Begining colored stick help

[d.grcich]

For my display Tank I am looking to get a bright colored sps coral. Maybe a millepora,abrotanoides or Tricolor A. nana. Is there any kind of stick I should stay away from "non beginner or fickle" type? How important are water parameters? My lighting is Aquactinics HO 54watt T5's.

 

[surfn]

monti digi's, monti caps, and milli's are a great choice to start out with.

water parameters are important as long as the water is clean, and your calcium and alk levels are somewhat stable.

 

[Kigs!]

i'm just starting out with sps myself...and few things to keep in mind with most sps is that...they love flow and they love light also less bioload, better for sps...not like i'm going by that rule...but some things i picked up while reading sps threads. hopefully more ppl can chime in so you can start succesfully. like Al mentions above, i learned that as long as i kept my ph, alk, calcium stable, they were happy.

 

[surfn]

yeah, i started out in sps with PC's on my tank...some will grow...but i wouldnt say that they "thrived".

i added a single 175w MH and my cap exploded in growth.....after that i was hooked.

all you need to do is get 2 good test kits, (preferably from salifert), to test alkalinity and calcium.

then use this calculator to figure out your tank volume and how much additives to add:
http://home.comcast.net/~jdieck1/chem_calc3.html

since you are starting out, i'd suggest just using baking soda to raise your alkalinity, and then buy some Kents Turbo calcium (dry). with only a couple of sps you should only have to raise your levels back up every week or less.

 

[fishes2889]

Im also adding some colored sticks as well, with the help of Al here, and wanted to know what to add. I have been dripping Kalk for the past 2 weeks and my ca levels are staying stable, but the first week i was having troubles with the right amount of topoff/additives. Lvls of Ca are as of yesterday 450. Alk, i need to get a new test kit as of mine has run out.

What should the alk lvls be for my tank (mixed reef)?

Sorry to hijack, but i need to know some things as well.

Thanks Steve

 

[minibowmatt]

I also say start with some montipora digitata if your looking for your first sticks. Generally Mille's are supposed to be hardy, but I had a frag, it encrusted its base, started growing a branch, then RTN'd overnite...

 

[msman825]

colored sticks :hammer: and pricey at that Alk & Cal. clean water

 

[twon8]

generally thinner branch=less flow required=easier to keep alive. also hairy types seem more able to feed and grow faster, so as long as the frags you get are from another reefers' tank you should be fine

 

[fishes2889]

Well just checked my calcium and Alk and the readings are....

Alk- 8.4 dkh
Ca- 460

others...
Ph- 8.1
Salinity- 1.026
Nitrate- 0
Phos- .01

Those sound good or no?

I think i need to raise the Alk a little bit though....

Thanks Steve

 

[surfn]

Well just checked my calcium and Alk and the readings are....

Alk- 8.4 dkh
Ca- 460

others...
Ph- 8.1
Salinity- 1.026
Nitrate- 0
Phos- .01

Those sound good or no?

I think i need to raise the Alk a little bit though....

Thanks Steve

you can use this to see if your alk/calcium levels are balanced
http://reef.diesyst.com/

i think your calcium is a bit high for that alk. but not too bad.

what are you using to test your phosphates?

 

[fishes2889]

Red Sea for the phosphates but thats at my store and we have been having problems with misreadings....

So i need to get a test kit sooner or later for that....

But, Alk is ok?

Thanks Steve