SPS tank... hopefully : )

[Shawn_epicurious]

I am looking for the perfect set of number I should be working towards... water quality. ...200 gallon tank... I’m 3 months in on this tank... recently decided I want to go down the SPS path. (I get it, there is not a perfect set of numbers)

I get the stability piece... my tank is still maturing... I am adding on some equipment right now. My current tank is mixed reef, mostly softies.

The SPS decision changes... almost everything : ) what is the perfect set of water parameters for SPS... dominant. What am I working towards?

 

[Dipan Desai]

8-9 Alk, 450 Cal, 1500 Mag, .05 PO4, 5-10 Nitrate. And keeps things super stable is probably the biggest factor. I have a 187g peninsula. Also tons of light 350-450 par on most of my acros. Also get a doser to keep parameters stable. Slow and steady wins the race.

 

[Crustaceon]

There isn’t one. It’s a range you're looking for that varies depending on alkalinity and how much sps is in your system. Starting off, you’ll likely want to keep alkalinity between 7-8.5 dkh, Calcium between 400-480ppm, Mag between 1350-1500, nitrates between 2-20ppm and phosphates between .03-.1ppm (preferably .05). This is just an average and safe range but of course, there are exceptions. As a rule of thumb, lower alkalinity matches with lower nutrients. As alk rises, nitrates especially need to elevate to prevent burned tips. Also, as your tank becomes filled with corals, you’ll probably have to increase nitrate and phosphate levels. Lastly, never try to mimic the water parameters of fantastic looking tanks because they almost never start off with those parameters.

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

There isn’t one. It’s a range you're looking for that varies depending on alkalinity and how much sps is in your system. Starting off, you’ll likely want to keep alkalinity between 7-8.5 dkh, Calcium between 400-480ppm, Mag between 1350-1500, nitrates between 2-20ppm and phosphates between .03-.1ppm (preferably .05). This is just an average and safe range but of course, there are exceptions. As a rule of thumb, lower alkalinity matches with lower nutrients. As alk rises, nitrates especially need to elevate to prevent burned tips. Also, as your tank becomes filled with corals, you’ll probably have to increase nitrate and phosphate levels. Lastly, never try to mimic the water parameters of fantastic looking tanks because they almost never start off with those parameters.

Wow, thank you! I love R2R... 15 years ago that just wasn’t possible. I am, I’m the super early stage... no new livestock in the near future. Awesome advice : )

 

[Rmckoy]

So many variables to say there is a set number for every parameter but there is a range you want to be somewhere between .

Stability is key !
Find a number for each that’s balanced and stable ,
Don’t chase numbers ,
Don’t dose what you can’t test .

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

So many variables to say there is a set number for every parameter but there is a range you want to be somewhere between .

Stability is key !
Find a number for each that’s balanced and stable ,
Don’t chase numbers ,
Don’t dose what you can’t test .

Don’t dose what you can’t test... I like that!

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

Thanks guys! This is exactly what I needed. You guys rock!

 

[Albertan22]

I’m also getting my new tank ready for sps. I’m setting my starting target parameters to be the same as my salt mix (@1.026sg) while I wait for my tank to find its happy place. This helps keep stability and prevent swings from water changes.

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

I’m also getting my new tank ready for sps. I’m setting my starting target parameters to be the same as my salt mix (@1.026sg) while I wait for my tank to find its happy place. This helps keep stability and prevent swings from water changes.

New tanks play hell with stability. 1.026 is my target level for salinity. The last 30 days, stability started creeping in for me. I have not had a swing of more than .001 in several weeks now. I know my tank is not “matured” yet. I have my current bioload where I want it right now... I do everything possible to not stick my hands in my tank everyday! Everything in my tank is super healthy right now... happy!

so... while I have to wait for maturity to happen on its own... I am getting my equipment ready for the the next steps : )

 

[Albertan22]

It’s a good time to practice for sure. I’m working through a tank upgrade so have the benefit of 2/3 of my rock having come from my old system that was running for a decade. I cured the new rock for 4 months in a barrel for 4 months before moving everything into my new 180g setup. I only brought over a few big euphyllia colonies and some sps that was really encrusted onto the old rock so I’m mostly starting from scratch. I’ve been waiting for algae or other new tank problems but they haven’t cropped up yet.

 

[Shawn_epicurious]

It’s a good time to practice for sure. I’m working through a tank upgrade so have the benefit of 2/3 of my rock having come from my old system that was running for a decade. I cured the new rock for 4 months in a barrel for 4 months before moving everything into my new 180g setup. I only brought over a few big euphyllia colonies and some sps that was really encrusted onto the old rock so I’m mostly starting from scratch. I’ve been waiting for algae or other new tank problems but they haven’t cropped up yet.

Nice. You are starting from a good place.