WIReefer
608 MOD SQUAD
View BadgesExcellence Award
Reef Tank 365
Article Contributor
Hospitality Award
Wisco Reefers
Midwest Reefer
My Tank Thread
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
This is true. I have a 3 year old 100 gallon mixed reef and have Acropora doing well. First, if you can buy a clipping of a mother colony it’s better than frags. I am setting up an IM30 all SPS in my upstairs office. I did not buy dry limestone rock. I do not want to wait a year or two to add SPS. I was lucky enough to dig in the bottom tanks of my LFS and find small pieces of real wet rock. Second, your lights need a boost. I am installing 2 hydra 26HDs on a 36 x 15 tank. And if that doesn’t work I will have to go the T5 route. Third, you need nutrients in the tank. Look up the Redfield Ratio. Nitrates should be 16 x your phosphates. Fourth, don’t touch those SPS corals after you place them in the tank. Use a good quality 2 part - I use ESV bionic. Corals need more than just Calcium and Alkalinity. My Acropora colony placed sideways is spreading faster than my others straight up. Something else to consider as you get more experienced. Good luck. SPS are difficult.I think this is your problem, I don't think it is your light, nutrients, or anything else. When I upgraded from my nuvo 20 to my red sea 350, I used like 90% dead rock and had cycled the system for 4 months before I transferred my sps. I ended up losing like $10k worth of sps. My tank is now about 2 years old and I do water changes weekly, haven't lost sps since ( I added sps like 4months ago) . There is something about dead rock that sps hate. You'll just have to wait and try again in a few months

