adding SPS

Hi

my tank was set up in Sept 2007 and was run FOWLR for 15 months ( had snails, hermits in addition to rock)

Feb 2009 upgraded lights to 6 x 80 watt T5s running 2 x 10k, 2 X 15k and 2 x Actinic 03

Feb purchased 2 x GSP colonies -
March purchased 1 x green mushroom and 1 x Finger leather
April - purchased 1 x Torch coral and 1 x green bubble coral

all are doing well GSPs now anchored and spreading

parameters
PH -8.3
Temp - 78
Amo - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate > 10ppm ( around 5 allowing for any colour blindness on my part)
Phospate - 0
calcium 424 PPM
mag - 1500 ppm (Tropic marin combined test kit)

it has been an ambition of mine to keep purple acropora (1 single piece not a tank full of SPS)

I do 10% water changes every week- holidays I compensate by doing 15% upon return home

I used purple up for 1st 6 months to colour up my rock work (and plastics)
I dose aquamedic reef trace weekly
I have been using Kents microvert once per week since Feb ( quarter dose due to low bio load)

Questions
Could I add a purple Acro - next month ?

would a single Acro, in addtion to the 2 LPS - mean I need to consider additives, like Calcium and Magensium etc or would the 10% weekly change maintain levels

what other additives would you recomend , if any are deemed to be required

Steve

sorry its long winded.

 

Hi Steve, SPS's not only require high flow but very stable params. What kind of flow do you have and do you keep on top of your water chemistry? I have noticed at leased with mine if there is any noticeable PO4 they look really bad.

 

thanks Nano

Flow - I have 2 x power heads (Atman) rated at 1400 litres per hour, back corners both directed at middle of front glass and 2 lower down (Life tek) rated at 1000 litres per hour 1 directed forward across front of rock work and one behind
plus a Fluval cannister that I use for running carbon with spray bar return - and also have Rhowphos on hand just in case. Fluval is 1000 litres per hour thus total flow at present is 5800 litres per hour

tank minus rock work = 60 gallons or 240 litres - thus flow at 5800 litres per hour total = about 25 times tank volume - I was going to place acro front and centre so would be in turbulent area created by the 2 larger P/heads

water chemistry - I test weekly in addition to the changes I do , I could use Rhowphos irrespective of test results as a preventive measure ?

Steve

 

I was going to ask what size tank you had that lighting on.... appx 75?

 

Hi Optimist yep - 6 tube fixture over my 1.5 M tank

Steve

 

lol... um... being tired my math is slow... thats a 48" tank appx gallonage? 75-90 gallon?
You want to watch your watts per gallon.
You're running 6- 48" over driven T5s at 80 watts = 480 watts total
what gallon tank?
Also, sps (like acro) grow slower under T5... in my experience. Others may have done well but I noticed a huge growth difference with Metal Halide even at the same water depths.

Also, like stated before...
you have flow into consideration depending on what that coral tolerates.
you have water quality.
Your coral will probably look brown at first till it acclimates fully. (mine took a month under T5) and also if it's just a frag, that'll keep the colors mono.. my purple acro didn't get PURPLE until it started branching. Then th brown turned a nice green and the tips popped with electric purple.

 

man, I'm logged on as the other user...
I tried to get you pictures but I'd have to log off.
Sorry, maybe later.

 

thanks its a 60 inch tank - 1.5 Metre
Lighting Im convinced will be OK ( took advice from here and from Dr Frag Via PMs) - but I appreciate halides might be better

Noted on colour change- have seen many brown acros that I ignored, and it seems they may have the potential to be another colour under the right conditions

Thanks for you input

Steve

 

okay... I'll rephrase it because I can't get the gallonage out.. lol... if you are going to try an acro under T5, you should be fine with where you want to put it (center / high) given your water quality and dedication. It's a hobby and it's all about learning and having fun. Not that you should have any problems. They also make a t5 just for acro that is a 75.25 I believe. It looks pinkish purple under water. I run 2-actinic, 2-blue 454, 4-75.25 from 8am to 8pm and 2-250w Metal Halides from 12-3. Those 75.25's help with the color (colour in eastern hemisphere)

 

Thats great information, thank you Optimistic - ILL check those out

Steve