Caring for torches - what do YOU do?

[beesnreefs]

I've been reefing for about a year and a half now and am a bit obsessed with torches. Right now I only have a couplethree and they have been doing really well for me but I recently won a raffle and have two high-end torches on the way next week. Wanna do what I can to be sure my long-term care is the best it can be.

For the past few months I've been doing this for my torches:

Lighting: Between 150-250 PAR, lights turn on at 6 am and ramp-up to peak by 9 am. Ramp down starts at 4 pm with lights out at 6:30 pm.

Water:

• Alk = 7 - 7.5
• Calc = 440 - 470
• Mag = 1250 - 1300
• Nitrates = 1-3
• Phosphates = 0.1 - 0.15

Feeding: I generally spot feed, with pumps off for 15 minutes, once (occasionally twice) a week. I feed a mix of Aquaforest Amino Mix and Benepets Benereef.

What do YOU do to raise happy, long-lived torches?

 

[Hooz]

I broadcast feed my whole tank aminos (Red Sea AB+) daily, and I broadcast Reef Chili 2-3x a week.

I've got 7 torches (Indo Gold, NY Knicks, Hellfire, Dragon Soul, CC Goldfinger, Cotton Candy and a Neon Green Indo), several hammers, several frog/octospawn and tons of zoas. Everything does great.

Otherwise, your parameters seem to be decent. I run around 10-15ppm nitrate and try to keep phosphates under .1ppm. I run my alk at 9dkh, with appropriate calcium and magnesium levels.

For lighting... there is not a spot in my tank that is more than 125 PAR. My sandbed dips down into the high 60's before/after the whites ramp up and down. Most of my torches are right in the 100-125 PAR range.

I run a slightly longer schedule since I keep the PAR low. Blues start ramping (1hr ramp) at 8:30am, whites ramp up (1.5hr ramp) at 11:00am. Everything is at peak from 12:30pm - 6:30pm, then the opposite ramps happen until lights out at 10:30pm. That gives a nice blue only viewing window in the morning and evening.

 

[Lavey29]

I broadcast feed my whole tank aminos (Red Sea AB+) daily, and I broadcast Reef Chili 2-3x a week.

I've got 7 torches (Indo Gold, NY Knicks, Hellfire, Dragon Soul, CC Goldfinger, Cotton Candy and a Neon Green Indo), several hammers, several frog/octospawn and tons of zoas. Everything does great.

Otherwise, your parameters seem to be decent. I run around 10-15ppm nitrate and try to keep phosphates under .1ppm. I run my alk at 9dkh, with appropriate calcium and magnesium levels.

For lighting... there is not a spot in my tank that is more than 125 PAR. My sandbed dips down into the high 60's before/after the whites ramp up and down. Most of my torches are right in the 100-125 PAR range.

I run a slightly longer schedule since I keep the PAR low. Blues start ramping (1hr ramp) at 8:30am, whites ramp up (1.5hr ramp) at 11:00am. Everything is at peak from 12:30pm - 6:30pm, then the opposite ramps happen until lights out at 10:30pm. That gives a nice blue only viewing window in the morning and evening.

I do somewhat similar for my tank and torches. How do you manage phosphate with daily coral foods?

 

[Hooz]

I do somewhat similar for my tank and torches. How do you manage phosphate with daily coral foods?

Ironically enough, I sometimes have to dose NeoPhos just to keep my phosphates detectable. I feed the recommended amount of Reef Chili (1 scoop per 20g), but I'm a little conservative on the AB+ (I use about 75% of the recommended amount). I don't really see that they affect my nitrate or phosphate that much at all.

 

[Uncle99]

I run MG between 1450-1500ppm.
All my “E” types seem to like this.
Once settled avoid movement.

 

[Lavey29]

Ironically enough, I sometimes have to dose NeoPhos just to keep my phosphates detectable. I feed the recommended amount of Reef Chili (1 scoop per 20g), but I'm a little conservative on the AB+ (I use about 75% of the recommended amount). I don't really see that they affect my nitrate or phosphate that much at all.

Interesting, reef chili really raises my phosphate level so maybe only once every 2 weeks. AB raises it also buy not as much so maybe twice a week. I use oyster feast also. I primarily just broadcast feed everything. Lost 4 beautiful torches. Dragon soul, Malaysia gold, Australia green center, etc... to BJD a few months back so rebuilding torch garden now. Have 5 currently. Masters torch and Malaysia gold are my favorite now in the tank.

 

[Lavey29]

Ironically enough, I sometimes have to dose NeoPhos just to keep my phosphates detectable. I feed the recommended amount of Reef Chili (1 scoop per 20g), but I'm a little conservative on the AB+ (I use about 75% of the recommended amount). I don't really see that they affect my nitrate or phosphate that much at all.

Are you running a refugium or phosphate limiting media, a reactor?

 

[Hooz]

Are you running a refugium or phosphate limiting media, a reactor?

Nope. I was running Chemipure Blue for a bit, but it kept bottoming out my phosphates. Now I just run carbon

I feed my fish daily, and a pretty heavy mix of pellets, flakes and frozen. I also have a very efficient CuC though.

 

[Lavey29]

Nope. I was running Chemipure Blue for a bit, but it kept bottoming out my phosphates. Now I just run carbon

I feed my fish daily, and a pretty heavy mix of pellets, flakes and frozen. I also have a very efficient CuC though.

Sounds exactly like my approach. I removed my chemipure and just run carbon with a good cleaner crew. I'm much more favoring a natural approach to maintaining tank stability.

Hey OP. Post up some torch pics and get this thread rolling

 

[Lavey29]

Here are a few

 

[jazzfisher]

One of mine. Taken tonight with iphone.

 

[Lavey29]

One of mine. Taken tonight with iphone.

Beautiful, how do you take your with your phone. Mine never come out perfect like that.

 

[jazzfisher]

I use the Aquarium Camera app. Then if needed just edit mainly raise the Warmth & add a touch of green tint with Tint

 

[Lost in the Sauce]

I think the The biggest thing is to leave them the heck alone. They don't like celebrities being taken with them so to speak.

The obvious exception to this rule is Torch God @MERKEY .. his torches fight like they are playing three flies up, Trying to get picked up and pose sexy for pictures.