Can I put any sps in??

[agamblinalot]

I have a hello reef 15g. I have 4 softies and a hammer to start. Can I put any montis or pocillopora or acropora in here?? Flow seems super strong with the sicce power head. Light is an Ai Blade grow.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

How long have you had the tank, and what lights are you using? I say if your tank's parameters are stable, I would start with some cheaper acros and a monti to see how they will do in your tank.

 

[bobnicaragua]

I would start with montipora, stylophora, or birds nest. If you can keep those alive, then try an acro.

Are you ready to test alkalinity and maintain it with 2 part, kalkwasser, or all for reef? What’s the par on top of the rocks?

 

[agamblinalot]

I would start with montipora, stylophora, or birds nest. If you can keep those alive, then try an acro.

Are you ready to test alkalinity and maintain it with 2 part, kalkwasser, or all for reef? What’s the par on top of the rocks?

I’m 4 weeks in and just finishing the ugly stage, so I have a ways to go. I’ve tested once and my alk was really low at 7.6, cal was 400 and Mg was 1280. Once things stabilize in the tank I was planning on dosing All for Reef.

PAR at the top is 280 with 55% B, 55%RB and 10%CW. I’m running a modified Dimitry Tumanov schedule on the blade.

 

[JohnNYC8]

I have a hello reef 15g. I have 4 softies and a hammer to start. Can I put any montis or pocillopora or acropora in here?? Flow seems super strong with the sicce power head. Light is an Ai Blade grow.

Nice setup. Where do you source your corals from? Do you have a good LFS? If so, I’d ask them for an easier to keep SPS coral.

If you’re buying online I’d start with an anacropora. They’re a little harder to find but they have an awesome growth structure and are generally hardier.

 

[agamblinalot]

Nice setup. Where do you source your corals from? Do you have a good LFS? If so, I’d ask them for an easier to keep SPS coral.

If you’re buying online I’d start with an anacropora. They’re a little harder to find but they have an awesome growth structure and are generally hardier.

We have a few great LFS here in Boise, they won’t sell me any now because of my water parameters. But once I start dosing and get things stable I’ll try an anacropora and maybe a monti. I just need to fill in the right side of my tank and that gets the most flow. I’d like a plating monti in the middle right and maybe so encrusters on the bottom right. Then some kind of stick up top.

 

[bobnicaragua]

I’m 4 weeks in and just finishing the ugly stage, so I have a ways to go. I’ve tested once and my alk was really low at 7.6, cal was 400 and Mg was 1280. Once things stabilize in the tank I was planning on dosing All for Reef.

PAR at the top is 280 with 55% B, 55%RB and 10%CW. I’m running a modified Dimitry Tumanov schedule on the blade.

7.6 alk is fine. Par is good. If your nutrients are in a good range, the only concern I’d have is the age of your tank.
The old rule of thumb is to wait until you have coraline algae growth before SPS.

If you have access to an inexpensive or free test frag, that’s a different story.

 

[JohnNYC8]

We have a few great LFS here in Boise, they won’t sell me any now because of my water parameters. But once I start dosing and get things stable I’ll try an anacropora and maybe a monti. I just need to fill in the right side of my tank and that gets the most flow. I’d like a plating monti in the middle right and maybe so encrusters on the bottom right. Then some kind of stick up top.

That’s great! I’d follow their advice 100%. I like that placement plan—it’ll look great.

 

[skey44]

I’m 4 weeks in and just finishing the ugly stage, so I have a ways to go. I’ve tested once and my alk was really low at 7.6, cal was 400 and Mg was 1280. Once things stabilize in the tank I was planning on dosing All for Reef.

PAR at the top is 280 with 55% B, 55%RB and 10%CW. I’m running a modified Dimitry Tumanov schedule on the blade.

Your chem parameters are great. 7.6 is reasonable alk. Par should be ok for lower light sps. Recommend Cali tort as a good beginner Acropora. Agree with trying monti or birds nest before Acropora.

 

[agamblinalot]

Thanks everyone for the great feedback! I have my marching orders. How would I go about mounting a monti to a vertical surface like I have on the right side ? Just glue and epoxy combo??

 

[bobnicaragua]

Thanks everyone for the great feedback! I have my marching orders. How would I go about mounting a monti to a vertical surface like I have on the right side ? Just glue and epoxy combo??

Try to glue it into a crevice you can wedge it into. It’ll hold better than trying to glue it to flat rock.

 

[Rams]

I won’t put any SPS in it as it’s new tank