Need some advice from successful long term acropora keepers

[HB AL]

My current tank a 92gal Cad Lights has been running for almost 2 years, have recently been changing it to an acropora and branching montipora system only. I have great succes growing Acro's and Montis, well everything for that matter but was wondering what if anything in my routine i should change for an acro, branching monti tank. I currently dose everything manually, i have many fish which get some Hikari marine A and seaweed extreme pellets along with 8 cubes of frozen food daily. I have a Vertex skimmer in my sump along with a bag of carbon and a bag of phosgaurd. Twice a week i dose some reef energy A and B. 2 or 3 times a week i add some drops of Kent marine phytoplex and chromaplex. Thats about all that goes in the tank. I change 20 gallons of water every couple months i use Red sea pro salt.
Im sure ive missed some questions people might have. Looking to find out if i could do anything better for an Acro and branching Monti tank only. Thanks for any advice

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Look into automatic dosing of cal alkalinity and magnesium to maintain those levels.

 

[HB AL]

Pic of tank from a week ago

 

[HB AL]

Look into automatic dosing of cal alkalinity and magnesium to maintain those levels.

Ya, i was already leaning towards that direction since the amounts i dose now are so much more than just a year ago. Any brands that are reliable? Not looking to break the bank by the way.

 

[rob safron]

Seems like an awfully large amount of nutrients going in there but if phosphate and nitrate are low I'm sure your animals like it. I'll let others chime in but what are your parameters.

 

[rob safron]

I use the BRS dosers. Decent price but there are much better ones for higher price.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Ya, i was already leaning towards that direction since the amounts i dose now are so much more than just a year ago. Any brands that are reliable? Not looking to break the bank by the way.

I've been using the jebao doses for over a year with no complaints.
I'd suggest starting out with the ESV cal alk or whatever you're using now. And maybe keep doing the research on products that may Ben less expensive. BRS has quite a large selection and is a good place to idea shop and then research.
Def look into the reef dosing calculator to help you with amounts.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

That is a lot of food. How are you're nutint levels?

 

[HB AL]

Seems like an awfully large amount of nutrients going in there but if phosphate and nitrate are low I'm sure your animals like it. I'll let others chime in but what are your parameters.

I check nitrates every 2 weeks or so and last time it was at nearly 0, phosphates i check maybe once every few months and its always nearly zero. I have zero algae that grows and what little might grow the tangs consume, i clean the glass from a slight film around every 5 days. There is a little cyano that pops up here and there but its very minimal, and turkey blast it away or just let it go away on its own. I dont have what some would consider high end Acro's but reef a palooza is coming in october about 15 minutes away so im thinking of splurging some

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I check nitrates every 2 weeks or so and last time it was at nearly 0, phosphates i check maybe once every few months and its always nearly zero. I have zero algae that grows and what little might grow the tangs consume, i clean the glass from a slight film around every 5 days. There is a little cyano that pops up here and there but its very minimal, and turkey blast it away or just let it go away on its own. I dont have what some would consider high end Acro's but reef a palooza is coming in october about 15 minutes away so im thinking of splurging some

Good to hear!

Yup. I have a tank full of them too. I think it's a good idea to get some practice first. Now I know I don't have to worry much about killing a splurge!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I check nitrates every 2 weeks or so and last time it was at nearly 0, phosphates i check maybe once every few months and its always nearly zero. I have zero algae that grows and what little might grow the tangs consume, i clean the glass from a slight film around every 5 days. There is a little cyano that pops up here and there but its very minimal, and turkey blast it away or just let it go away on its own. I dont have what some would consider high end Acro's but reef a palooza is coming in october about 15 minutes away so im thinking of splurging some

Is it the one in CA? I'm going too!!

 

[rob safron]

Pictures don't usually do justice but tank looks good. What filtration do you use other than skimmer and occasional water changes.

 

[rob safron]

Like what was mentioned, maybe setup auto dosers to maintain stability and since you don't do heavy water changes, use a two part that has micro elements in it. I use Aquaforest but there are others that work fine.

 

[HB AL]

Is it the one in CA? I'm going too!!

Ya, Anaheim convention center this year.

 

[HB AL]

Pictures don't usually do justice but tank looks good. What filtration do you use other than skimmer and occasional water changes.

That's about it, center of sump is full of live rock and if you can tell there's a ton of rock in the main display.

 

[aabjones888]

If u do dosers, have them turn on different times throughout the day so your not dosing each one all at once. Have them turn on small amounts throughout the day.

 

[Amoo]

Ok I spy a tomato, but can't tell from the lighting what the other clown is?

Also, don't forget you can always Kalk your ATO to reduce any of the dosing you have to do be it manual or with a doser. Your consuptions is currently probably well past what Kalk could keep up with, but it might help cut some costs on whatever you do end up dosing.

 

[rob safron]

Or you can be like the rest of us and spend thousands on cool equipment and reef controllers. Kids dont really need college do they?

 

[HB AL]

Ok I spy a tomato, but can't tell from the lighting what the other clown is?

Also, don't forget you can always Kalk your ATO to reduce any of the dosing you have to do be it manual or with a doser. Your consuptions is currently probably well past what Kalk could keep up with, but it might help cut some costs on whatever you do end up dosing.

Gold stripe Maroon, he likes hanging down there by the hammer coral and the duncan colony. Theres 13 more fish in there.

 

[rob safron]

I'm still amazed with the amount of fish and food going in that your live rock is handeling the nutrients. If I were to give you more advise, you should monitor your major element at least once per week (alk, ca and mg). And nitrate and phospates at least once per week. When things go bad they usually do it fast and don't want to wait a month to find out. Also as I mentioned, with only every other month water change I would start adding balanced micro elements. A water test through triton is $50 and will tell you how your water is doing. My corals changed quite a bit when I started a 2 part with micro elements included. I also only do a water change once a month but I also dose vinegar to keep an ULNS.