Adding SPS to tank with small bio load

[capchad03]

I am about at the 2-3 month mark having my tank setup. My question is, do you need a certain bioload before adding SPS. Here are my specs/params

Bioload:
Pair of black ice clowns (2 inches long)
Royal gramma (1.5 inches)
Jawfish (2 inches)
15 hermits
15 small snails

Calcium: 430
Mag: 1250
Alk: 10.6
SG: 1.026
NO3: 0
Haven't tested phosphates, no algae outbreaks.

 

[DSP]

You can add sps to your setup now as long as those perameters stay pretty stable

 

[capchad03]

I'm sorry I didn't put my water volume. 235 total gallons. Also I do weekly water changes of 10-15 gallons.

 

[DSP]

Small bioload is even better for sps tanks imo.a lot easier to keep the nutrients low so imo your good to go

 

[misterp]

Not an expert here but in doing research myself for an in progress build I think your alk may be too high with the low nutrients, N and P. I've seen where others experience burnt tips on acros and some pale colored montis, probably other issues too. Many folks that I have talked to seem to keep there alk around 7-8 with the ULNS (ultra low nutrient systems). I'd recommend searching that if you are unsure what I mean. I might also drive the mag level up to 1350.

 

[RacinRevo0818]

You didn't say but Im guessing you have a skimmer? Refugium? Is that a picture of your tank in your avatar? Looks like minimal rock work? Depth of sand bed? All kinds of factors play a role in stability of things.

I would start off with some simple cheap ones and I know its easy to just buy a supper nice expensive coral, but to watch it die slowly or even quickly is no fun. I would start off with some monti's and maybe a green slimer something that is almost guaranteed to work first. If this is your first tank just go nice and slow and you will have great success. Seems like your on the right path adding fish slowly and taking your time.

Im not sure about the comment on the ULNS, as I always thought of these tanks as running bio pellets, Zeovit or vodka dosing. I would think you just have clean water. But Im by no means an expert so please fill free to correct me. Now the fun begins with figuring out, low bio load but how to get great colors? Seems like most tanks that have awesome color equal high nutrients aka lots of fish or additives, large skimmer, and water changes. I know there are exceptions to everything Im just going off of what I have personally seen, and no I have not obtained perfection yet. Its all a balancing act and once figured out something changes and you begin the challenge over again.

Now you just need to throw up some pictures so we can see the tank!!! What kind of equipment and such!!

 

[capchad03]

Thanks for the input. Let me give you more of my specs on the system, also I will add more pics, I wanted to do a build thread as I went along just been too busy. The rock work/ sand bed is all dry rock from marco rock. The two "islands" seen in my avatar are about 80-90 lbs each they don't look like it but they are over 2' tall so 160-180lbs in DT and I also have about 25 lbs rubble in my sump 185-200lbs total. My sand bed is about 1-1 1/4" deep. Im not trying to run an ULNS just have a small bio load, I do plan on getting a couple of wrasses, three tangs (medium size..ie purple,chevron,kole...not exactly those together just an example) and maybe 1-2 other small fish. Here is a list of the equipment I am running: Reef Octopus SRO INT 3000, 2 mp 40es, 2 gen 2 radions, 40 gallon sump, no fuge, 2 MR1 next reef reactors, 1 carbon, 1 phosphate (im not currently running but will soon) 3 4" filter socks. My tank is 52"x30"x30" and has been set up for about 3 months (3 weeks with livestock). FYI, my params are only from my salt mix, Iwasusing red sea pro and all of my numbers were off so I switched to aqua vitro salinity and did my routine water changes and brought my levels to where they are listed above. I will add some pics soon. Maybe do a build thread and go backwards. lol

 

[capchad03]

Here are a few pics from underneath.

 

[reef80]

I think some nutrient may be more beneficial to the tank. I had to qt all my fish because of a velvet outbreak and my coral's colors went pale on me because I was no longer feeding the tank anything. My skimmer was pulling nothing when I stopped feeding. I since added the fishes after 6 weeks of qt and have not turned on the skimmer and colors are starting to perk again. My tank is only three months old. Some of the best looking sps tanks that I've seen have nitrates in the .3 to .5 range. I'am going to aim for that and see what happens...

 

[capchad03]

So should I turn off my skimmer. Or run it for only a few hours a day?

 

[RacinRevo0818]

I would run it 24/7 just turn it down. The skimmer really helps keep your water oxygenated and ph stable.
I would just start adding coral slowly and you will figure it out. There is no exact way to get your nutrients perfect without trial and error. The thing with reef tanks is go slow!!! Seems like your just getting started so get a few corals you like and wait and see how they look. If they look good slowly add more, if they die slow down and see what might be wrong. No matter what your going to have corals die. Might not have anything to do with your system they sometimes just die.
So learn what works best for you and keep trying. Also try to find some local reefers that are knowledgable and can help you with some starter frags usually freebies!! Best luck man

 

[capchad03]

Alright thanks everyone or the info, I appreciate it!