best tips to keep SPS

cwb_reeftank · Oct 18, 2014

hello I was wondering how to keep SPS, from the best type of lighting to water chemistry, and if anyone has any idea for a good piece of SPS that would be cool to I already have some and they are doing great. green montipora, blue polyp green montipora, and ponape birds nest.

alan.reef · Oct 18, 2014

Welcome to R2R. Go to sticky post, you will find tons of Info there.

Jimbo662 · Oct 19, 2014

I had trouble keeping SPS in my last tank. I think the main issues were lighting and water quality. Current tank has the Kessil A360WEs and a Vertex 130 skimmer. It's a 75g tank and I've got 10 smallish fish so the bioload is pretty light. I am having trouble keeping zoa's because they like dirtier water. I've got a bunch of LPS also and they're all thriving and growing in the set up too.

Greenstreet.1 · Oct 19, 2014

Keep alk stable Sps do not like alk swing

cwb_reeftank · Oct 21, 2014

would a t5 ho and metal halide combo do good on a sps tank, because I was looking at a odyssea 48" medial halide t5 ho combo but idk if that's a good thing to get?

Greenstreet.1 · Oct 22, 2014

I'm not an MH guy but I do use a LED T5 combo over my 75g Sps dominant AI sol blue with ATI 4x54w 48".

Greenstreet.1 · Oct 22, 2014

Jimbo662 said:
I had trouble keeping SPS in my last tank. I think the main issues were lighting and water quality. Current tank has the Kessil A360WEs and a Vertex 130 skimmer. It's a 75g tank and I've got 10 smallish fish so the bioload is pretty light. I am having trouble keeping zoa's because they like dirtier water. I've got a bunch of LPS also and they're all thriving and growing in the set up too.

Don't think that statement is true. That zoa's like dirtier water I have them in my tank and have no problem with them.

jason g · Oct 22, 2014

Keep your Alk, Calcium and temperature all in line. SPS do not like fluctuations. I myself use a 12 bulb ATI T-5 lightning fixture and my corals grow like crazy.

Electrobes · Oct 22, 2014

As was suggested above, this sticky is a good place to start: https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/general-sps-discussion/70893-how-successfully-keep-sps-corals.html

Honestly I would say be patient and resist too much change/variability within your tank. Corals are slow to adapt, and stress as a result of too much going on at once. If change does come, do it slowly.

SamsReef · Oct 22, 2014

duplicate of the previous post.

mtnrunner · Oct 22, 2014

Keep Stable ca/alk by regular testing schedules. I really like MH/T5 actinics for lighting. Regular water changes are in my routine as well.

cwb_reeftank · Oct 22, 2014

what about flow I feel like I don't have enough flow on my 55 gallon

Greenstreet.1 · Oct 22, 2014

cwb_reeftank said:
what about flow I feel like I don't have enough flow on my 55 gallon

Flow is very important for sps

tdo · Oct 23, 2014

Flow, consistent and stable parameters, good lighting, and the most important thing to remember.... Keep your hands out of the tank! Leave them alone and they will all of a sudden take off