All about SPS!

Discussion in 'Corals' started by ScubaDog, Apr 15, 2007.

  1. ScubaDog

    ScubaDog Guest

    With my new project finally completed I can get back in the groove of things. As Chris and a few of the older members know, I (roy) have always been into sps corals. Mainly acropora and millipora and some montaporas.

    The main requirements for sps corals are nutrient poor water quality, that means non detected levels on nitrates or at least less than 10ppm, low leves of phosphates agen youl want non detected levels.

    Calcium levels are also important, say 425-475 ppm range calcium content, shy away from the 500ppm levels or the calcium will precipitate out of solution. Alkallinity is important as well I always had great luck with 9.5 to 11.5 dhk. Magnesium is important for the reason it is related to maintaning those levels, I am drawing a blen at the moment on the correct magnesium range, I think it should be around 1300 ppm or so, but thats a guess off of the top of my head.

    Ill continude this discussion at a later date got to get to work..
     
  2. ScubaDog

    ScubaDog Guest

    Lighting, I tend to prefer at least 250 watt metal halides, they seem to have enough PAR( potosyntheticly alailable radiation) to get good growth and coloration depending on your bulb choice, I tend to prefer the middle of the road keleven temps, say 14k phoenix for example.

    Buts thats about it folks, have great water quality keep the nitrogen based fertilizers to a minimum, make sure you have good flow, no dead spots, so that stagnant water can be washed away for excelent resperation( chemical exchanges). Make sure you have the proper calcium content and alkalinity, good consistant numbers try to avoid rapid changes. And finally have that synthetic sun functioning, aka 250 and up halides, 400s are great and 1000s are better if you can handel the heat and electric bill.

    Thats my philosophy on sps , pretty simple but effective, I don't get into the minute details.

    How to maintian great water quality, well have a low fish count in the system. Do not overfeed. then choose your nitrate reduction method. Ither a deep sand bed, a phlem sp.... or my preference the bare bottom, high intense flow rates and a super powerfull skimmer, along with a large sump/fuge.
     
  3. Bobby@W.U.W

    Bobby@W.U.W Guest

    like sps you'll love the feild trip at the April 21 meeting.
    and mg should be in the 1260-1300 range.
     
  4. ScubaDog

    ScubaDog Guest

    I wish I could make the trip up to north west Arkansas. Unfortunatly I am working that weekend, actually I work just about everyday anymore lol. Hopefully some time I can make the trip up your way and snag one of those ORA blue millies I spoted in your shop a couple years back.
     

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