SPS needs

One other thing about using non-RODI water is that you don't know what else is in your water supply, it can vary from city to city. Obviously chlorine is the main thing we don't want in there but there are tons of other components of the water that you will not be able to test for even though they are fine for you and I to drink it's hard to say how that will affect a new piece of coral, especially sensitive ones like acros.

That's why I like the blank slate of RODI, you know you have a pretty good idea of what is going into your tank and you're not subject to the city changing their water processing etc. Ultimately it's up to you if you want to play with that risk level though.

Good luck!

 

I would also reccomend a clam for a mixed sps tank, solely because they are filter feeders and will help, with a skimmer, keep your water pristine

 

also check this link out to Fraginsteins t5's post about keeping SPS's under t5's.
http://www.3reef.com/forums/reef-lighting/we-grossly-overlighting-59298-2.html

 

They are??? Then what is your TDS of incoming water?? Needs to be 0 for sps's. Trying to cut corners with no RO/DI and cheap T5 lighting is only going to give you problems. Your going to buy a bunch of coral, only to watch it slowly die. :-/

 

By my water levels being in check I mean that all of the things that are regularly tested for are stable at a safe level. I haven't tested for the TDS of my tap water. However, I probably wouldn't go into SPS without RO/DI. Also, I wouldn't try to buy a cheap t5 unit. I am planning on going with nova or possibly tek.

 

Nothing much from corals like Mushroom Colts zoas and button and leather will transfer over to SPS one is Pop Warner the other is NFL and if you do not have the needed light and equipment then the NFL translates into Not for long . Its a whole different game at that level.. Its easy enough to do but there are certain criteria that has to be met. M/H lighting chiller or some way to control heat and a Ca. reactor or some steady constant dosing system and as pure of a water source as you can get.

I'd recommend to you what Jason mentioned Start to change over with the R/O D.I then get the needed equipment as you go and wean over .. I have seen more then a few to dump tons of money into Off shore boats thinking they could race after owning a little semi fast Scarab or Warlock and to lose lots of money or get hurt , Most all here can drive a family car but not a A.A Fuel dragster its a totally different game and far higher level of performance .

Not trying to disway anyone and will do anything to help anyone but you have to aquaire the needed equipment and ideas of the needs of the corals and like i said forget just about everything from soft corals ..

 

Tangster and everyone else...

I have come to realize and will admit the the switch is not quite as easy as I might have thought. I wouldn't ever try to cut corners and put the coral at risk. Reefs are in a bad enough place as is. I will have to think about it, but as of right now, I am planning on investing in a couple really nice fish. I'll make an upgrade later when I have the money.

 

That's what this website if for.. I've learned something here too.

 

The first thing I had learned it this is expensive hobby. Corals use the light to grow and require great and stable water quality. Do you test the tap water with a tds meter? Do you know how clean the water really is? I had luck growing corals with underpowered lights in my tank. I just bought MH for the 220 just to get into the sps and corals. I thought id never get into corals and wanted fish but after the crash I had a while back I decided mixed reef it is. If you want the sps i would get the ro/di and good lights. Check the classifieds too if you want to save some money. ;D

 

Just to restate what I said above. I have no intentions of cutting any corners or trying to keep anything without everything it needs. I'm glad I could learn this before making a deadly mistake to the coral and I'm glad that some other reefers could learn something too.