Help Please?

ArowanaLover1902 · Apr 4, 2018

I had a coral order of zoas coming in the mail and my shipment was messed up, anyways, I've ended up with 8 sps (the company said I could keep them and they'd send my actual order asap). I have no idea how to care for sps, I've only done LPS and softies. I can't identify them either (pics attached). Can someone point me in the direction of a trustworthy guide?

P.S. - I'm buying a frag rack so I can keep them closer to the light. Do I need to buy a doser or anything else (my build thread is in my link btw)?

Sfplaya1 · Apr 4, 2018

I don't see any picture attachments.

WWIII · Apr 4, 2018

How old is the tank setup? Do you monitor alkalinity?

ArowanaLover1902 · Apr 4, 2018

Tank is a just a month or so, but I moved it from a tank that was a year old. I don't monitor anything, I'll have to start now, I've just trusted on how the tank is looking for what I should do and its worked great so far (I am aware thats controversial). I never really wanted SPS, but I suppose this is a great way to get into it. The pictures didn't attach the first time, here they are now. I'll check my parameters tomorrow and post them, I'm worried about my phosphates though, my protein skimmer hasn't arrived yet, but it'll be here soon.

Krzydmnd · Apr 5, 2018

Pics are on the blurry side but I see maybe a stellata, a spongodes and maybe a birds nest and some acropora? Google those and see if any of them look similar.

I don't see a lot of blue in your lights. That could be a problem for sps. What kind of lights are you using?

You likely don't need to run out and get a doser setup but you will need to monitor parameters. At some point manually dosing something like 2 part will be enough to get started.

DesertReefT4r · Apr 5, 2018

For sps lots of flow is key second is light. Stability, SG 1.026, Ca 400, alk 8.0, mag 1380. Levels of po4 and no3 are a topic of much debate. I tey to stay around no3 5ppm no3 .08-.03. IWould move them off the sand and up high on the rock rihjt away. What lighting do you have?

ArowanaLover1902 · Apr 5, 2018

Krzydmnd said:
Pics are on the blurry side but I see maybe a stellata, a spongodes and maybe a birds nest and some acropora? Google those and see if any of them look similar.

I don't see a lot of blue in your lights. That could be a problem for sps. What kind of lights are you using?

You likely don't need to run out and get a doser setup but you will need to monitor parameters. At some point manually dosing something like 2 part will be enough to get started.

I don't know what lights, they came with the tank I bought, the previous owner described them as follows "some china knock-off that works just like the real thing." He said he grew all types of coral, lps, sps, and softies under it. I've been growing lps and softies, as well as a montipora (I forgot to mention him) under them. The lps and softies are growing great, the monti is good, but a little pale (I assume from the recent move). I can turn up my blue as well as move it closer to the water if needed, right now its about 8" above my water and growing corals great even on the bottom of my tank. I will turn up my blue though.

DesertReefT4r said:
For sps lots of flow is key second is light. Stability, SG 1.026, Ca 400, alk 8.0, mag 1380. Levels of po4 and no3 are a topic of much debate. I tey to stay around no3 5ppm no3 .08-.03. IWould move them off the sand and up high on the rock rihjt away. What lighting do you have?

I'll move them off sandbed asap, there isn't a lot of real estate right now though and I have corals that are more important to me that take up a lot of room (my frogspawn) up there. I'm ordering in a frag rack to place them on, that way they will have a place that is off the sandbed, in the flow, and near the lights. I may sell/trade them later, this is a test of wether or not I can maintain them I guess. They are really pretty.

WWIII · Apr 5, 2018

I hope some of them make it for you! SPS is difficult to keep under the most stable monitored conditions. They need stable parameters, decent light and decent flow. I would be surprised if most of them make it a week or so, but really hope they do for you! IMO alkalinity is the most important parameter to keep stable, somewhere between 7.5dkh to 9.5dkh usually provides the best chance for success. Following alkalinity, strong light and flow is also important. After that, calcium, then phosphate, then magnesium and nitrates. While they all are important, that's kind of the order if importance imo. Generally they all need to be within a certain range and stable to keep sps alive.

Worth a shot to monitor some of these parameters and try to keep them happy since they ended up at your doorstep! If you think you would want to trade or sell them I would do it asap. They can die very quickly. But if you want to give it a whirl, the parameters above are where to start! Good luck and let us know how it goes! I wish free sps showed up at my door! Lol

ArowanaLover1902 · Apr 5, 2018

They've extended little tentacles and are looking really pretty. The birdsnest especially

ArowanaLover1902 · Apr 5, 2018

I tried to trade them at LFS and was declined. I guess I'm keeping them. Here are the parameters:
Salinity - 4/5 - 1.0245
Calcium - 4/5 - 360
Phosphate - 4/5 - 0
Nitrate - 4/5 - 0
Alkalinity - 4/5 - 8

kz4q66 · Apr 5, 2018

Try to sale or trade for LPS corals or fish with other reef keepers in your area.

ArowanaLover1902 · Apr 5, 2018

I'd love to but I don't think there are many, I am posting an ad on the Trading Forum here. If anyone wants them I am in SC.

ArowanaLover1902 · Apr 6, 2018

I fed them a little phytoplankton and zooplankton mix. They seemed to like it.

DesertReefT4r · Apr 7, 2018

DesertReefT4r said:
For sps lots of flow is key second is light. Stability, SG 1.026, Ca 400, alk 8.0, mag 1380. Levels of po4 and no3 are a topic of much debate. I try to stay around no3 5ppm po4 .08-.03. I would move them off the sand and up high on the rock right away. What lighting do you have?

Wow sorry on my spelling. Edited.