My first SPS coral. Help please...

Cooper32803 · Jun 24, 2012

So I just went to my LFS and fell in love with a piece of SPS coral when I saw it. It is a pink tipped birds nest (with a yellow body). I asked them if I could keep it in my Biocube and they said yes as long as it was close to the top of the tank (which it is) so being the impulse buyer that I am, I bought it... My Biocube is running one 50/50 PC light and 2 Panorama Pro Blue LED strips. I keep the 50/50 on for 5 hours a day. Is this going to work out for me? I am still new to the hobby and would appreciate any input :smile:

Sahin · Jun 24, 2012

Yes, IMO if kept near the top that would be fine. Just make sure that the usual things like Alk, ca, NO3 and PO4 are taken care of as well as having decent water flow. You may need to run the pc lights maybe slightly longer, but see how the coral does over a week or so.

Read lots of build threads and read the reef keeping articles for basic info on sps care. You need to really read lots and very fast so that you understand the basics. This is a good forum so ask lots of questions on anything you don't understand. But do reads lots to get basic knowledge.

Good luck.

Degener8 · Jun 24, 2012

Short answer is yes it will work fine for you as long as your water parameters are good.
With the panorama pro modules you can likely put it alot lower in the tank. The LED's are pretty strong so having it right up top may bleach it. So watch for that.

Cooper32803 · Jun 24, 2012

Could that be the reason my meteor shower is a little bleached? I need to lower it in the tank because its getting too much light?? Also I have the birds nest in a place near my circulation pump and near the top of the tank so hopefully that would work well... I also did a reef test and my Calcium was a little low so I added Reef code A and B to bump it up I will retest tomorrow. Are there any better Calcium supplements? I really want this guy to thrive in my tank and be a centerpiece (I love the look of it so much) Thanks for the help!! :bounce:

Cooper32803 · Jun 24, 2012

Camera phone pic just to be sure that it is what they told me it is

WnYreefer · Jun 24, 2012

Looks great and it sure is! I like using ESV B-Ionic parts A & B for both alkalinity and calcium.

ritter6788 · Jun 24, 2012

Looks like a Ponape Birdsnest. Good luck with it. Sps is addicting!

Cooper32803 · Jun 25, 2012

Just did some research on the ponape and that is what it looks like... It is easily my favorite coral piece in there so I can see how sps might get addicting... But unfortunately I will have to wait to get my big tank for any of that as my biocube is pretty stocked in coral as it is lol...

And is the two part dosing for calcium and alk best?

Rockadile · Jun 25, 2012

yes but only if you need it. For example, I have a 90gal mixed reef and water changes are enough to keep my params in check. If I was to dose cal and alk as well I very well could over dose and kill everything.

Cooper32803 · Jun 25, 2012

Well I did test yesterday and my calcium was a little low... Around 300 or so... So I do I just add the reef code a instead of both a and b since I only needed to raise calcium?

Rockadile · Jun 25, 2012

Thats right only dose what you need.

Cooper32803 · Jun 25, 2012

Ok great... Thanks for the help!! I am going to do a test again today and see how my calcium is and then if I need to dose again I will... I want this guy nice and big when I get my next tank so I can frag him for that tank as well

speaking of which, how easy is it to frag birds nest? Just take shears and cut some off and glue it to a plug or rubble rock or something??

Rockadile · Jun 25, 2012

yup nothing special to do just break off a piece and glue it to something.

Cooper32803 · Jun 25, 2012

Awesome.. Thanks for the information! Now I can't wait to get a bigger tank! Hopefully one shows up on craigslist soon

3Twinklets · Jun 25, 2012

Do you have good water flow around it? Also feed it!! I use Roggers . Very Pretty piece

Cooper32803 · Jun 25, 2012

Yes it is in the direct flow of my powerhead. I will be looking for some complete reef frozen foods when I go to one of the stores I frequent next. I have zooplankton for now which I was planning on feeding later on today after doing a calcium test... any tips on spot feeding? I know I have to turn water flow off, but what else should I do?

3Twinklets · Jun 26, 2012

I only spot feed my anemones. I do feed my corals just after my lights go down to very dim blue. I dont turn the water flow off. If you do want to spot feed though, a turkey baster works just fine.