Trying sps

Hannahmunt · Aug 12, 2022

Hello,

id like to get a few sps frags to try. My tank is 40g with one so hydra 32.

I’ve been told by my lfs that I need to have two hydra 32s. Is this correct?

dimensions of my tank are:

length: 76.5cm
height: 53cm
depth: 52cm

blaxsun · Aug 12, 2022

Not necessarily. SPS typically require good lighting and flow, with PAR levels upwards of 200. If you're able to rent or borrow a PAR meter you can test the current levels of your single Hydra 32. It also depends on where you place the SPS in your tank (directly under the light will receive more exposure).

Uncle99 · Aug 12, 2022

Depends completely on PAR.
Without this info, it’s hard get everyone happy.
If they want to sell another light, maybe they could rent ya a PAR meter, then, there will not be any further guessing.

300 at the surface, 125-200 mid range, 75-120 bottom, and 50 in the corners.

So Acros high and big flow at the top, Monti caps, Montipora Digita in the middle, LPS on the bottom with less flow.

Lavey29 · Aug 12, 2022

Agree with the above but you cam always try some easier inexpensive frags like stylo, birdnest, monti digi, etc... save the flashy acros for later.

Rmckoy · Aug 12, 2022

You won’t know unless you try .
one light source in the middle seams a little under but to be sure a par meter is the only way to know for sure .

this is exactly why I went with t5’s from the start and having a hard time convincing myself to upgrade to leds .
i Have never questioned having enough light .

Loosechangereef · Aug 12, 2022

sps like tanks little over a year old , use top off water/wc 0 tds,your lighting sounds good,like stability especially alk,also alot of flow not directly on corals , random flow,

X-37B · Aug 12, 2022

Yes you will be able to grow sps with one 32. 2 would be better for full coverage.

This is my 18" 20g nano cube with mostly sps. I run 2 16hds 10" off the surface. Tank is 6 months old.

Loosechangereef · Aug 13, 2022

90's reefer said:
Yes you will be able to grow sps with one 32. 2 would be better for full coverage.

This is my 18" 20g nano cube with mostly sps. I run 2 16hds 10" off the surface. Tank is 6 months old.

BTW cool nano

Hannahmunt · Aug 13, 2022

blaxsun said:
Not necessarily. SPS typically require good lighting and flow, with PAR levels upwards of 200. If you're able to rent or borrow a PAR meter you can test the current levels of your single Hydra 32. It also depends on where you place the SPS in your tank (directly under the light will receive more exposure).

I Google’s eat beginner sps and have ordered, caliendrum, forest fire and birds nest.

my water has been stable for a good month now. I recently upgraded my wave maker to a redsea reef wave 25 so the flow is good.

my lights are quite low, they are around 8” from the water surface.

Hannahmunt · Aug 13, 2022

Lavey29 said:
Agree with the above but you cam always try some easier inexpensive frags like stylo, birdnest, monti digi, etc... save the flashy acros for later.

I Google’s eat beginner sps and have ordered, caliendrum, forest fire and birds nest.

my water has been stable for a good month now. I recently upgraded my wave maker to a redsea reef wave 25 so the flow is good.

my lights are quite low, they are around 8” from the water surface.

MoshJosh · Aug 13, 2022

I can't speak to the exact requirements, as I am far from an SPS expert, but high light high flow seems to be a general starting point, though high flow can be relative to proximity to pumps/wavemakers.

My first SPS corals were pavona and montipora (per my LFS recommendation) and even as a novice I have seen good growth out of these corals.

X-37B · Aug 13, 2022

Hannahmunt said:
I Google’s eat beginner sps and have ordered, caliendrum, forest fire and birds nest.

my water has been stable for a good month now. I recently upgraded my wave maker to a redsea reef wave 25 so the flow is good.

my lights are quite low, they are around 8” from the water surface.

8" is fine but 10" will give more spread.
What is your schedule and setting for your 32?

Hannahmunt · Aug 14, 2022

You won’t know unless you try .

Rmckoy said:
one light source in the middle seams a little under but to be sure a par meter is the only way to know for sure .

this is exactly why I went with t5’s from the start and having a hard time convincing myself to upgrade to leds .
i Have never questioned having enough light .

90's reefer said:
8" is fine but 10" will give more spread.
What is your schedule and setting for your 32?

I’d like to have it higher but I can get it any higher unfortunately. Will need to have a think and may have to do a bit of diy.

I have attached photos of my light schedule, my wave maker and a video of the tank

Hannahmunt · Aug 14, 2022

here is a video of the tank right now. I’ve just moved a few things round so that’s why loads of bits floating about

Hannahmunt · Aug 14, 2022

90's reefer said:
Yes you will be able to grow sps with one 32. 2 would be better for full coverage.

This is my 18" 20g nano cube with mostly sps. I run 2 16hds 10" off the surface. Tank is 6 months old.

Beautiful tank!

would love to have some nice sps growing like this

X-37B · Aug 14, 2022

Hannahmunt said:
You won’t know unless you try .

I’d like to have it higher but I can get it any higher unfortunately. Will need to have a think and may have to do a bit of diy.

I have attached photos of my light schedule, my wave maker and a video of the tank

Your settings are quite low for acros, imo.
Here is the settings I run on all 4 tanks with my 16hds.
1 hr ramp up/down
10 hrs peak
UV 140%
V 140%
RB 125%
B 125%
R 6%
G 6%
W 30%

This is my 45 frag system running 3 16's.

Hannahmunt · Aug 14, 2022

90's reefer said:
Your settings are quite low for acros, imo.
Here is the settings I run on all 4 tanks with my 16hds.
1 hr ramp up/down
10 hrs peak
UV 140%
V 140%
RB 125%
B 125%
R 6%
G 6%
W 30%

This is my 45 frag system running 3 16's.

I turned the Uv down on mine as it seemed to be burning my torches, they’ve lost there colour and gone white

I will try your settings, should I do your settings but a bit lower as my light is 8” from the water surface.

Hannahmunt · Aug 14, 2022

90's reefer said:
Your settings are quite low for acros, imo.
Here is the settings I run on all 4 tanks with my 16hds.
1 hr ramp up/down
10 hrs peak
UV 140%
V 140%
RB 125%
B 125%
R 6%
G 6%
W 30%

This is my 45 frag system running 3 16's.

Could you show me an example on the app of this?

Hannahmunt · Aug 14, 2022

90's reefer said:
Your settings are quite low for acros, imo.
Here is the settings I run on all 4 tanks with my 16hds.
1 hr ramp up/down
10 hrs peak
UV 140%
V 140%
RB 125%
B 125%
R 6%
G 6%
W 30%

This is my 45 frag system running 3 16's.

How does this look?