What makes SPS difficult or expert level

[omar jawad]

I am starting to add coral to my new tank. It's a Red Sea Reefer 450 (98 gallons total volume)
I am running an Apex Gold controller, I have 8 dosing pumps to dose the entire Red Sea Reef Foundation system. My parameters are very stable because of the Apex.

I know that stability is a key factor in SPS systems. I have started adding corals to the system and I have purchased some corals that are categorized as difficult. What makes them difficult? What can I do to insure success?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Dtackett]

depends on the coral. sometimes its that the coral is very aggressing and placement is difficult due to sweepers, or chemical warfare. other times its the light and flow requirements. other times its the instability of the coral itself. theres a lot of things that can cause a coral to be classified as difficult or expert.

 

[omar jawad]

Flow shouldn't be a concern. I'm not 100% sure about my lighting choice. I choose three Kessil 360 led lights.

 

[ritter6788]

You'll need to get some type of dosing ready once your sps start growing. Water changes alone won't maintain parameters on a heavily stocked sps tank. You can likely get away with it for a while but once your sps frags start becoming colonies you'll need to replace the alkalinity, calcium and magnesium the corals are using up. Calcium reactor, kalkwasser or 2 part dosing will be needed and it will need to be added while keeping parameters stable. It takes more time, equipment and testing but it's nothing difficult, advanced or expert level. It just takes more attention to detail and doing what's needed to keep the corals happy and growing.

 

[omar jawad]

You'll need to get some type of dosing ready once your sps start growing. Water changes alone won't maintain parameters on a heavily stocked sps tank. You can likely get away with it for a while but once your sps frags start becoming colonies you'll need to replace the alkalinity, calcium and magnesium the corals are using up. Calcium reactor, kalkwasser or 2 part dosing will be needed and it will need to be added while keeping parameters stable. It takes more time, equipment and testing but it's nothing difficult, advanced or expert level. It just takes more attention to detail and doing what's needed to keep the corals happy and growing.

This is good to know. I have set this tank up for success. I am already dosing Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium and Red Sea NoPox. This week I will began dosing the Coral Colors once I figure out my daily uptake. I am also dosing the Red Sea Reef Energy. Thats a total of 10 different items. My dosing system consist of 8 different pumps that are controlled by my Apex. I would have done 10 if the other 2 items didn't require refrigeration.

 

[jcdeng]

sps are not difficult at all. IME the true difficult corals are chalices.

SPS only require clean water (low po4 and nitrate), strong light and flow, and doser that can keep the alk and cal within range everyday.

 

[jcdeng]

During a previous alk swing (drop), the chalices were the first ones to go, followed by scollies, while my sps was still doing ok, only not expanding.

 

[Dtackett]

it also depends heavily on which sps you choose. it seems that many sps are pretty easy to care for and grow like crazy.

 

[Ahruk]

Yep I personally think that acros are really the only truly hard ones... I've had great luck with montis despite not having the most stable conditions.

 

[Ebone]

Stability and consistency are key, I haven't found acros to be more challenging then any others... But in general in order to keep sps I think being familiar with YOUR tank is what is really important. I keep my alk at 9 it works great for me, others may be at 8 or 7 or 10 and do great and being at 9 may destroy THEIR tank... knowing your system and how its chemistry and lighting is only comes with stability and time

 

[TomatoSauceTy]

I think people consider SPS to be difficult because if something is wrong with them they can be fully bleached before someone can respond to your help thread.

 

[Larry L]

I am starting to add coral to my new tank.

I am already dosing Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium and Red Sea NoPox. This week I will began dosing the Coral Colors once I figure out my daily uptake. I am also dosing the Red Sea Reef Energy.

For a new tank that you are just adding corals to, I'd be surprised if you have a whole lot of going on (yet) that needs to be replaced by dosing. Consistency is good, just make sure you are actually only dosing what your tank needs, based on testing your parameters.

 

[pciscott]

Stability, Seasoned tank or good quality live rock, and a keen eye to notice when things are off.

Understanding how to dip for pests and what to look for. Quarantine is even better, but know that just because you dip and find nothing there can still be eggs.

Balance and not chasing numbers, your parameters will most likely be different than mine.

Be careful who you are getting advice from, I did not go to college, and I have learned many expensive lessons on unneeded reef devices, I have quite the collection in my garage. The proof is in the pictures.

Led lights do grow coral, but T5 and Halides are way easier. I personally love the look of Kessil lights, but run T5 as well and my SPS are doing better than before I added T5 to the mix.

I would start with weekly water changes, and get some cheap starter corals. When your Green Slimer is looking good then start buying some nice corals.

Take it slow, only bad things happen fast in a reef tank.

 

[Keepswiming]

This is good to know. I have set this tank up for success. I am already dosing Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium and Red Sea NoPox. This week I will began dosing the Coral Colors once I figure out my daily uptake. I am also dosing the Red Sea Reef Energy. Thats a total of 10 different items. My dosing system consist of 8 different pumps that are controlled by my Apex. I would have done 10 if the other 2 items didn't require refrigeration.

Might want to consider starting with just the crucial 3... Ca, alk and mag. Once you get these all set and your parameters are consistent for some time, you could look into other dosed elements to enhance color and growth. I feel like by dosing 8 different things when your just being introduced to Sps is a bit excessive and costly but to each is own. Simplicity is key, if you can set your mag and the correct level (which will help you keep the other two in the water column without precipation) then keep your ca, alk and temp with little to no fluctuations and you should be successful. If you were to have issues keeping Sps (hopefully not) you will have a lot of things to eliminate until you find the cause of your troubles because you are dosing so many "factors". What are you parameters as of now? Oh and enjoy the challenge or else this hobby will drive you nuts! Lol

 

[Tahoe61]

Stability, Seasoned tank or good quality live rock, and a keen eye to notice when things are off.

Understanding how to dip for pests and what to look for. Quarantine is even better, but know that just because you dip and find nothing there can still be eggs.

Balance and not chasing numbers, your parameters will most likely be different than mine.

Be careful who you are getting advice from, I did not go to college, and I have learned many expensive lessons on unneeded reef devices, I have quite the collection in my garage. The proof is in the pictures.

Led lights do grow coral, but T5 and Halides are way easier. I personally love the look of Kessil lights, but run T5 as well and my SPS are doing better than before I added T5 to the mix.

I would start with weekly water changes, and get some cheap starter corals. When your Green Slimer is looking good then start buying some nice corals.

Take it slow, only bad things happen fast in a reef tank.

Nailed it. ^

But I am good with LEDs, it took me long enough. It's really all a personal preference, they all color and grow coral if you do your research and buy an appropriate fixture.

 

[Dtackett]

they've nailed it for ya bud. stability and equipment capabilities are the key factory. most corals seem to be able to adjust to its environment, but if its environment is constantly changing its not gonna make it. if your lights and flow can support it, and you maintain and stable environment, you can grow pretty much anything.

 

[Diesel]

SPS is like Rocket Science............... if you understand the principals it ain't difficult at all.
When you start with a 10 pump dosing system you going to ask for trouble.
Most failures in a SPS tank, give and take 95% is due to the hobbyist, not the coral.
It all needs time and more time.
I picked this quote up this weekend "I have yet to walk down and see my tanks one morning and find that the frag I glued in the night before has become a beautiful colony, conversely I have seen a colony turn into a frag overnight"
Read and learn and read some more.

 

[ritter6788]

I am already dosing Calcium, Alkalinity, Magnesium and Red Sea NoPox. This week I will began dosing the Coral Colors once I figure out my daily uptake. I am also dosing the Red Sea Reef Energy. Thats a total of 10 different items. My dosing system consist of 8 different pumps that are controlled by my Apex. I would have done 10 if the other 2 items didn't require refrigeration.

Sometimes less is more. The more unnecessary stuff you dose the more difficult it is to troubleshoot when problems arise.

 

[Keepswiming]

We have a lot of echoed posts on here for you, so hopefully you get the big picture to make Sps keeping easier on you.

 

[omar jawad]

Might want to consider starting with just the crucial 3... Ca, alk and mag. Once you get these all set and your parameters are consistent for some time, you could look into other dosed elements to enhance color and growth. I feel like by dosing 8 different things when your just being introduced to Sps is a bit excessive and costly but to each is own. Simplicity is key, if you can set your mag and the correct level (which will help you keep the other two in the water column without precipation) then keep your ca, alk and temp with little to no fluctuations and you should be successful. If you were to have issues keeping Sps (hopefully not) you will have a lot of things to eliminate until you find the cause of your troubles because you are dosing so many "factors". What are you parameters as of now? Oh and enjoy the challenge or else this hobby will drive you nuts! Lol

9/27/15 10:59 Magnesium 1360
9/27/15 10:48 Calcium 475
9/27/15 10:31 Alkalinity 10.08
9/27/15 10:22 Nitrite 0
9/27/15 10:19 Nitrate 0.25
9/27/15 10:19 Phosphate 0.02
9/27/15 10:11 Ammonia 0