Sps placement suggestions

[Wasabiroot]

Hi all!
Took my first dip into the acro world with some easier pieces. My tank is a 50g lit with an Xr-15 blue currently at 45% intensity with a ramp to 70% over the next 11 weeks.

I have a frag of Red Robin, Garf Bonsai, Pc Rainbow and Hawkins "echinata".

I was thinking Red Robin and Bonsai up at the top of the rockwork and PC Rainbow in the middle, and echinata middle/low. However, I'm sure the par for my fixture is probably on the low side right now. I don't really have the spare cash to get a par meter at the moment.Wondering if this placement sounds OK and if the frags will be OK with the led slowly ramping and the echinata fine with the lower light temporarily. Also wondering how soon I should mount them. My thought was probably soon as the light is low enough they probably wouldn't be shocked. I estimate the top of the rocks are getting 180-220 par and the bottom of the tank 75-100, but I could be wrong.

Thanks for your help!

 

[blaxsun]

It sounds ok, but without an actual PAR reading when your lights are fully ramped up it's hard to say whether you'll have them in the right PAR range.

 

[ScottB]

I just did a speed read through your build thread. If I read correctly you are 1 year into a dead rock start so adding acros into the mix will be hit/miss. The live rock addition should help but my GUESS is the biome is still a little marginal.

Do you have sponges growing in the sump or shaded rock? It is one of those maturity flags I typically look for. Keep adding more, just avoid investing in the crazy expensive acro pieces until some slimers/stags are lasting.

What is your fish load like? Add more.

 

[Wasabiroot]

I just did a speed read through your build thread. If I read correctly you are 1 year into a dead rock start so adding acros into the mix will be hit/miss. The live rock addition should help but my GUESS is the biome is still a little marginal.

Do you have sponges growing in the sump or shaded rock? It is one of those maturity flags I typically look for. Keep adding more, just avoid investing in the crazy expensive acro pieces until some slimers/stags are lasting.

What is your fish load like? Add more.

Thanks ScottB!

My overflow and refugium have a lot of pineapple sponges. I don't plan on adding too many pieces or anything crazy expensive until I know I can keep these guys happy. I went with some long time-captive pieces or ones that are slightly more forgiving for my first crack at it. And I just added another piece of liverock from a Lfs that had a ton of spongy purple weirdness on it, though I know it's no guarantee.

I agree I need more fish, but for now I'm feeding slightly heavier to compensate for the nitrates.

 

[ScottB]

Thanks ScottB!

My overflow and refugium have a lot of pineapple sponges. I don't plan on adding too many pieces or anything crazy expensive until I know I can keep these guys happy. I went with some long time-captive pieces or ones that are slightly more forgiving for my first crack at it. And I just added another piece of liverock from a Lfs that had a ton of spongy purple weirdness on it, though I know it's no guarantee.

I agree I need more fish, but for now I'm feeding slightly heavier to compensate for the nitrates.

It is just anecdotal, but sponges are the clearest pattern I have seen so far about acropora survival. Obviously there is much more to it, but in terms a viable biome for acropora it has been a helpful marker.

 

[jda]

I would just put them where you want. None of those are too terribly demanding. Leave some room for the stag to grow upward and branch out. If the GARF is OG, then it will encrust a BUNCH. The other three will stay tighter.

 

[Wasabiroot]

Thanks guys! I agree that now is probably best. If the lights are currently ramping then they are at the dimmest they will ever be so it makes sense. Appreciate the experienced folks chipping in.

If I were to add supplemental T5, what would be the best way to acclimate?

 

[jda]

You can usually just add T5s. Acclimation is mostly a LED thing - mostly. If you were dropping on 10x ATI T5s, then that might need some acclimation. In general, when the quality is good, acclimation is not as huge of a deal... and T5s are high quality light.

If you want to acclimate them, start at 4-6 hours and add 30 minutes a day until you are up to your full time.

 

[Wasabiroot]

Awesome. Thanks! Hopefully I will have some good growth to share in a few months...though I am ready to wait for the acros to get comfy.

I agree re:T5s. They really do a great job with getting in all the shadows and giving that soothing blanket of coverage. Might get this fixture

24" Hybrid T5HO 4x24W Fixture

Welcome to the future of aquarium lighting! Combine your favorite LED Light module along with Aquatic Lifes T5 lighting fixture to create a stellar lighting system! Accepts many of your favorite LED lighting modules! Includes standard LED Light Brackets Powder Coated Aluminum Frame Individual...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

I figure something in a slighty whiter spectrum to balance out the heavy blue would work well. I hear red stags look great in daylight.

 

[Wasabiroot]

 

[jda]

Red stags need daylight to properly get actual color. You can blue them up to enjoy looking at them. Nearly all corals are this way... daylight to render good color and then blue them up to your liking to look at them. If you do a good job, most corals should not need blued-up to enjoy them, although you might find it fun to do so. This is another place where T5s can help since even blue-looking T5s bulbs are still full spectrum and have lots of green, yellow and red.

 

[Wasabiroot]

Thanks guys!

 

[ScottB]

Awesome. Thanks! Hopefully I will have some good growth to share in a few months...though I am ready to wait for the acros to get comfy.

I agree re:T5s. They really do a great job with getting in all the shadows and giving that soothing blanket of coverage. Might get this fixture

24" Hybrid T5HO 4x24W Fixture

Welcome to the future of aquarium lighting! Combine your favorite LED Light module along with Aquatic Lifes T5 lighting fixture to create a stellar lighting system! Accepts many of your favorite LED lighting modules! Includes standard LED Light Brackets Powder Coated Aluminum Frame Individual...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

I figure something in a slighty whiter spectrum to balance out the heavy blue would work well. I hear red stags look great in daylight.

I am a fan of these setups. Good value for money. I've never understood the value of the (more expensive) dimmable version though.

They are a good compromise between LED versus T5 only or MH only. You get coverage, most (not all) of the spectrum for less heat and power consumption.