help with sps

[cmmatxh]

am i killing my digi frags? no PE and they are loosing color.
my tank has been set up since end of december 2020
salinity:35ppm
alk 10.7
phosphate 0.02
nitrate 1
calcium 490
i have (2) nero 3’s running at random flow 48% max and (1) prime hd running zaxby preset schedule

3 montipora digitata frags are looking rough along with a green birdsnest, but i have a oregon blue tort that is doing fine and the rest of my corals (4 torches) are thriving.

what could help my sps?

 

[WIReefer]

I would suggest on lowering your Alk if you want to keep your PO4 low. Also tank might be a little young for sps.

 

[cmmatxh]

how can i lower it safely on a 20 gallon tank? my PO4 are very stable they like to be at 0.02 they rarely fluctuate

 

[vabben]

Have you tested PAR in these locations? SPS love light.

 

[WIReefer]

how can i lower it safely on a 20 gallon tank? my PO4 are very stable they like to be at 0.02 they rarely fluctuate

Do you dose? Or is your salt just mix to that level?

 

[cmmatxh]

Have you tested PAR in these locations? SPS love light.

no lol, i was thinking the lights were the problem so yesterday i switched my light settings to this. if i start seeing bleaching i’ll turn it down but my torches look better this afternoon. hopefully it’s the par that was hurting them. i’m also going to see how i can lower my alk

 

[cmmatxh]

Do you dose? Or is your salt just mix to that level?

salt mixed to that level...fritz.
i got a bucket of TM and i am currently mixing 2 gallons to make a water change.
i dont dose yet bc my corals don’t consume that much dkh

 

[WIReefer]

salt mixed to that level...fritz.
i got a bucket of TM and i am currently mixing 2 gallons to make a water change.
i dont dose yet bc my corals don’t consume that much dkh

I would try to get it down to the 7-7.5 range especially if your PO4 is dialed in. Just start by making small water changes and it will lower and you should be looking much better.

 

[Dkmoo]

1 prime for a 20g is going to be challange to keep SPS and mixed reef.

1) its too shallow to have the 250+ par minimum for SPS while also have enough areas of low light for the LPS,

2) 1 prime running Saxby is not going to be enough par unless you purposely put it so close to the water (4 to 5 inches) to create that high par spotlight. For example, I'm using 3 primes on my 29g at 8 inches above and basically point 2 of the 3 to the "sps half" of the tank, and im barely able to keep the middle-upper zones of that half to 300par+

Get a par meter and it'll take all the guesswork out of "if yiu have enough or too much". ImO really worth it if you plan to keep more light sensitive corals like SPS

EdIT- i also have a 8inch reefbrite pro. Without that the primes can't get past 300PAR in that zone I mentioned, running a modified Saxby setting with even more white than he does

 

[vabben]

May help to map your tanks PAR levels, so you know if your light can support SPS with your aquascape. A lot of local reef clubs have PAR meters that you can borrow as long as your a member. I’d suggest looking into that. Also as stated above by @WIReefer your tank may be to young for SPS.