My First SPS Coral

Braves Fan · Oct 28, 2009

I bought my first SPS coral today and I forgot what it was called, I think a Purple Monster, naw just kidding. I will ask my LFS tommrow what it was called, it is a ORA coral though and is about an inch or so long and I will try and get a pic tomorrow to post. It does have green polyps but it isn't a birds nest. Now about my lights. I have my MH lights come on twice a day, T5s come on before, inbetween and after the MH come on. The mh are on for three hours, then off for three hours then back on for three hours, I did this to help keep the heat down in the tank. Is this good enough are do I need to change this up??

H@rry · Oct 29, 2009

I would think that turning the MHs on and off twice a day would have a detrimental effect on your ballasts/bulbs. If you're having a heat issue I'd try a cooling fan over the bulbs or a fan over the sump to evaporate more water.

Sikryd · Oct 29, 2009

Split lighting really stunts the growth of SPS, or any coral for that matter. I would try and see if you can at least get a 5-6 hr light period without heating issues. ie. resolved some other way.

Braves Fan · Oct 29, 2009

I will change the timer tonight after work, thanks for the advice.

bige11 · Oct 29, 2009

Lighting is so complicated.......

Braves Fan · Oct 29, 2009

I went bqack to the LFS today to get a few things I forgot yesterday and I bought another coral. The first one is a Bird of Paradise and the second one (the one I bought today) is a Birds nest of some sort.

Braves Fan · Oct 29, 2009

I also got the Magnesium test kit today but havent used it yet.

ahayes13 · Oct 29, 2009

first off CONGRATS! i cant get enough sps. i am totally addicted

yes def. you should only have one cycle of halides. so have them on for a complete one cycle. if you need to to help with heat add some additional fans. +1 splitiing the lighting cycle will stunt the growth of your corals.