Care tips

Sakis · Jul 21, 2014

Hello guys,

My brother and I got in this hobby about 5 months ago when we set up our first 30 gallon nano reef. We started of with some softies because we didn't have proper lighting and as soon as we bought new lights (T5 HO) we started buying some LPS. Since then we tried many SPS but we had no luck.
I am not sure what the problem is, I have been testing ALk and Calcium and all the parameters every other day, I have also been dosing Acropower and potasion from Brightwell every other day.
I have no reactor, I run some chemipure in a media bag. I purchased Kalk and I am going to dose some tomorrow.
I still have no luck at making them survive. I have also thought that the lights might be too close to the corals ( I set the SPS on the higher part of the tank closer to the lights) and I am afraid it is burning them.
I have the mini Innovative Marine skimmer on my 10 gallon sump/refugium. (skimmer too small)?

Please guys I need some help! Any tips for care will be appreciated!

P.S. Here is a picture of the tank without some of the SPS

skinz78 · Jul 21, 2014

Welcome to Reef2Reef!

How much flow do you have in the tank?

Sakis · Jul 21, 2014

I have two 420 hydro koralia and one Jebao WB-10

Sakis · Jul 21, 2014

I have two hydro koralia 420gph and one Jebao WB-10

mike007 · Jul 21, 2014

Welcome to r2r!! Have you tested your water parameters? Before adding any additives you need to test before adding anything. Need to know what your test results are. Sps corals can be tricky.

Sakis · Jul 21, 2014

Mike 007

Yes I have been testing the parameters every other day. I also try to test the same time I tested the day before. I also test a few hours later I turn the lights on.

Reefing Madness · Jul 21, 2014

Phosphates for SPS need to be in the .05 and under range
What is your lighting? I don't think I read that part?
I'd stop dosing all that stuff if you don't need it. Just watch ALK, CAL, MAG and Nitrates as these are very important in keeping SPS.
Whats the MAG reading, missed that one as well.

Sakis · Jul 21, 2014

Phosphates are at 0. I got 6 T5 HO wave point bulbs fixed and matched. I haven't dosed for mag because i do not have a test kit. I am going to the local fish store tomorrow to buy one and im gonna test before i do anything else. My nitrates are at 5.

Tsmith · Jul 22, 2014

Dudes, relax....water changes and time. Throw the potions away, water changes, 5 gal/week......and patience. Did I mention patience?

TS

Sakis · Jul 22, 2014

Water changes are done one regular basis 15% a week

Tsmith · Jul 22, 2014

Then you are missing the patience. Seriously, wait a few months to add the sps. I have a bare bottom 28 nano, took a good 9 months before the things "took off". You'll get there, I have faith in you both. By the way, where u at?

TS

Reefing Madness · Jul 22, 2014

Only thing I see or don't see out of place is the MAG. Lighting seems fine. What bulbs are you using? Out of 6 lamps you should probably only be running one white lamp and the rest like, 2 blue plus and one actinic, something along those lines. SPS don't much use the 10-14k range, but more in the 14-20k.
Also, you may try to get the Nitrates down under 5, see if that helps you out any.

Sakis · Jul 22, 2014

Tsmith said:
Then you are missing the patience. Seriously, wait a few months to add the sps. I have a bare bottom 28 nano, took a good 9 months before the things "took off". You'll get there, I have faith in you both. By the way, where u at?

TS

Stratford Ct