Prepping to start SPS

[shorty2545]

I’ve been getting ready to prep my tank for SPS. My system is about 13 years old. Started out with a 55 FOWLER using Fluval HOB filters. Went to a 75 with 20 gal sump. Now I have a 135 with 40 gal sump. I have a refugium with a home made algae scrubber and skimmer rated for 150 gal. About 200 lbs of live rock. I started testing and dosing last week to get the water parameters set for higher end corals. I’m using API testing kits and a refractometer for testing. I know API isn’t that accurate, but it’s what I can afford. I’m dosing manually with reef fusion parts 1 and 2 as well as Kent essential elements

Stocking:

Testing:

Lighting is Odyssea T-5 72” light supplemented with Chinese black box dimmable led. I just ordered a 72” Odyssea metal halide with T-5s led moonlight built in.

I know I’m going to need to re-home the trigger. Other than that, what else do I need to do. Am I on the right track? I just want to do this right before I take the leap.

 

[Labridaedicted]

Tank looks mature and you're parameters look fine to get your feet wet with sps. One thing that concerns me is the alk level changing so much. Is that a normal thing for your tank? Alk swings are one of the biggest problems in sps tanks.

Also, I know they're expensive, but you're really going to want to invest in some better test kits for atleast calcium and alk. API won't be sensitive enough in the long term if you decide to go heavy with sps and try some more sensitive varieties.

 

[hybridazn]

Your nitrates are too high for sps, maintain alk at 9 like it is but get the nitrates down to around 1. Also I would suggest getting the red sea pro nitrate kit, it tends to be easier to use and is a bit more accurate.

Also watch the odessya fixtures, they use cheap ballasts that will severely underdrive the bulbs which will shorten their life significantly. If you can at least upgrade tye ballasts with thay fixture you just ordered.

 

[shorty2545]

Tank looks mature and you're parameters look fine to get your feet wet with sps. One thing that concerns me is the alk level changing so much. Is that a normal thing for your tank? Alk swings are one of the biggest problems in sps tanks.

Also, I know they're expensive, but you're really going to want to invest in some better test kits for atleast calcium and alk. API won't be sensitive enough in the long term if you decide to go heavy with sps and try some more sensitive varieties.

Just start testing the alk. Trying to establish a baseline for dosing. I also know the test kit need to be more accurate plan on ordering that next along wig mag kit

 

[shorty2545]

Your nitrates are too high for sps, maintain alk at 9 like it is but get the nitrates down to around 1. Also I would suggest getting the red sea pro nitrate kit, it tends to be easier to use and is a bit more accurate.

Also watch the odessya fixtures, they use cheap ballasts that will severely underdrive the bulbs which will shorten their life significantly. If you can at least upgrade tye ballasts with thay fixture you just ordered.

I’m getting ready to invest in a better test kit. 5 is as low as the API reads and it’s a very light 5. What kits would you suggest?

I read some reviews on the Odyssea lights Supposedly the newer ones upgraded the ballast. I’ll keep an eye on them and upgrade the ballast if I need to

 

[ZachR32]

You're gunna need a more accurate Phosphate test kit as well, less than .25 isn't very meaningful

 

[Finhead]

I agree with @ZachR32 you will want to get a Hanna Phosphorus cheker to get a accurate reading. Anything under 0.09 is fine for SPS.
Nitrates are fine at 5 or less, I dose up to 4 to get better coloring.

 

[OnPointCorals Verified Sponsor]

Why is everyone mentioning nitrates which at 5 or less are totally fine and not mentioning the Phosphate of .25.

You need better test kits. Good luck with sps. You’re going to get hooked.

 

[jda]

5 or 10 is going to be Ok for some starter SPS. Montis, Birdsnest, Poci and Stylophora can do quite well under these.

I would shocked if you had any nitrate at all in a tank that established with sand and rock.

It would be ideal if you can get the P below .1 for optimum growth.

Whatever anybody says, take measure of the coralline growth. I see that you have some, but if it is mostly legacy and not really spread in a while (new spots), then you might struggle. If you are scraping new coralline off of the glass every few months, then you should be OK. Coralline is a great litmus for SPS success.

 

[MontiFanatic402]

I would suggest getting on eBay and look for Salifert test kits, their way better than API, and much more accurate. And not all that expensive!! That's what I did til I got lazy and got a Hanna checker for Alk. Having a mature tank with mature/well established liverock is gonna help you out a lot! Get your Alk under control, and you'll be golden! Good luck!!!!

 

[shorty2545]

Thanks for all the support I don’t know exactly what the po4 is because I’m using API tests right now. All I know is that it’s reading below .25. Same with no4. All I can tell is below 5. I’m ordering salifert tests tonight. I have plenty of new coralline growth. It’s covering everything. Would actually like it to slow some. I’m really excited about this. It will bring some real pop to my tank. I’ll keep you all posted.

 

[jda]

You are most likely set if you are popping coralline everywhere. Start with some easier stuff and be patient... you should be fine.

 

[deedubz]

Your nitrates are too high for sps, maintain alk at 9 like it is but get the nitrates down to around 1. Also I would suggest getting the red sea pro nitrate kit, it tends to be easier to use and is a bit more accurate.

Also watch the odessya fixtures, they use cheap ballasts that will severely underdrive the bulbs which will shorten their life significantly. If you can at least upgrade tye ballasts with thay fixture you just ordered.

+1 to the Odyssea fixture point.

When I wanted to upgrade to mh/t5 last spring I researched their fixtures. I read that in the past there were some reports/rumors of catching fire but had since been improved upon and that was no longer a common occurrence. Within 2 months(probably closer to 5-6 weeks) mine started smoking. I happened to come home to smoke dumping out of it. I'm not sure if it was a refurbished unit, a leftover older model, or if it was a new model with the same problems, but it scared me. I unplugged it and ordered a Hamilton unit and have never had problems with it. I don't mean to scare you, but that's my personal experience with the Odyssea. Mine was a 48" fixture with their electronic ballasts.

 

[mitch91175]

All I can say is that is you do not have the money to get good test kits, do not start with SPS. You will need to monitor your parameters for accuracy and killing a bunch of SPS will cost you more in the long haul. I personally use the Hanna ALK/CAL testers and love them. Also have the Milwaukee Phosphate and Ammonia testers. As you can tell, I like digital testers. Also use Salifert kits just as a back.

You have been in the hobby long enough to know how much you can spend and spend and spend when looking at cost versus value versus longevity versus peace of mind.

 

[shorty2545]

All I can say is that is you do not have the money to get good test kits, do not start with SPS. You will need to monitor your parameters for accuracy and killing a bunch of SPS will cost you more in the long haul. I personally use the Hanna ALK/CAL testers and love them. Also have the Milwaukee Phosphate and Ammonia testers. As you can tell, I like digital testers. Also use Salifert kits just as a back.

You have been in the hobby long enough to know how much you can spend and spend and spend when looking at cost versus value versus longevity versus peace of mind.

Guess I could have worded it better. I didn’t have the money before to spend it the kits especially just keeping fish and softies. I just ordered the salifert cal, mag, alk, phos, no3 and ph tests. That’s part of the reason I waited to start SOS. I want to do it right

 

[mitch91175]

Guess I could have worded it better. I didn’t have the money before to spend it the kits especially just keeping fish and softies. I just ordered the salifert cal, mag, alk, phos, no3 and ph tests. That’s part of the reason I waited to start SOS. I want to do it right

That's great! You get any frags yet?

 

[shorty2545]

No SPS yet. Want to wait for my light and tests so I can get everything dialed in. I did pick up a favia/acan(not completely convinced which it is) and a galaxia