Wanting to try SPS

[tobster]

I would really like to try SPS in my tank. The tank is about 10 months old.
Question is, would I have to dose anything to grow sps or would weekly water changes be sufficient?
I use IO reef crystals.
Also, what are some beginner friendly SPS corals?

 

[PapaFishRocks]

Most would say 10 months is pushing it. Best to get through all the ugly phase first to ensure stability.

But if you can find some inexpensive ones. Go for it.

That’s what I did.
I waited 1 1/2 years in and started with some cheap Birdsnest and Acros. All <$30 on sale from Top Shelf Aquatics (Highly recommended them)

Wanted to test the waters without having too much $$$ invested.

30 days in and they are still looking great.

Haven’t needed to dose anything yet.

 

[Reefer Matt]

I would really like to try SPS in my tank. The tank is about 10 months old.
Question is, would I have to dose anything to grow sps or would weekly water changes be sufficient?
I use IO reef crystals.
Also, what are some beginner friendly SPS corals?

Starting out with frags, water changes should maintain your parameters for a while, depending on tank size. It’s important to get into the habit of testing frequently and keeping parameters stable. Montipora, Leptoseris, Pavona, Seriatopora, Stylophora, Pocillopora and the Green Slimer (Acropora Yongei) are good choices to start with.

Here is an article for those wishing to start keeping sps coral.

Demystifying SPS Coral Care

Demystifying SPS Coral Care by Reefer Matt Hello Reefers! I thought I’d share my thoughts and experience with SPS coral and how I care for them. In this article, I hope you’ll find something to take with you, and apply it to your tank. Reefer...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[tobster]

Most would say 10 months is pushing it. Best to get through all the ugly phase first to ensure stability.

But if you can find some inexpensive ones. Go for it.

That’s what I did.
I waited 1 1/2 years in and started with some cheap Birdsnest and Acros. All <$30 on sale from Top Shelf Aquatics (Highly recommended them)

Wanted to test the waters without having too much $$$ invested.

30 days in and they are still looking great.

Haven’t needed to dose anything yet.

Yea I thought it may be too soon but I’d like to try some cheaper ones. I just did my first order with top shelf and I was impressed with the packaging and how clean the corals look.

 

[DIYreefer]

Starting out with frags, water changes should maintain your parameters for a while, depending on tank size. It’s important to get into the habit of testing frequently and keeping parameters stable. Montipora, Leptoseris, Pavona, Seriatopora, Stylophora, Pocillopora and the Green Slimer (Acropora Yongei) are good choices to start with.

Here is an article for those wishing to start keeping sps coral.

Demystifying SPS Coral Care

Demystifying SPS Coral Care by Reefer Matt Hello Reefers! I thought I’d share my thoughts and experience with SPS coral and how I care for them. In this article, I hope you’ll find something to take with you, and apply it to your tank. Reefer...

www.reef2reef.com

This is excellent advice and recommendations.

 

[tobster]

Starting out with frags, water changes should maintain your parameters for a while, depending on tank size. It’s important to get into the habit of testing frequently and keeping parameters stable. Montipora, Leptoseris, Pavona, Seriatopora, Stylophora, Pocillopora and the Green Slimer (Acropora Yongei) are good choices to start with.

Here is an article for those wishing to start keeping sps coral.

Demystifying SPS Coral Care

Demystifying SPS Coral Care by Reefer Matt Hello Reefers! I thought I’d share my thoughts and experience with SPS coral and how I care for them. In this article, I hope you’ll find something to take with you, and apply it to your tank. Reefer...

www.reef2reef.com

Thanks for the article! I’ll definitely look into the ones you named.
Do I need to test for alk, calcium and magnesium?
Are these the stable perimeters everyone refers to?

 

[BiggestE22]

I would really like to try SPS in my tank. The tank is about 10 months old.
Question is, would I have to dose anything to grow sps or would weekly water changes be sufficient?
I use IO reef crystals.
Also, what are some beginner friendly SPS corals?

Liots of flow.

 

[cloak]

Like mentioned above, lots of flow and stability is key. (KH, CA, MG) Not to mention light... These things are a whole new animal altogether. Some are easy to keep, (almost a pest) some are very temperamental. (time) This is where your "blue thumb" comes into play. GL.

 

[Reefer Matt]

Thanks for the article! I’ll definitely look into the ones you named.
Do I need to test for alk, calcium and magnesium?
Are these the stable perimeters everyone refers to?

Yeah, alkalinity the most. Calcium usually changes slower, with magnesium the slowest, if ever. But none of them may change much at first, your test results will be your guide to your frequency of testing and water changes. Also try to keep nitrates and phosphates lower, but not 0. Those can usually be tested once a week or so, depending on your fish load.

 

[tobster]

Like mentioned above, lots of flow and stability is key. (KH, CA, MG) Not to mention light... These things are a whole new animal altogether. Some are easy to keep, (almost a pest) some are very temperamental. (time) This is where your "blue thumb" comes into play. GL.

Thanks! I think I have the flow and light covered. I’ll have to start testing weekly to see the changes.

 

[tobster]

Yeah, alkalinity the most. Calcium usually changes slower, with magnesium the slowest, if ever. But none of them may change much at first, your test results will be your guide to your frequency of testing and water changes. Also try to keep nitrates and phosphates lower, but not 0. Those can usually be tested once a week or so, depending on your fish load.

Thanks for the info! Sounds like I need to get some test kits and get a plan.

 

[DaJMasta]

While there is a lot to be said for the stability that comes with tank age, 10 months is absolutely enough time if you're past most of the nuisance stages and have good coralline coverage and appropriate lighting, flow, and parameters already.

My concern is mainly the water changes. If you are doing a very large portion of your total tank volume every week (50% or more), then you may actually be able to keep required mineral levels high enough, but not if it's more regular water change amounts. This is especially tricky to nail because the frag will start small and probably not grow much for a couple of weeks, and then a year or more in the growth (and consumption) will be many times what it initially was.

The answer to this is testing and then dosing when things start running low. Start testing the main parameters now, learn about dosing and plan on a method (but you don't necessarily have to start) and once you have a baseline and a plan, try an easier frag.

 

[tobster]

While there is a lot to be said for the stability that comes with tank age, 10 months is absolutely enough time if you're past most of the nuisance stages and have good coralline coverage and appropriate lighting, flow, and parameters already.

My concern is mainly the water changes. If you are doing a very large portion of your total tank volume every week (50% or more), then you may actually be able to keep required mineral levels high enough, but not if it's more regular water change amounts. This is especially tricky to nail because the frag will start small and probably not grow much for a couple of weeks, and then a year or more in the growth (and consumption) will be many times what it initially was.

The answer to this is testing and then dosing when things start running low. Start testing the main parameters now, learn about dosing and plan on a method (but you don't necessarily have to start) and once you have a baseline and a plan, try an easier frag.

I do roughly 10 percent water changes weekly. It’s about 150 gallon tank.
Sounds like from what you all are saying is that I need to get some good test kits and get into the habit of testing.
I’m thinking green slimer and birdsnest frags and maybe some cheaper ones to start.

 

[bobnicaragua]

In the beginning, test alkalinity and dose kalkwasser. That is likely all you will ever need unless you go SPS dominant.

You want lots of random flow. Try to keep your phosphates under .15.

Montipora, stylophora, and birdsnest are all a little easier to keep happy than acros. You might try them first.

Good luck!

 

[tobster]

In the beginning, test alkalinity and dose kalkwasser. That is likely all you will ever need unless you go SPS dominant.

You want lots of random flow. Try to keep your phosphates under .15.

Montipora, stylophora, and birdsnest are all a little easier to keep happy than acros. You might try them first.

Good luck!

I keep seeing kalkwasser on things I’m reading, is it better to manually dose or setup a dosing system?
Thanks

 

[Semper.Reefing]

It really depends on your stability in my opinion. I think keeping a stable alkalinity level is key. I’ve been dosing Kalk to replace my water evaporation and BRS soda ash. I added a green slimer from my other tank as soon as I started seeing coraline 2 months in.

 

[Semper.Reefing]

I do roughly 10 percent water changes weekly. It’s about 150 gallon tank.
Sounds like from what you all are saying is that I need to get some good test kits and get into the habit of testing.
I’m thinking green slimer and birdsnest frags and maybe some cheaper ones to start.

I’d start with a Hanna alk checker and test daily to get an idea of your alk consumption and dose accordingly. And you’ll see how much your water changes correct your alk. Probably won’t really need to dose much at all until you notice your water changes aren’t keeping your alk up

 

[bobnicaragua]

I keep seeing kalkwasser on things I’m reading, is it better to manually dose or setup a dosing system?
Thanks

Set up a dosing system for sure. I second the suggestion for a Hana alkalinity tester.

I dose kalkwasser continuously with a versa pump.

 

[tobster]

I’d start with a Hanna alk checker and test daily to get an idea of your alk consumption and dose accordingly. And you’ll see how much your water changes correct your alk. Probably won’t really need to dose much at all until you notice your water changes aren’t keeping your alk up

Sounds like a plan. I’ll get a Hanna asap and start a daily log. I currently have the Red Sea test but it can be tricky to read- at least for me.

 

[tobster]

Set up a dosing system for sure. I second the suggestion for a Hana alkalinity tester.

I dose kalkwasser continuously with a versa pump.

Good deal. Thanks for the pictures!