Two tanks: Here's my parameters, which one to choose for SPS?

[vetteguy53081]

Hi R2R experts

so I have been focusing on breeding mollies and sexy shrimps in my two tanks for the last year but now I want to add corals. Stony ones, preferably SPS - some "easier" acros like PC rainbow, miyagi tort and frogskin, green slimer (and please don't tell me to start w a zenia and a mushroom)

I have a pico tank w the sexies 4 gallon and a nano 15 gallon w fish. They have very dif numbers and I would like your help to determining which one would be better with coral.

Pico (1 year old):
Sal 33
Alk 9.1
Nitrate 10
Nitrite 0
Phos 0 to than 0.5 (I don't have a Hannah for this one)
Light FLuval nano

Nano (1.5 years old):
Sal 32.5
Alk 9.7
Nitrate 25
Nitratie 0
Phos Less than 2, higher than 0.5
Popbloom RL90

As for lighting I have recently bought a Par meter and have done a par map - light will not be a problem with clever placement. Both tanks are totally stable with these parameters. I'm running Phosguard on the nano but nothing seems to help with the high phosphate. I'm feeding a lot and I guess my only option would be to remove some of the fish to bring it down or add tons of macroalgae. I do very small but frequent water changes which I have found to be better than 20 peecent ones.

I don't have a Hannah for other than Nitrate, nitrite, and alkalinity. I have ordered one for phosfate now and calcium is next. For now the phospahte numbers are a worthless Salifert test.

So my question. Which one to choose for corals? Best chemistry seems to be in the pico but very little room for error w the water volume which scares me a bit. Nano oldest and good water volume but nutrients high due to fish.

Larger tank and bump salinity to at least 34ppt

 

[shrimplover]

Larger tank and bump salinity to at least 34ppt

That should be easy. It’s just the dang phosphates in that particular tank. I have now ordered a bag full of super expensive macroalgae (could have bought Way to many coral drags for this money) to help being is down in a long term sustainable way

 

[shrimplover]

Frags not drags

 

[VintageReefer]

Frags not drags

Phosguard will work, how do you use it? It needs to be changed every 4 days until numbers go down

 

[VintageReefer]

Do you have it?

Not currently but I Have before

 

[shrimplover]

Phosguard will work, how do you use it? It needs to be changed every 4 days until numbers go down

Yep that's it then. I have not changed it Why on earth did I miss this - it's on the freaking label!

 

[shrimplover]

Phosguard will work, how do you use it? It needs to be changed every 4 days until numbers go down

I used it in my filter in a seachem "the bag", made sure lots of flow through.

 

[shrimplover]

Not currently but I Have before

Did you find it to be agressive?

 

[VintageReefer]

Did you find it to be agressive?

Not aggressive, peaceful just a fast grower. But a very good looking coral. Just needs branches trimmed as it gets larger.

 

[VintageReefer]

I used it in my filter in a seachem "the bag", made sure lots of flow through.

Perfect

Now just remember change every 4 days until numbers decline. You can even put a little extra in the first few times if you can fit more in the bag.

 

[vetteguy53081]

That should be easy. It’s just the dang phosphates in that particular tank. I have now ordered a bag full of super expensive macroalgae (could have bought Way to many coral drags for this money) to help being is down in a long term sustainable way

Phos often elevated due to overfeeding, lack of filtration or maintenance, use of tap water and foods including powdered foods such as reef roids