Hi everyone, I have a 100 gallon rimless tank with 30 gallon sump. It has just finished cycling after about 25 days. I have two chromis in there and they're doing fine. I have GHA bloom but I'm sure it'll clear up soon. I am going to do an sps tank with some lps and zoas. I know I will need to dose (but not quite yet) I was wondering the best products/ methods for keeping a healthy looking tank. Should i dose kalk or calcium? two part method or what? I may end up getting a reactor or dosers but i can handle doing it manually for now. I have a tunze ATO. Also, when should i start dosing? My calcium is 350-380 alk is 9. I have 2 ai sol blues. Please let me know!
How to grow sps/lps by dosing manually
- Thread starter Flameangel08
- Start date
- Tagged users None
You will need to start dosing once you see that your tank is utilizing the elements to such a degree that Ca, Alk and Magnesium fall below the recommended values. Typically this will happen once you see good growth of coralline algae, acquire multiple clams or collect a significant amount of stony corals (LPS and SPS).
For a 100 gallon tank you might want to look into BRS recipe. I suggest that you also get the dosing pumps once you reached the point where you actually need to dose.
I would also look into ESV dosing.
For a 100 gallon tank you might want to look into BRS recipe. I suggest that you also get the dosing pumps once you reached the point where you actually need to dose.
I would also look into ESV dosing.
Okay, I have some frags in my previous tank. I will put those in and see. But since my calcium is low, will I see any growth at all? In my frag tank my calcium is also low and I havent seen any growth
PaulKreider
Valuable Member
Water changes will do you fine until you aquire a large amount of corals, especially in a 100gal.
the biggest problem you are going to have is sps have totally different requirements than lps and softies. most sps require prestine water to be happy and thrive lps and softies need some nitrates and phosphates in the water to thrive and be happy.
sps and lps wont both be happy in the same tank!!
sps and lps wont both be happy in the same tank!!
what are your magnesium levels? corals need 2 parts mag for every part calcium of it cant use it
AquamanE
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Feb 19, 2010
- Messages
- 895
- Reaction score
- 194
- Location
- Miami
- What state or country do you live in
- Florida
Not so, IMHO. Keeping SPS and LPS together is very doable. I currenly do it, and have for many years
Yes SPS require pristine water conditions, but that does not deter LPS.
mcarroll
10K Club member
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2012
- Messages
- 13,802
- Reaction score
- 7,989
- Location
- Virginia
- What state or country do you live in
- Virginia
They're all from the same ocean after all. 
Now SPS and LPS from different depths or light acclimation levels might be a problem together, but that shouldn't be unmanageable either.
-Matt
Sent Via the R2R Forum APP
Now SPS and LPS from different depths or light acclimation levels might be a problem together, but that shouldn't be unmanageable either.
-Matt
Sent Via the R2R Forum APP
never said it couldnt be done, I have sps in my lps reef. but they are no where near as happy as the lps! montipora,birdsnest are sps that tolerates less than perfect water and do better with "dirty" water but put an acro in and its dead
just saying it is an issue and requires allot more than keeping parameters in check. spot feeding the lps, flow modification.....
sps come from the top of the water column lps come from the bottom that right there tells you they need totally different care. sps like high random flow lps like little flow...... I could keep going on and on but I think you get the point
just saying it is an issue and requires allot more than keeping parameters in check. spot feeding the lps, flow modification.....
sps come from the top of the water column lps come from the bottom that right there tells you they need totally different care. sps like high random flow lps like little flow...... I could keep going on and on but I think you get the point
PaulKreider
Valuable Member
I have acros, montis, millies, birdsnests, encrusting montis ect..... in the same tank as chalices brains, euyphillia, acans, zoas, palys.... Just find the right placement and their fine, I have no problem with "pristine water" and sps, I think its a little over rated how hard it is to keep sps. Basically just high light and good flow and your fine.
mcarroll
10K Club member
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2012
- Messages
- 13,802
- Reaction score
- 7,989
- Location
- Virginia
- What state or country do you live in
- Virginia
First, I think you are correct - the perfect environment to grow SPS should be pretty ideal for almost any coral we're likely to see for sale.
Second, once you get this perfect environment going (which shouldn't be too mysterious with some time and the right reading) it really is easy to grow just about any coral. But, give yourself some credit for your involvement in acheiving this environment. Some folks make it incedibly complicated for themselves and others just never seem to get it right.
-Matt
mcarroll
10K Club member
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2012
- Messages
- 13,802
- Reaction score
- 7,989
- Location
- Virginia
- What state or country do you live in
- Virginia
I would say that's a lot less true of the corals we are likely to find for sale than it's ever been. Lots of deep water collecting of SPS these days.
On top of that, there are tons of shallow-water LPS....just not so much is the highest-turbulence zones. There are many LPS thriving in very shallow water in more protected areas such as lagoons or the land-facing side of the reef. How many shallow vs how many deep LPS are collected is a good question. Without the benefit of looking anything up, I know people buy a ton of Euphyllia and I'd bet almost all of those are from shallower water.
-Matt
PaulKreider
Valuable Member
+1 with a lot of reading and collecting knowledge it makes things a lot easier, Its always best to do as much research as possible BEFORE buying any coral fish or invert. Its a bummer to go home with a new coral that you have no clue how to care for and find out its either out of your league or dosnt fit your system capabilities. For instance knowing what RTN is before hand can save you a whole lot of money in acros... rather than rushing for an answer to whats happening while your colony is dieing. Research, research, ask friends, research more, ask multiple lfs (never listen to just one person), and forums like R2R are GREAT for finding everything out, just browse the sections when your bored or in your time off(not just the eye candy ones) Youl find a sweet spot with your tank and what works best for you, it just takes time.
