Am I ready for a LPS?

[Fishbro]

Hey everyone so I am picking up some dirt cheap corals from someone this week and he’s also selling blastomussa for $2 a head. My tank is about a month and two weeks old and I have some zoanthids, mushrooms, and a sinularia leather. My parameters have been stable as far as I know.

pH: 8.3
Nitrate: 20
Nitrite: 0
Ammonia: 0
Alkalinity: 7.3
Calcium: 470
Magnesium: 1360
Phosphate: 0
Salinity: 1.025

I feel that not buying at least one blastomussa head is robbing myself haha but what do you guys think? Is it worth it to at least try?

 

[sp1187]

I've found them to be one of the easier and hardier LPS.
spend $10.

 

[Ultra Aquatics]

Sounds like you shouldn’t have a problem, what lighting are you using?

 

[Fishbro]

Sounds like you shouldn’t have a problem, what lighting are you using?

Unfortunately only the Biocube 32 stock leds but I am planning on upgrading to the Nanobox retrofit just because the Biocube leds are too white for me.

 

[Tahoe61]

You will be fine, lighting should not be an issue.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Not a huge investment should tank not be supportive- looks like you’re good regardless.
Monitor tank of course iver next 4 weeks and di water changes as needed

 

[HawaiianReef]

I took awhile to get into stony corals because of all the info I read about how hard they are to keep. I found I like LPS more than anything. They seem to be even easier than softies for me. I haven't had a problem at all with LPS. I didn't dose anything until I got some sps. With the lps, I just relied on my WC. I did switch my salt to reef salts for the higher elements.

 

[Fishbro]

Ok I went ahead and got 3 heads.

 

[Natescorals]

My LPS are doing great I have mostly euphillias and Duncan’s and growing like crazy. My zoas aren’t doing great. Softies like much dirtier water. LPS prefer clean water with my experience. But they like to be fed.

 

[Natescorals]

Hey but why is your alkalinity so low and calcium so high?

 

[Natescorals]

Also notice euphillias like lower par. I think they do great in the 80-130 par range.

 

[Fishbro]

Hey but why is your alkalinity so low and calcium so high?

I really am not sure I'm thinking it's user error on my part its probably around 7.3-8.

 

[Natescorals]

I really am not sure I'm thinking it's user error on my part its probably around 7.3-8.

Which salt are you using? Are you dosing?

 

[Fishbro]

Which salt are you using? Are you dosing?

I’m using reef crystals and I’m not dosing just because I don’t really have a need yet, I only have a few softies in the tank right now.

 

[Natescorals]

How often do you do your water changes? And also how big are the water changes?

 

[Fishbro]

How often do you do your water changes? And also how big are the water changes?

Water changes every week 4 gallons.

 

[Natescorals]

That’s weird how the calcium is 470 but the alkalinity is 7-8 range? I always thought reef crystals had a much higher alkalinity and a lower calcium level

 

[Natescorals]

What test kit are you using?

 

[Fishbro]

Sailfert.

 

[Natescorals]

Something seems off because the alkalinity shouldn’t be that low. Especially if your doing 4 gallon water changes. Reef crystals alkalinity mixes at 13dkh. And if you only have soft corals in the tank they wouldn’t be consuming that much alkalinity. I have instant ocean. And I also have a 30 gallon I only change 3 gallons per week and my alkalinity is in the 9-10 range. Plus I have Duncan’s. Hammers torch and frogspawns. And zoas and GSP and mushrooms