SPS dominant recommendations please

[JOKER]

Ok so I have started an SPS dominant shallow reef. Tank dimensions 84" x 24" x 16" deep. Lighting Hamilton Cebu sun MH T5 combo. Filtration 100# at least pukani, and some shelf rock, and 3 marine pure 8" x 8" x 4" blocks in sump. RO ELITE 220 INT skimmer, 12" deep sand bed in sump, and I run a filter sock on the line into skimmer section. the drain feeding deep sand bed is unfiltered. ALK is right at 8DKH, calcium 400, magnesium 1250. Acros seem to be coloring up good and growing, but I want to be sure I am doing things right. What would you recommend for my tank? Thanks. I will add photos soon.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

If the acros are already doing well, then things should be fine so you can just keep doing what you're already doing. Is there something about your tank in particular that worries you?

 

[JOKER]

Phosphate .02 with hanna, nitrate 8-10.

 

[JOKER]

If the acros are already doing well, then things should be fine so you can just keep doing what you're already doing. Is there something about your tank in particular that worries you?

No worries as of now, just my first SPS dominant tank. I just want to be sure to do things right. I forgot to add that I have an AWC system set up as well which changes 2 gallons a day, and I can change up to 50 gallons a day. I added SPS for my first coral at 4 months, and they are doing well. I now have over 40 frags, and they all seem happy. Should I let my ALK come down to 7DKH? Some recommend 7, and others run it higher. Thanks

 

[CoralWealth]

I would say the majority run between 7-8 and the most important thing is just keep it stable.

It seems like you have everything covered. What do you have for flow, that is one of the most important factors for SPS too. What about your fish list? What do you do for maintaining alk and calc?

 

[JOKER]

PH runs 7.8- 8.1, and I keep temp between 77-78°.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

No worries as of now, just my first SPS dominant tank. I just want to be sure to do things right. I forgot to add that I have an AWC system set up as well which changes 2 gallons a day, and I can change up to 50 gallons a day. I added SPS for my first coral at 4 months, and they are doing well. I now have over 40 frags, and they all seem happy. Should I let my ALK come down to 7DKH? Some recommend 7, and others run it higher. Thanks

Mine runs 8-9 honestly, and my corals are doing great, especially my acroporas and montiporas. The only issue I have had lately was a nutrient spike but that's less likely to happen in your larger system. The key thing about alkalinity IME is stability, you don't want it to jump around too much too often. The only other thing I think some folks would have something to say about is your nitrates being over 5 ppm, but they will steadily come down and stabilize as the tank ages further and aren't too big of an issue unless you start to have algae problems. Do you have any pictures to share?

 

[JOKER]

Flow for right now is a gyre 250, and the return pump. Return pump is jebao 12000 running on 2. the gyre is running tidal cycle which is randon. I plan to add another powerhead on the return end as coral grow. I had 2 gyre 250, but the fish really struggled to swim with the open aquascape I have. this is a peninsula tank. Right now I am manually dosing 2 part, but plan to go with a dastaco crx in the future. The tank is only using 4 ml a day right now.

 

[JOKER]

Fish list right now. Rosy scale wrasse, blue line cleaner wrasse, pintail wrasse, convict tank, and a pair of clowns. I am planning several more fish, but I have been having trouble keeping fish alive from live aquaria so I plan to order from someone else. No algae issues now.

 

[JOKER]

I will get some pics up soon.

 

[ajcanale]

I love large dimension shallow SPS tanks. IMO ditch the DSB in the sump and incorporate a combo of chaeto reactor and algae turf scrubber. Would also recommend calcium reactor with TLF reborn media and using mesh (not felt) filter socks to catch large particles that would eventually litter the sump.

EDIT: Also, what bulbs are you using in fixture? I would recommend 20k and a combination of ATI Blue+ and Actinic for the T5

 

[Rakie]

If your corals start to pale out, don't be afraid to dose a lil more phosphates. I've been in this hobby since I was in middle school, and while I'm not an old salt per-say, I can tell you I've lost track of the SPS that have colored up with po4 dosing. I agree with @ajcanale and would ditch the DSB in the sump.

In my opinion -- Your numbers are great, your lighting is great, your equipment in general is great. It's good that you posted to catch anything that slipped through the cracks, but from what you've said I think you have things covered.

 

[delv2323]

What's your flow like?

 

[JOKER]

I love large dimension shallow SPS tanks. IMO ditch the DSB in the sump and incorporate a combo of chaeto reactor and algae turf scrubber. Would also recommend calcium reactor with TLF reborn media and using mesh (not felt) filter socks to catch large particles that would eventually litter the sump.

I actually have a DIY algae scrubber that I made, but it wouldn't grow any algae so I turned it off. the deep sand bed is an experiment that I can isolate if needed. I am running 1-2" in the tank of the tropic eden in the tank.

 

[ajcanale]

What combo of bulbs are you using?

 

[JOKER]

What's your flow like?

Flow right now is one gyre 250 with the return which is a jebao 12000 on #2. The gyre is running lunar tidal cycle which is random. All polyps on SPS constantly move or move every few seconds. I plan to add more flow when coral start to grow. I had 2 gyre running, and it was too much for the fish.

 

[JOKER]

Bulbs right now are radium 250 MH, and running 2 ATI blue plus T5. I am getting ready to add 2 purple plus T5 soon, but waiting on ballast. The inside T5 bulb ballast went out with only a month of use.

 

[Bouncingsoul39]

DSB in the sump is perfectly fine, no good reason to get rid of it. A DSB is a proven effective method of nitrate removal. Marinepure is known to leach Aluminum into the water, this could be an issue down the line for you. With the DSB and the live rock you have, the Marine Pure is likely not needed.
If you do ever feel the need to increase nutrient levels in your tank I suggest dosing Red Sea Reef Energy A+B and feeding your fish more. Makes much more sense to feed the fish and coral and letting natural processes occur than just straight dosing nitrate and phosphate into a tank. Though it seems to be a persistent mantra on this forum.

The best thing you can do right now is just sit back and chill. Let the tank mature and enjoy it.

 

[JOKER]

Photos

 

[Davy Jones]

How do you like the RO Elite?