I need help keeping SPS! Im stumped!

[11f150]

Even though there’s been some arguing on this thread there’s some good things to consider what you should change or try.

 

[homer1475]

Facebook has way more knowledge then R2R anyways, Said no one ever! Seriously that place is so full of people who are full of themselves and don't even own a tank, its ridiculous. But will surely give you advice you want to hear, whether its good or bad.

And your right @Charlie's Frags (still have no idea why this tag doesn't work properly?) is in no way the only way to run a reef tank, but if you want nice colorful SPS, him along with a few others down here in this section know what they are talking about.

You asked about SPS, you got advice about SPS. It's up to you to decide whats best for your tank, and to do your own leg work on what works, and how to implement it.

 

[Discordian]

Even though there’s been some arguing on this thread there’s some good things to consider what you should change or try.

Yeah... I will try them, it's just reef 2 reef has too many rude members, the interface is garbage, and I know the people in the Facebook group. Everything I have engaged on this website I've regretted it.

 

[MaxTremors]

Yeah... I will try them, it's just reef 2 reef has too many rude members, the interface is garbage, and I know the people in the Facebook group. Everything I have engaged on this website I've regretted it.

I wouldn’t base your opinion of this place off of one or two people’s opinions. There are a lot of nice, and knowledgeable people here, no one’s asking you leave.

 

[Discordian]

I wouldn’t base your opinion of this place off of one or two people’s opinions. There are a lot of nice, and knowledgeable people here, no one’s asking you leave.

I've been on this site for over a year, and I have never really enjoyed engaging. Which is very different from my experience on reddit or my local Facebook group. So good bye.

 

[11f150]

Facebook has way more knowledge then R2R anyways, Said no one ever! Seriously that place is so full of people who are full of themselves and don't even own a tank, its ridiculous. But will surely give you advice you want to hear, whether its good or bad.

And your right @Charlie's Frags (still have no idea why this tag doesn't work properly?) is in no way the only way to run a reef tank, but if you want nice colorful SPS, him along with a few others down here in this section know what they are talking about.

You asked about SPS, you got advice about SPS. It's up to you to decide whats best for your tank, and to do your own leg work on what works, and how to implement it.

Nailed it

 

[Discordian]

Nailed it

Wow... you obviously don't reef where I do. The active folks on my facebook group have farms, or lfs, or epic epic tanks. And you know what, I've met them face to face, and there is a community of people to keep the jerks in check.

 

[11f150]

Which makes me wonder why you would look elsewhere for advice if you have a great Facebook community for information?

 

[Discordian]

Which makes me wonder why you would look elsewhere for advice if you have a great Facebook community for information?

That's exactly why I'm stopping. I don't know why I asked here either.

 

[spsick]

In addition to what has been said here, I would agree to bring alk down slowly over a week or bring phosphate up. I’ve had great experience for years with alk in the the 7s when phosphate is lower. Borrow a par meter when you can but as long as you are between 150-400 acros aren’t dying.

You didn’t mention anything about flow in the tank but I assume you have some powerheads?

What is your RODI situation? Filter age?

And really I would just hold tight and wait for the ICP to come back before doing anything drastic.

 

[Rollman]

When anyone says FB is the answer that is scary, meanwhile, FB groups are the Walmart of reefing and life in general. if you have high nutrients and corals look bad, lower them, if you have lower nutrients and they look bad raise them. Either way slowly, when folks begin to add chemicals its void of patience, the backbone of reefing. Take this place for what its worth, find some live reef friends

 

[Discordian]

When anyone says FB is the answer that is scary, meanwhile, FB groups are the Walmart of reefing and life in general. if you have high nutrients and corals look bad, lower them, if you have lower nutrients and they look bad raise them. Either way slowly, when folks begin to add chemicals its void of patience, the backbone of reefing.

Again you obviously aren't in my area... and yet another jerk talking down to folks.

 

[Rollman]

Im not talking down just helping, drinking coffee, and giggling that you are obsessed on this stupid thread. You are stumped cause your ask about 30 opinions. Find a tank you like and do that, don‘t belittle successful reefers. I’d be happy to help you.

 

[MaxTremors]

I've been on this site for over a year, and I have never really enjoyed engaging. Which is very different from my experience on reddit or my local Facebook group. So good bye.

My experience with FB is the exact opposite, it’s rife with misinformation, I think people are held to account for the information they provide here much more than on FB. Maybe your local group is some kind of anomaly, but I doubt it. A couple people here were a little curt with you, but you’ve been kind of unpleasant, too. It seems like you started this thread being defensive and weren’t really looking for differing opinions. I think the best advice I could give you (and this applies to other people in this thread, and probably even to myself), is to try and remove your ego from the equation. I’ve been keeping reef tanks for over 20 years, and to grow in this hobby you have to be open to new ideas and be willing to admit when you haven’t been doing something right or in the most beneficial way possible. No one here talked to you in a way that would justify leaving the community, if you just don’t like the forum, fair enough, but it just seems childish and petty to leave the forum because someone was a little short with you. This is objectively the best place on the internet for reefing information/advice, seems foolish to just write off such a valuable resource.

 

[Tamberav]

0.01 PO4 could be 0. I would personally raise it a bit to something safer... 0.08 should be a good place to start. I like my alk around 8, SPS more forgiving.

 

[Perry]

#1
Any forum, including this one, take any and all advice as just that. Take time to read, just read about what almost all sps reefers with success chant... Mostly, they will tell you the following, not in any specific order.
1. Lighting- Make sure it has been proven to grow sps, and make sure there are plenty of schedules, mounting heights, tank depths, par maps, etc to generally follow.
2. Flow- plenty of alternating or random currents, where polyps can be seen waving.
3. Big 3- stability Alk-Ca-Mg relationship, and in balance with one another.
4. Temp stability- Keeping the swings down by using temp monitor with controller advised, fans, chillers, heaters used accordingly.
5. Nutrient stability- regardless of levels, keeping them in relation to alkalinity is more important. Higher alk, higher nutrients, and vice-versa. Not a rule, but more fish, more feed, powerful export. Wherever those levels fall, keeping them there, more important. Using a skimmer, algae, or water changes are best way to match additions with equal removal.

Now, should you satsify all the above, and see signs of base encrusting and tip growth, then you are doing good. Next, tweak the lighting and nutrients, if you go for a white light appearance, then lower tested nutrients and parameters to NSW levels, but SLOWLY. And, if you go towards more blue appearance, maybe SLOWLY raise nutrients, as algae not as stimulated by blue light, thus higher nutrients and then you can raise alk. Either way, do so as naturally as possible, try to avoid ANY chemicals or additives, so bigger water changes, heavier skimming, or use of algae control with longer photo period would be ways to reduce nutrients. Depending on your environment, I personally use passive carbon, but not too much. Otherwise, avoid po4 reducers like gfo, lanthanum chloride, as well as ANY forms of carbon source. Add sulfur denitrators to that list. If you need to raise nutrients, add fish!!! Then feed them fish! Now, let's say things are now a year in, frags becoming colonies, and you are CONNECTED to your tank. You totally understand what makes it tick, you are almost to point of fragging....
Now maybe you start applying systems like AF, Zeovit, Ultralith, FM, TM, or any other color system, BUT.....SLOWLY! 1 product at a time. Make sure you read about those systems, I was a representative for one of those companies, you would be surprised at how many reefers arbitrarily add things to their tanks without researching it. I have guided at least a hundred users of that product, 75% of them weren't aware of those 5 basic recommendations above and didn't read product guide
We are here for you OP, we want you to be successful!

 

[Pod_01]

Yes. Tons of reefers with sps tanks carbon dose. I did try stopping but it was disruptive to my tank and started back up. I don't think you can argue with the success many reefers have had with carbon dosing.

If your Phosphate is at 0.01 and you want to carbon dose, you should use PlusNP (see attached picture). Start at 1/4 recommended dose, increase after 2 weeks.
European carbon dosing is different vs. North America carbon dosing. NA is intended to control nutrients and tends to use vodka, vinegar or sugar that targets any bacteria. European style is to use long polymer chain that targets specific bacteria. Also the intend is to feed good bacteria that later becomes food for corals. But you need coral mass.
I would try to get the phos up to 0.06-0.1 range slowly (over a month). If that improves your corals, you can play with other adjustments. Good luck and happy reefing.