What method worked for you

[danangelo]

I am curious to know for all of you who are successful in keeping an sps tank what method worked for you the best and what methods have you tried. Like zeovit or refugium, or big skimmer liverock, carbon dosing, biopellets etc etc.

 

[d2mini]

Stability.

 

[danangelo]

Stability.

Well ya of course stability is a big factor in any method. As for me i think the best color i ever had was on a full zeovit system i am trying a more simple less hands on method and see if i can maintain same colors. I always try to maintain stable conditioms.

 

[hart24601]

I run a good skimmer with vodka dosing and filter socks because cleaning my sump is a pain. Gfo in BRS reactor and passive carbon. That is about all for filtration, no marco and no fuge. Bare bottom, ceramic rock - there is no calcium in the tank other than what the growing coral puts down. Kalk with 2 part for dosing needs. I set up DOS for automatic water changes and am sad I didn't do it a long time ago, but that is pretty new for me. I have dosed nitrate if levels become undetectable and colors fade.

I have been happy with coral growth and color with this system. Fill up the kalk bute can and salt brute can every month, empty skimmer every week and swap out gfo whenever the glass grows more algae (generally 3-4 weeks or more).

 

[danangelo]

I run a good skimmer with vodka dosing and filter socks because cleaning my sump is a pain. Gfo in BRS reactor and passive carbon. That is about all for filtration, no marco and no fuge. Bare bottom, ceramic rock - there is no calcium in the tank other than what the growing coral puts down. Kalk with 2 part for dosing needs. I set up DOS for automatic water changes and am sad I didn't do it a long time ago, but that is pretty new for me. I have dosed nitrate if levels become undetectable and colors fade.

I have been happy with coral growth and color with this system. Fill up the kalk bute can and salt brute can every month, empty skimmer every week and swap out gfo whenever the glass grows more algae (generally 3-4 weeks or more).

I am doing somewhat similar carbon dosing big skimmer and a fuge. Just can't get thepo4 high enough.
Lets see what your display looks like it would be cool to see it with your method thanks for the reply.

 

[hart24601]

A recent display shot. I just think I like the coral reflection on the surface. I would say the coral colors a bit more vibrant in person, but there are so many overdone photos of coral that anymore I understate the colors if anything.

 

[d2mini]

Well ya of course stability is a big factor in any method. As for me i think the best color i ever had was on a full zeovit system i am trying a more simple less hands on method and see if i can maintain same colors. I always try to maintain stable conditioms.

haha, I hear ya.
I just think there are many ways to skin the cat but in the end the stability is the most important factor.
I attribute any sps success I have to plenty of quality live rock and live sand from TBS for creating a strong foundation.
For filtration I have a quality skimmer from LifeReef and a refugium with HPS light that grows cheato like crazy. The only thing I run in a reactor right now is carbon.
For alk/calc/mag I run a CaRx.
That's it. I try to keep it as simple as possible.
I've seen gorgeous zeo tanks but no way I'm willing to dedicate the time and money to it.

 

[Tank2379]

For me it's been less water changes not much pristine water as some folks claim, it may work for some but every system has it's own eco-personality. I run a large skimmer, refugium with sand and cheato algae, keep my water parameters stable alk, cal, mag. that's basically how I've been doing it with much success.

 

[miller175]

My SPS love the flow

 

[Harold Green]

Perhaps a bit off topic but I have a young tank that I set up less than a year ago. I've been making changes as I encounter problems. Lighting is leds and coral growth was slow. Added another 300 watts and the difference is amazing. Orange caps are suddenly extending polyps and growing. Brain corals on the sand bed are extending feeding tentacles most of the time. Tank is a 210 with a 75 gallon sump. Large cone skimmer, filter socks, refusium, gfo and charcoal filters, ato with kalk added, 900 watts led's, wave maker. I add green water daily with a few drops of liquid coral food or reef frenzy. I hope to eventually have a tank as nice as those in the pictures many of the members post. All suggestions appreciated.

 

[oulay]

Weekly water change with good salt mix

 

[MattL22]

Hart what is the yellow / green stag with blue tip? Beautiful tank!

For me lots of light and sticking with whatever light u use also flow but the best results I've seen has been since I jack up flow enough to slightly move some top areas my sand bed purposely adding detritus to water Column while at same time upped wc the combo has given good results over last month

 

[Broadwave]

for me old school berlin method works best... an oversized efficient skimmer, Monthly water changes of 20%, carbon and a phosphate media (GFO or Phosguard), MH / T5 lighting and automate as much as I can using my Apex.

To echo D2mini, Zeovit has some really spectacular reefs out there and is great if you have a ton of time and money to dedicate to your reef. That being said I use 3 specific Zeovit products on my reef... ZeoBak to keep a good strain of nitrifying bacteria in my tank. I only add the required amount of drops needed when I do my monthly water change. Zeolife mixed with Coral Snow which helps with water clarity and reduction of NO4/PO4 and really polishes the water. I add that once every other week or so...

Im also looking into adding a mangrove tank to my system but not for the added NO4/PO4 removal but for the added water volume.

 

[Broadwave]

Perhaps a bit off topic but I have a young tank that I set up less than a year ago. I've been making changes as I encounter problems. Lighting is leds and coral growth was slow. Added another 300 watts and the difference is amazing. Orange caps are suddenly extending polyps and growing. Brain corals on the sand bed are extending feeding tentacles most of the time. Tank is a 210 with a 75 gallon sump. Large cone skimmer, filter socks, refusium, gfo and charcoal filters, ato with kalk added, 900 watts led's, wave maker. I add green water daily with a few drops of liquid coral food or reef frenzy. I hope to eventually have a tank as nice as those in the pictures many of the members post. All suggestions appreciated.

Sounds like you have a really nice set up.... if anything, water quality and stability are crucial. Maintaining temp, Ca, dKH and Mg as consistent as possible and in range will go a long way. Also keeping your NO4/ PO4 low and within acceptable rage is also key. HTH

 

[AdamNC]

Besides the obvious of stable parameters, over sized skimmer, random flow over the corals, coral food helps, good lights and patience.

 

[klondike4001]

Stability is key. I run a DSB fuge with a variety of macros/mangroves. Does 2 part to keep values in check, weekly 10% water changes. Over sized efficient skimmer, T5's replaced every 8-9 months to keep spectrum the same or at least as similar as possible. Use good salt. Lots of fish, and the ability to overfeed due to a well functioning fuge/nutrient export system.

 

[hart24601]

Hart what is the yellow / green stag with blue tip? Beautiful tank!

Thanks! Picked that guy up from a frag swap, was just called a blue tip slimer if it's the once close the the camera. There is one in the middle that is a really neat shade of teal with blue tips too, got that from someone leaving the hobby.

 

[AdamNC]

Stability is key. I run a DSB fuge with a variety of macros/mangroves. Does 2 part to keep values in check, weekly 10% water changes. Over sized efficient skimmer, T5's replaced every 8-9 months to keep spectrum the same or at least as similar as possible. Use good salt. Lots of fish, and the ability to overfeed due to a well functioning fuge/nutrient export system.

Whats your definition of "Lots of fish," ? I have 4 and I feel that is enough. Any more and I feel there will be territorial disputes.

Already have a 2 1/2" Maroon Clown, 2" OC Clown (aka the tank bully), 3" Royal Gramma and a 2" Lawnmower Blenny.

 

[klondike4001]

Whats your definition of "Lots of fish," ? I have 4 and I feel that is enough. Any more and I feel there will be territorial disputes.

Already have a 2 1/2" Maroon Clown, 2" OC Clown (aka the tank bully), 3" Royal Gramma and a 2" Lawnmower Blenny.

Pair of T\R Blacker Ice Clowns
Juvi. Yellow Coris Wrasse
Juvi. Potter's Wrasse
Juvi. Radiant Wrasse
Rainford Goby
Midas Blenny
Juvi. Atlantic Blue Tang (before the comments start, this little guy is little, under an inch, and will he moved when he out grows the tank to my planned 300g+ build)

 

[klondike4001]

So yeah, lots