55 gallon sps help

[cwb_reeftank]

ok im going to be as thorough as I can because I want as much help and advice as I can. I have posted on my tank before on how I can't keep sps to save my life. right now I have a 55 gallon, my calcium stays at around 420 and salinity stays at 1.025 so I don't test for those very often. what I try to test for is dKH, phosphate, nitrate, mg, and sometimes ph. today I tested my dKH and it was 12, my phosphate was 0.25, and my ph was 8.0. I didn't get to test nitrate because I don't have a test kit for that which I plan on picking one up tomorrow when I get water for my water change. I normally do a water change about once a week but with the holidays and school I haven't been doing it as often as I would like. I asked my girlfriend to get me an RO/DI unit for Christmas but she got me the lights I wanted instead. which I cant complain about. speaking of light I have a 4 bulb odyssea light fixture but have ati bulbs: 2 aquablue+, 1 aquablue special, and 1 coral+. which is 10 inches above the tank. I have one hydor evolution 1500 and one 1150. I dose vodka everyday at .9ml. I use to does reef fusion 1 & 2 but my calcium doesn't move and my dKH stays around 12 sometimes hits 11 but stays at 12 normally. I use an eshopps psk-75 protein skimmer. I can keep LPS fine and I really want to keep SPS but im at the point that I'm almost about to give up on SPS but I don't really want too. I also got an Apex Jr. but I don't have it hooked up yet but I plan on doing it by the end of Friday.

 

[bigbrother14]

Phosphates are way to high just to start off keep them at 0.00 or 0.03 that's it no more the that I keep my calcium at 450ppm alkalinity is at 9 an mag at 1380- 1400ppm an test weekly or every 3 days to see how much of each ur consuming an adjust accordingly but since u don't have a lot coral simple water changes will get ur phosphates down an levels stable

 

[cwb_reeftank]

how do you keep your alkalinity down like that?

 

[Latinreefer]

What he said phosphates are way to high the max should .05, .03 is better. Feed less, more water changes until you bring that number down. Not sure where you get your water from (lfs) but invest in your own ro/di unit, if you are low on cash sell the apex thats not so important at this time. If you make your won water your changes are some what easier and I like to make sure my filters are always in great shape and are doing there job. Some LFS just want to sell water and lack the maintenance of changing their own filters. A good sign is what their tanks look like (algae, etc). Maybe your skimmer might be to small as well, I noticed your bio load is not heavy at all but MY success has always been, over size skimmer, t5 lights and good flow when it comes to equipment. Hopefully this gives you some guidance and I'm sure you will get other good advise fromother fellow reefers. This is just my opinion and experience. Good Luck

 

[bigbrother14]

I did a number of test to figure out how much calcium an alk my tank was consuming on a daily basis in came down to the conclusion it takes 30ml of each component to keep my alk at 9 an my calcium at 450 but if ur alk is too high just the coral eat it up for a few days then Test again see how long it takes for the coral to consume those element an figure out how much u need to keep those elements stable if u want to keep sps it's extremely important u keep everything steady

 

[bigbrother14]

Yes I agree with Latinreefer bigger skimmer is always a good choice

 

[cwb_reeftank]

thanks for the advice and if you couldn't see the fish very well I have a pygmy angel, sixline wrasse, melanurus wrasse, yellowtail damsel, and a yellow tang. I'm trading in my yellow tang hopefully tomorrow. I have been looking at different skimmers though I just don't know which ones would be good. the lfs I go to his pretty clean tanks with little algae issues just the typical green algae that comes with weekly maintenance.

 

[bigbrother14]

Reef octopus has some pretty good ones also skimz line of skimmers are great too abit pricy but well worth it

 

[Latinreefer]

BRS website has a few they recommend and they are all good choices. I always double on my skimmer because you can always turn off at nights or if you have a DC skimmer you can adjust your speed based on your load. I rather buy once now, I learned the hard way going half _ _S on equipment and size, again this is just my experience. Make sure it will fit in your skimmer compartment before you buy to avoid returns.

 

[cwb_reeftank]

I cant have anything taller than 19 inches but other than that I shouldn't have any issues I would love to make a bigger stand but that's not a big thing at the moment.

 

[Latinreefer]

that is going to be an issue with a low stand, maybe make a stand? not trying to increase your expenses this is the #1 reason why I build my own stands. I want height, and access on all sides.

 

[cwb_reeftank]

I'm ok with building the stand I've already moved it once and it sucked hahaha and finding the time is hard too that's why I got the apex Jr. I'm still in college and with what I'm doing takes a lot of time for studying

 

[cwb_reeftank]

what size skimmer should I go with?

 

[cwb_reeftank]

Well I found out that my nitrates were at 40 today so that's an issue that I have

 

[Latinreefer]

any skimmer BRS recommends, and if you could afford go with double your wear volume. If you tank is 55 gallons and lets say 20 gallon sump total 75 gallons, go with a skimmer that can handle 150 gallons.

 

[cwb_reeftank]

I'll probably have to wait till my birthday for that but I am going to get a new ine

 

[Latinreefer]

feed less, stay on water changes and a bigger skimmer should help you out, Good luck

 

[cwb_reeftank]

Thanks I try to do 15 gallon water changes a week but here for the last month has been a little rough

 

[cwb_reeftank]

Did a 15 gallon water change today and put some new carbon in as well I tested about 2 hours later and my phosphate is at 0.0 and my dkh is at 12 still and my ph is between 7.8 & 8.0

 

[cwb_reeftank]

I know it probably comes down to preference but should I go with the Reef Octopus Classic 150int or Skimz Monzter SM161 Internal Protein Skimmer?