SPS Help.

punkroc701 · Mar 9, 2013

Hey guys I have had mixed experience with SPS in the past. I had a red Monti Cap that started to grow then receeded, I have had a couple of Green Caps that simply receeded, and I have a Strawberry fields Cap currently and it looks like the "flesh" is just melting off. I moved it from one tank to another because I thought it may help (different lighting) and it still looks as if it is receeding. I have had mixed experience in the past with Birdsnests and acros as well. Some lived some died. I ended up having one of my tanks crash last summer (ac went out while I was on vacation) and lost a Lot of coral. I am starting to think SPS isn't my thing (other then the monti caps and a few "sticks" I like softies anyway). Anyone have any suggestions??? I'd like to try and save the cap and bird's nest I currently have. Thanks

candcreef · Mar 9, 2013

I would need to know your levels in your water....where do you keep alk, mag, and calcium at? You need to test for nitrates and phosphates as well...the more info you give us, the better we can help you....

gmoney243 · Mar 9, 2013

Monti caps are easy to care for so just as a guess its.gona probably be water quality or ur lights. Need detail on lights and params especially phos

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Luv2reef · Mar 9, 2013

In addition to tank/lights/ and parameters are you dosing? How often do you do water changes? Most SPS like a well controlled system that stays stable.

punkroc701 · Mar 19, 2013

I do weekly water changes. I moved the monti to my biocube but I still lost it. My birdsnest is slowly receeding. I have 3 of the screw in 50/50 lights on the 10 gal and compacts in the Biocube. I will post perams tomorrow after I do my water changes. Sorry for the late reply guys, I didn't get my notifacation I had replies to this post, checking to make sure I have it set right this time.

kuansreef · Mar 19, 2013

Monti caps and birdsnests are super hardy. They grow as long as water parameters are good.

punkroc701 · Mar 19, 2013

I keep adding to the tanks they are in so maybe the water I am adding when I add other coral isn''t that good. I mainly do softies anyway, but I have tried manti caps 2 or 3 times. The first one started to grow in my 55 and then died when my tank crashed. Now I am using new filters in my ro unit and still setting up this 10 gal so maybe the old water from my old filters also added to that. I will hold off on adding any more SPS until I figure out what is going on and hopefully between now and then I can get this Birdsnest to grow back. You know in the 3 or 4 years I have been in the hobby I have only had good luck with one piece of SPS and it was a 6 inch acro. I sold it when I broke down my 120 and other then that I have had terrible luck with SPS. May be it just isn't my thing. Thanks again everyone who has helped I will still post perams after my water change.

gmoney243 · Mar 19, 2013

Ur lights are not good for sps. PC .and CFL bulbs dont really put off enough light for sps. Get some t5 or led and u will probly have success.

punkroc701 · Mar 19, 2013

I had LED and that is what they were under when they started receeding. I think the shop I got them from had them under MHs so I think that much of a light change may have also had something to do with it. I think I am just gonna stick with softies for a little longer until I can get my 120 set back up.