SPS and Nitrates?

So I picked up a digitata and green slimer frag this weekend. The digi is some unknown species, fellow reefer around here sold it to me, it's about 6" of branches. Tips are pink, the rest seems to be a brown / pink color. Concerned about the color, but he says it grows nice and quick in his tank - was under T5's at the bottom. Probably why it's brown.

The slimer is a lighter green than what I've seen online, but polyps extend and it definitely slimes. Hah.

However, I'm concerned about the NO3 level in my tank, from what I've read, SPS need near perfect conditions to do well. I'm also concerned that the digitata is brown when the tips are pink. Again, I've read that the color can come back, as I have metal halides, and the stronger lighting should help them.

My CA is at 500, MG somewhere around 1400 - I hate the Red Sea mg kit.

So, should I be concerned about my NO3 level? Currently NO3 is right around 20. All other corals are doing very well, but then again, they're soft. I have no room left for a fuge to help bring down the nitrates. I have been contemplating pulling the tank out a bit and getting a 55 gallon for my sump and dividing off sections and including a fuge in the middle.

These are my first SPS. I placed them in some very high flow areas of the tank. I would feel rather accomplished if I could get these to succeed, lol. They may not be the healthist of frags to start with though.

Suggestions welcome

 

NO3 of 20 isn't that bad. I would be more concerned with the chemicals that soft corals put out as a defense. If the Digi was under T5 and at the bottom of the tank I would suspect under your MH the colour will return.
High NO3 can contribute to browning corals and lack of polyp extension. I would also start testing for ALK if you plan to keep more SPS

J

 

Good to know - thanks dkh stays around 10

 

you should be fine. I would do a water change (small) or two and slow down on your feeding. Small things like this will drop your nitrates in no time.

 

Excellent

I currently feed every other day, rotating between some Omega 1 Marine Pellets one day, skip a day, then feed mysis shrimp, then skip, etc.

I will do a small water change this weekend.

Also, I started them out at the bottom of the tank and will move up slowly so I don't bleach them. How long does it normally take to acclimate these to higher intensity lighting?

 

I leave new frags or colonys at the bottom for at least a week.And i know so many warn about mixing sps with softies,especially leathers.I use to have 2/3 mix of mostly softies and some lps and a 1/2 dozen sps.I had 2 toadstools that were 9 inches across each head,never any problems.And i don't run carbon.. to the left of the toadstool is a small ora green birdsnest.It's the size of a softball now