Ok, i seem to be having the worst luck with sps corals #@$^ i have had a couple acros, some monti, and a stylo. and i cannot keep any of them, they turn brown, or die all the way? my parameters are all where they should be. Not sure if they are getting too much light? too many nutrients, all my softies are doing great, but cant figure out these sps???
[quote=“bigbollos, post:1, topic:635”]
my parameters are all where they should be… Not sure if they are getting too much light? too many nutrients, all my softies are doing great, but cant figure out these sps???[/quote]
What are your parameters?
Doubt its too much light as this would be hard unless you recently upgraded and shocked them.
too many nutrientsThis would be my guess with out having the infor. But if all your parameters are
where they should bethen you should know this answer already
Usually soft corals like a little muck(nutrients)
Another thing to consider: Soft corals are much more tolerant of “Chemical Warfare” than SPS generally. What this means is some coral you have may be excreting toxins into the water that you dont see, but still have a negative impact on the SPS.
:TWOCENTS
Let me just say there is no ‘my parameters are where they should be’ (sorry not trying to jump on you bollos). Where they should be can be different for different people. Different things in our tanks like different parameters and there are TONS of things to test that make up your ‘parameters’. It’s usually best to just post them all out.
SPS usually need higher light, higher flow, plenty of calcium, ALKALINITY, magnesium, enough pH, water clarity(this goes w/ light)
Stable parameters are very important especially alk & calc. What are your levels and do they vary much day to day? What are your nitrates and phosphates testing at? What kind of flow and how much do you have in your tank?
These will be some of the most important things to look at other than having ample light.
my calc is over 500, not sure what alk is at, ran out of test kit :-?
nitrites 0
amonnia 0
ph8
nitrates < 10ppm
four power heads in various directions, one on acros is a sweeping powerhead.
do notice green film build up every day, so have a feeling my nutrient levels are prob a little high, but the monti and the acros just dont seem to do good anywhere in tank?
from what i have read alk seems to be very inportant with sps. we ( john and jen ) prob test every 3 days. also most sps i beleve do better with no3 less than 5 ppm and ph 8.2-8.4. this is just my :TWOCENTS feel free to correct me anyone.
[quote=“GreenFishyNHam09, post:7, topic:635”]
most sps i beleve do better with no3 less than 5 ppm [/quote]
No less or no more?
For best results for sps the lower the better but there are reefers who keep mixed reefs higher with awesome results
I thought I read somewhere once that some SPS actually like some nitrates. On the other hand low - no nitrates would be best to stop nuisance algae from forming on your SPS which obviously isn’t good for them.
i am olny a few days into sps and they look fine. my nitrates are at 20. i have a birds nest and a monti. im working on something to lower the nitrates so dont worry. i do have some hair algae and a very little bit of cano on a frag or 2. i dont test alk but i know all of my other par are perfect(maybe some phosphates).
[quote=“IanH, post:10, topic:635”]
I thought I read somewhere once that some SPS actually like some nitrates. On the other hand low - no nitrates would be best to stop nuisance algae from forming on your SPS which obviously isn’t good for them.[/quote]
Some do but most do not
Ken had an acro that did awesome in my tank as it seemed to do well with extra nitrates
[quote=“Cdangel0, post:8, topic:635”]
[quote=“GreenFishyNHam09, post:7, topic:635”]
most sps i beleve do better with no3 less than 5 ppm [/quote]
No less or no more?[/quote]
John said " it likes a NO3 less than 5ppm" … as in it likes NO3 (nitrate) of less than 5ppm.
[quote=“icy1155, post:13, topic:635”]
[quote=“Cdangel0, post:8, topic:635”]
[quote=“GreenFishyNHam09, post:7, topic:635”]
most sps i beleve do better with no3 less than 5 ppm [/quote]
No less or no more?[/quote]
John said " it likes a NO3 less than 5ppm" … as in it likes NO3 (nitrate) of less than 5ppm.[/quote]
Lol you know whats funny is the first time I read it, my brain put in a ‘no’ AND recognized the no3 as nitrates…funny things your brain does.
Sorry - my dump arse never made the connection between NO3 and Nitrate - I just chaked it up to a typo.
verdict_in verdict_in
You all guys (Craig, Ian) are simple