My First SPS

[Eric55]

I got these in the mail yesterday. I have them at the bottom of the tank now so they can get used to the 150w metal halide light. I have a Maxijet 1200 providing indirect flow, along with another powerhead placed perpendicular to the corals which is also providing indirect flow.

I plan on moving these closer to the light, but I'm not sure how fast I should move these up and get them glued to my rock.

There is a little damage to one of the corals, so I'll be keeping my eye on that.

Can anyone think of anything else I should be doing to help these corals along?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Eric

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/89579crl1.JPG

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/89579crl2.JPG

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/89579crl3.JPG

[ShannHell]

The only thing I can recommend to "help them along" is think about their final placement in the tank. Make sure they will have the proper lighting and flow to flourish, and won't be irritated by other coral or fish. Then leave them there and let them settle and grow.

[Aquarist007]

what are the water parameters in your tank---ammonia, nitrate, calcium, magnesium, alk level and pH?

[rbtwo4]

Nice frags. Start moving them up slowly after a week or 2.

[Shooter7]

Welcome to the madness. :D

I recommend good flow, probably at least 30x volume flow, so around 900 gph or more. But don't blast them with direct flow like from an MJ. Very stable pH, Mg, Ca, and alk levels. Low, preferrably zero nitrates and phosphates.

[EdKruzel]

I used to start as you are with acclimating them to the bottom and working higher, but found it to be a pain and with some problems.

I ask (if by mail) what light and depth the frags are kept during purchase, and often it is similar to what I'm running, therefore I mount them and that's it. If there are any noticeable problems, I keep a piece of eggcrate and sheets of window screen (non-metallic) in my garage.

I place the eggcrate and screen (several sheets) over the tank to shade the new coral and remove one sheet every third day or so (depending on how the coral looks) until all sheets have been removed.

I wouldn't worry about the damaged piece on your new coral, but I would mount that so the bare area is on the underside or slightly shaded from the halide.

[AMIFL]

Good flow is definately important for them. Good lookin frags though.

[Reefmack]

Nice! Did you order them online? If so from where?

[Eric55]

I got them through Vivid Aquariums in California.

Here are my parameters as of today:
Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0.05
Nitrate - 2.5
Phosphate - 0.03
pH - 8.1
KH/Alk - 9.4
Calcium - 370
Magnesium - 1230

I just started using C-Balance's A/B solution for Calcium and Kent's Tech-M for Magnesium to get the levels higher.

My levels of those 2 things actually went down after I started using the supplements, while my KH/Alk increased from 8.3 to 9.4.

I think it will take a little while to get them where they should be.

[Aquarist007]

[i].

I think it will take a little while to get them where they should be. [/B]

Then IMHO you should hold off on the sps's until your tank parameters are stable.

I would add magnesium first and get the level up to 1300--then add kent turbo calcium and get the calcium levels up to around 450.
SPS like calcium

also I would not attempt sps until 0 detectable nitrates and 0 detectable phosphates. (doesn't mean zero in the tank--just undectable by the kits) phosphates will brown sps's

[Aquarist007]

what is your water changes schedule like--are you using r/0 water?

[Eric55]

I do 25% water changes weekly. I'm using distilled water until I get a RO/DI unit.

My calcium used to be in the 430-440 range so it never was a problem before. In the meantime, I added 1 torch coral and now coralline is starting to grow.

[EdKruzel]

For smaller tanks I find CaribSea's Aragamilk to be an excellent source for buffering a tank and adding calcium. It's always given me the best coralline growth of any supplement I've used.

[Aquarist007]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10709945#post10709945 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Eric55
I do 25% water changes weekly. I'm using distilled water until I get a RO/DI unit.

My calcium used to be in the 430-440 range so it never was a problem before. In the meantime, I added 1 torch coral and now coralline is starting to grow.

check your magnesium level---it needs to be 1300 --that will effect calcium levels.

the coralline is a good sign--but it uses up calcium carbonate.