"FORCED" to be an SPS guy

k2parkstar · Oct 5, 2012

We'll i'd just like to say hello to all you stick heads. I'm being "forced" to go SPS...but i'm not complaing :nerd:. Let me explain, i'm not being forced by anyone in particular, in fact the only person that looks at my tank often other than me, which is my girlfriend, hates sticks. I'm a converting Chalice guy. About two months ago all my chalices just started receding. I still have yet to figure out why. I lost about 10-12 chalices, serveral of which were high end chalices. I also lost some acans and a fungia. I tested for everything and still have no answer. I only have 3 chalices left and 1 is still receding. I even got 2 new ones after the die off, when I thought my tank was recovered. The funny thing is, none of my few sps were affected by this die off. I found this odd as typically sps is much more prone to being the first to go when things are out of order. So now i've got a new found interest in SPS and i'm quickly developing a bug for them. The satisfaction of watch a small frag develop is pretty awesome. Right now my SPS collection is slim but growing. Let me know of any must have's. Especially any that do well under t5's.

My SPS:
Green Slimer
ORA Pearlberry
ORA Red Planet
No name Blue Tort
Tyree mystic sunset monti

Bluejawtrigger · Oct 5, 2012

Welcome to the dark side. Lol. It's extremely addicting. I would suggest keep looking for why your chalices died. Mine seem to be bullet proof. Sps can be extremely rewarding and unforgiving. There's so many different species/ families of sps. Advice: test alkalinity often. Look forward to seeing some pics.

k2parkstar · Oct 5, 2012

I've test ALK a good bit since I started keeping my few pieces, it seems to be pretty stable. I don't dose anything but all my levels stay pretty even as I do regular water changes. Plus my tank is pretty small, just a 45 cube and 20g sump. Also, I have beast of a skimmer. They only thing I can think of on my chalices is when I changed chemipure elite bags, seems to be when everything started to decline. I have since stop using chemipure.

SPSkeeper · Oct 5, 2012

First off, welcome to the addiction!!!!

Another one gets bit, and the addiction starts. Just a warning, there is no cure, and there is no going back hehe. Here are a few pics of my current tank, First 8 are under 175w 14K Ushio, the last are under 250w 20k Radiums(LOVE them) :first:

SPSkeeper · Oct 5, 2012

SPSkeeper · Oct 5, 2012

(neon green candycanes made the green reflection on the side)

Enjoy the ride, I have and never looked back. There will be ups and downs but once you get the hang of it it's a great accomplishment and can be very rewarding

FishLipz · Oct 5, 2012

Well I'm glad I'm not the only one. In fact, I made the switch for the exact same reason. All my chalices except one large colony did the exact same thing and I can't figure why.

Rob.D · Oct 5, 2012

Welcome to the wonderful world of colored sticks!

Rmorales13 · Oct 5, 2012

I'm sure you'll love all the variety of colored sticks!! I've always had an oregon tort and it should do good under t5s. I'm sure we can come up with a nice colorful list for ya

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

k2parkstar · Oct 5, 2012

We'll I've just put together a sick little SPS frag pack from one of our awesome vendors. I'll post the list as soon as I pay for it this weekend.

islander84 · Oct 5, 2012

rasberry nasuta, tierra de fuego, pink lemonade, blue hoeki, this list could go on for hours!

. Theres really almost and endless amount of acros

k2parkstar · Oct 5, 2012

islander84 said:
rasberry nasuta, tierra de fuego, pink lemonade, blue hoeki, this list could go on for hours! . Theres really almost and endless amount of acros

The pack I put together includes something from this list.

SteezySPS · Oct 6, 2012

I was forced on chalices because the only room I had was on the sand bed but I realized a cluttered sand bed doesnt look as nice. Since youre running t5's I would recommend the tyree pink lemonade. They look better to me under t5's than halides.

seamonkey84 · Oct 6, 2012

I find LPS generally don't like my Sps tank. they recede and starve it seems, maybe too much light as well. Well I use to have just acans and zoas, now my tank is mostly acros and some zoas, everything else had to be moved to another tank that I don't have to keep the water as clean.

Acropora Crazy · Oct 6, 2012

You have a great start on a really nice SPS tank. Looks good.

reefpeeper · Oct 6, 2012

k2parkstar said:
I've test ALK a good bit since I started keeping my few pieces, it seems to be pretty stable. I don't dose anything but all my levels stay pretty even as I do regular water changes. Plus my tank is pretty small, just a 45 cube and 20g sump. Also, I have beast of a skimmer. They only thing I can think of on my chalices is when I changed chemipure elite bags, seems to be when everything started to decline. I have since stop using chemipure.

once you get more sps your alk will drop quicker. my tank was pretty stable also, then with sps it dropped. in one week it went from 9dkh to about 6dkh or lower. i thought i wouldn't have to test and im still slowly increasing alk to correct level.

k2parkstar · Oct 6, 2012

seamonkey84 said:
I find LPS generally don't like my Sps tank. they recede and starve it seems, maybe too much light as well. Well I use to have just acans and zoas, now my tank is mostly acros and some zoas, everything else had to be moved to another tank that I don't have to keep the water as clean.

My tank was an LPS dominate, i'm just getting more into SPS now.

reefpeeper said:
once you get more sps your alk will drop quicker. my tank was pretty stable also, then with sps it dropped. in one week it went from 9dkh to about 6dkh or lower. i thought i wouldn't have to test and im still slowly increasing alk to correct level.

I've been keeping my eye on my ALK, at the moment just the few pieces of SPS that I have don't really have much effect on the ALK, but the more I get I know i'll have to do something to replenish it.