What makes SPS difficult or expert level

[omar jawad]

I appreciate all the advice. The dosing that I am doing is part of a program, the Red Sea Reef Foundation program. It is based on testing and dosing per the parameters. Today I tested the water again and the test results have me dosing just Alkalinity and the NoPox. As I said before, the tank and dosing is built for stability and it has remained stable since. The biggest fluctuation to this point has been the PH. I've had trouble hitting the 8 mark and when I do, It's typically 8.01 or close to that. Today, It reached 8.09 which is the highest I've had. I don't know what put me there but I think I should be happy? So far, my temperature has remained between 77.8 and 78.2. The Salinity stays between 33.9 to 34.2. My target numbers for the foundation elements are what is recommended for accelerated growth via the RedSea Program. Perhaps I am relying to heavily on what RedSea suggest but I feel like they've done their research and it should be reliable. I thank you all for your comments, I absorb all the advice I can get as this tank is my dream tank. I hope to make the dream a reality.

 

[Diesel]

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

I think your spot on.

 

[Diesel]

I appreciate all the advice. The dosing that I am doing is part of a program, the Red Sea Reef Foundation program. It is based on testing and dosing per the parameters. Today I tested the water again and the test results have me dosing just Alkalinity and the NoPox. As I said before, the tank and dosing is built for stability and it has remained stable since. The biggest fluctuation to this point has been the PH. I've had trouble hitting the 8 mark and when I do, It's typically 8.01 or close to that. Today, It reached 8.09 which is the highest I've had. I don't know what put me there but I think I should be happy? So far, my temperature has remained between 77.8 and 78.2. The Salinity stays between 33.9 to 34.2. My target numbers for the foundation elements are what is recommended for accelerated growth via the RedSea Program. Perhaps I am relying to heavily on what RedSea suggest but I feel like they've done their research and it should be reliable. I thank you all for your comments, I absorb all the advice I can get as this tank is my dream tank. I hope to make the dream a reality.

Trial and Error.
I have done for years the KZ (ZEOvit) follow the program, didn't follow the program and all between, I had good results but went back to basics and it's looking a lot better.
But if it works for you stick with it as that is a important factor in this hobby.
If your system is stable in what your doing than your doing something right.
About the PH, just don't chase the # to much, if corals looking good than don't worry.

 

[therman]

Lots of light, Calcium Reactor, Flow. Maybe some algae somewhere to export nutrients. My skimmer is a glorified aerator (AquaC EV-180 on ~350 gal, cleaned out every few weeks if I feel like it). 10% water changes every 1-4 months. Stability is key, but entirely a result of keeping a good calcium reactor in line (with good media and CO2 delivery system), and reliable auto topoff with good clean water.

These are my opinions on SPS after about 15 years.

Don't believe everything you read on the internet. Many people are trying to sell you things.

 

[Russ265]

sps are just difficult because they require "more".

more flow, more light, and more stable water.

you can go as complex as reactors, dosers, uv, lab grade probes, etc but it really boils down to those key 3 things. if the toys get you there, roll with it.

know thy tank

 

[bct15]

Majority of SPS are not difficult, and probably shouldn't be considered expert only. I believe they got that label along time ago when it wasn't understood what it takes to grow them and keep them alive. Now we understand these things, and the information is wide spread. The additional maintenance is barely noticeable, and technology today can make the additional maintenance seem nonexistent.

IMO most SPS are easy to grow, keep alive, and propagate.

 

[Diesel]

What is an expert in this hobby and who can call him self an expert??
I can grow SPS like weeds and make some of them super yellow due to some secret dosing (rich on FE), I'm no expert.
I'm 40+ in this hobby, seen it all, done it all, good and bad, still I'm no expert.
When ppl ask me when they see my tank or for that fact the whole setup and ask me, my answer is "I'm Lucky and enjoying the ride good and bad"

 

[Russ265]

i think experienced aquarists could all probably drop an acro frag in blindly and it would grow just fine.

we did all the hard work with our setup and our specific tank.

but to say it's "easy" may be a little disingenuous if compared to lets say a kenya tree's needs.

 

[Diesel]

i think experienced aquarists could all probably drop an acro frag in blindly and it would grow just fine.

we did all the hard work with our setup and our specific tank.

but to say it's "easy" may be a little disingenuous if compared to lets say a kenya tree's needs.

I just gave you your 300 liked

 

[Russ265]

I just gave you your 300 liked

printed and framed <3

 

[JasReef]

It seems to me that you understand what the program is and have dialed it in so I say go whole hog into it!
I see it as interesting research. The question - Can the Red Sea Reef Program work when put in the hands of a novice?
It seems you are educated and dedicated to what you want. I am excited to see what you produce! Best of luck

 

[that Reef Guy]

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.

LOL!

So True.

I hate when people say Chalices are easy.

Acros are Easy for me NOT Chalices.

They always Die!

 

[that Reef Guy]

Majority of SPS are not difficult, and probably shouldn't be considered expert only. I believe they got that label along time ago when it wasn't understood what it takes to grow them and keep them alive. Now we understand these things, and the information is wide spread. The additional maintenance is barely noticeable, and technology today can make the additional maintenance seem nonexistent.

IMO most SPS are easy to grow, keep alive, and propagate.

So True

+1

 

[that Reef Guy]

So True

+1

Its not easy.

Its not hard either.

In my Opinion its about having the right set up.

If that is right. Then they are the easiest Corals to Keep.

 

[kles]

Sps are not hard like anything it's all about comment and do things right . Don't all fancy toys to me good skimmer good light and chemicals and good water take your time do your research. Not everything on the Internet is true it's all opinion from one person to another. Keep it simple they will grow

 

[neupane00]

like all the above post says, its not hard. But with most softies and LPS, if your doser malfunctioned and didnt dose for a week, or you get lazy changing water for one additional week etc, no big deal. SPS will react to those situtations. Not hard but in my experience needs more commitment to be on top of things and all parameters are stable. They dont like changes.

 

[iyad_nadi]

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

Yes what is the most easy SPS to care

 

[Russ265]

Yes what is the most easy SPS to care

loaded question right here.

im sure people may state montis or something but imho. get a birdsnest frag. if it looks good after 3 weeks you are good to go.
if not. look in to swings, high alk, low flow.

some say birdsnest are easy or bulletproof. which they are right to an extent. however its a great sps trainer to tell you things arent right. or that you need to hone your skills to keep things stable.

just my .02. take it for what its worth

 

[WesF]

They are considered "difficult" because if you aren't seasoned, by the time you realize something is wrong they are already dead. Other corals are a little more forgiving and give you more time to correct the problem.

They are also vulnerable to a pest that is extremely difficult to eradicate. Acro Eating Flatworms (AEFW). Coral Dips will not keep them out because the dip doesn't kill the eggs. I got them a few years ago and had to rip an established reef apart. Pulled all the corals out and had to dip weekly for 12 weeks. I lost a bunch of big Acro colonies I had grown from frags. Years of work down the toilet.

But when things are going well they are not too difficult. Keep parameters stable and Quarantine all new additions before adding them to your tank.

I got into the hobby and jumped right into SPS keeping. I had quite a few losses along the way but you learn from them. Eventually you kind of develop a knack for it and nothing really prepares you for it. So if SPS is what you want, go for it. Starting out with softies or LPS doesn't really prepare you for SPS so you might as well jump in with both feet. Just do your homework and start out with the "easier" cheaper SPS first. It's also better to start out with aquacultured SPS. They are hardier and if they die you aren't putting a strain on the reefs.

Once you figure out how to keep them alive and growing, the next level is getting them to color up nicely. There are a lot of people who keep SPS, but only a small percentage of them are able to get to that colorful mature SPS reef that makes your jaw drop. So if someone tells you it's easy, or gives advice, ask for pics of their tank. . It takes years to get there and there are many potential pitfalls along the way.

Wes

 

[Paul B]

OK I am an expert. No, not in corals, in Supermodels and reverse Undergravel filters. It is not just stability and a mature system with a seasoned aquarist that allows you to keep SPS. I am all those things including bald but the vast majority of SPS I can't keep in my tank. I could, and have in the past but now I choose to keep mostly LPS just because I like the movement better and I have already kept all the SPS I wanted to so I am over that. Now I am more interested in having too many fish and having almost all of them spawning. To accomplish that I have to feed, a lot. I mean a really lot. Spawning and immune fish need food and a lot of it. That is a direct opposite thing to do if you want to be successful with SPS as the parameters would be way off as mine are. My nitrates run about 40 which allows me to keep the easiest SPS like acropora and montipora with a few other easy ones.
My fish get live worms and clams every day with some clam juice. So it just depends on what you want to keep. SPS is easy if you keep few fish and you don't care if they are immune from anything or spawning. Decide first what type of creatures and what shape you want them in. Just my opinion of course.