright, here it is! 70 gal reef by the way!!

    1 month ago

    PH 8.0
    Ammonia 0
    Nitrite 0
    Nitrate 0
    Phosphate .25
    KH 6
    Calcium 400

    1 week ago

    PH 8.2
    Ammonia 0
    Nitrite 0
    Nitrate 0
    Phosphate .25
    KH 6
    Calcium 360

    Today

    PH 8.2
    Ammonia 0
    Nitrite 0
    Nitrate 0
    Phosphate .25
    KH 9
    Calcium 400
    Salinity 1.024


    Am i SPS eligable???
     
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  9. Seano Hermano

    Seano Hermano Giant Squid

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    They seem stable. I would raise your calc to about 460. Are you testing for magnesium?
     
  10. Dingo

    Dingo Giant Squid

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    New Freedom, PA
    sps arent that hard to be honest... but I feel like the ability to keep them comes from experience and know how. If you research enough it shouldnt be a problem.

    my levels are
    Ca- 430-440
    Alk- usually always 10
    Mg- 1500 (i keep it high)
    Sal- 35ppt
    pH- 8.23
    Phos- undetectable

    remember, SPS= Stability Promotes Success
     
  11. Dingo

    Dingo Giant Squid

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    Ca at 460 might be hard with that low Alk. If you want to maintain it at 460, first raise and keep the Alk to about 11ish, then make your Mag at least 1450ppm, and then your Ca will fall in line at about 450-460ppm

    Raising your levels is a slow and gradual process. If you dose today you wont see the results until 1-2 days later
     
  12. aquariaman

    aquariaman Pajama Cardinal

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    I have a magnesium test kit from red sea but it is very complicated and hard to do. I have tried multiple times and can't get a good reading! What do you use, Hermano?