Do we all wait for 12 months before having success with SPS?

[Blake423]

Hi all,

A bit frustrated recently with my 11 months old tank and loss of sps coral, and I am not talking about those difficult sps, I am talking about birdsnest, stylophora and montipora digitata.

My tank:
About 250L
Dosing ALK and Cal
Par level is about 200 on sand bed and 300 on top of the rock.
Dry rock

Water Parameters:
ALK: 8.0 to 7.7
CAL: 430
MAG: 1380
NO3: 5
PO4: 0.02-0.04

I admit I made some mistakes along the way, like letting NO3 bottom out for couple of months but already keep it at 5 for last few weeks, MAG drop to 1230 recently but already brought it up now, a wavemaker gave up on me. But things are getting quite stable now. I put some SPS frags in around 2 months ago (when my tank is about 8 or 9 months old), like Acropora Millepora, Montipora Digitata, Pink/Green Birdsnest and Purple Stylophora.
Millepora started encrusted on the rock and suddenly started peeling and it's dead now.
Montipora Digitata was half dead but coming back at the moment.
Pink Birdsnest dead, but I think this one is wild caught so may be difficult.
Green Birdsnest frag also dead.
Purple Stylophora started peeling now.

I know it is recommended to wait 12 months before keeping SPS. But it seems some people (from YouTube channel) are able to keep SPS even when the tank is new, like 1-3 months new, and doesn't look like they use live rock, how do they do that?

I think the 12 months wait is for the bacterial being matured. So how some people are able to keep sps when their tank is new? Do all you guys wait for 12 months before keeping sps?

Sorry for the whining, just wondering about everything of reef keeping.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

Well there’s a lot, I mean a lot of variables. The biggest…… No instant tanks are started with dry rock. Also most stuff you see on YouTube are the prime cuts. Most do not and will not show the mistakes, downfalls and behind the scenes.

 

[flyfisher2]

I tend to agree with Zzyxz for the most part.
My tank is just turning the one year mark and I did start it with all dry rock but I seeded it with Matrix from my established tank which is now about two years old.
I also did not add ANY corals until 6 months ago.
Even so, being that the tank is predominantly Acros I’m keeping my fingers tightly crossed and watching the system like a hawk.

 

[gbru316]

The 12 month guidance is as much about the new reefkeeper learning how to keep a reef tank (and learning how to find stability) and the tank maturing to the point where there aren't constant biome changes (ie, diatoms, algae, bacterial blooms, etc). It's also about learning when you need to step back and let things play out instead of knee-jerk dosing all the additives to get rid of your problem. It's also about ensuring the new reefkeeper can find some immediate, lasting success instead of spending $1k on a ton of name brand frags then quitting when they forget to top off the tank, topping it off, then forgetting to also top off the alk that was consumed during the period of elevated salinity.


For your specific situation -- an alk swing of 0.3 dKh over a week isn't a problem. If it occurs in 12 hours, it is.

Your NO3 "bottoming out" can be a problem. Or it can't. Depends on your goals. If you feed heavily, the NO3 might not be a problem. If you don't, it will. If your alk is high during a low nutrient period, it can be an issue. If your light is too high for the given alk/nutrient level, it can be a problem. Same goes for water flow, as water removes waste products. The biological/chemical interdependencies are a big part of the challenge.

 

[bobnicaragua]

Add some live rock, my lfs is usually stocked from tank tear downs. Add substrate from established tanks.

 

[Chrisv.]

I don't know how people stay interested the hobby with no corals for the first 5 years.

I don't know what killed your corals, but I seriously doubt it was because the tank wasn't a year old.

Have you measured the intensity of your lights? How is your flow? How stable is your alkalinity?

 

[Anemone_Fanatic]

Your alkalinity is a little on the low side, and the .3 fluctuation could cause issues if it happens over a short period of time. Other than that, I suggest adding a little bit of live rock from an established tank or the ocean. That will bring any bacteria that you could want into your system, and help to make it better for your corals. I would also suggest looking for sources of pollutants. Think a rusty algae scraper, or cleaning products finding their way in. I hope that this helps!

 

[brmc1985]

Your alkalinity is a little on the low side, and the .3 fluctuation could cause issues if it happens over a short period of time. Other than that, I suggest adding a little bit of live rock from an established tank or the ocean. That will bring any bacteria that you could want into your system, and help to make it better for your corals. I would also suggest looking for sources of pollutants. Think a rusty algae scraper, or cleaning products finding their way in. I hope that this helps!

Alkalinity is fine and a .3 fluctionation will not kill corals. Even the most intolerant sps will be totally fine and not skip a beat. Instead of looking for sources of pollutants do an ICP test. Yes I know they aren’t 100% reliable if you want to have every single element within +\- 2% then use an actual lab grade one and not the hobbyist version that we all use.

 

[F i s h y]

No... this tank is only 9 months old in these pics...

Live rock... stability... proper maintenance... I dont think there is a secret recipe...

 

[Gatorpa]

Alkalinity is fine and a .3 fluctionation will not kill corals. Even the most intolerant sps will be totally fine and not skip a beat. Instead of looking for sources of pollutants do an ICP test. Yes I know they aren’t 100% reliable if you want to have every single element within +\- 2% then use an actual lab grade one and not the hobbyist version that we all use.

agree .3 change on dKH won’t kill corals. I’ve seen tanks get a 1.5-2 dkH bump and not kill SPS

 

[Gatorpa]

6 month old upgrade with true live rock.
Sad people have to get dead rock and try to seed it.

Id suggest to anyone find someone breaking down a system with real live rock to start a new tank.

 

[ELChingonsReef]

I have a 10 month old mixed reef. I started adding sps 3 months ago. I started with dry marco rock. Live sand and one carib sea rock tower. It was a upgrade for me. I decided to buy a red sea reefer 300xl tank from a petsmart 65 gallon tank. . All my sps have been doing great. I just finished fighting dinos. I was worried I would lose my sps frags but they all survived.. so far. I baught 100% aquaculture sps frags from some great vendors here on R2R . I don't think you have to wait any particular amount of time. Your going to make mistakes. I did. I let my nutrients bottom out so I ended up with dinos. But its how you learn and recover from your mistakes. I think UV is a very important part of keeping sps in immature tanks. Keeping nutrients stable and keeping up with water changes. I don't think trace elements and all those other complex things some reefers do to not do water changes is the best path for new tanks. I think water changes are very important for young tanks especially with sps. As long as you use a good quality salt mix and you are consistent. Stability is key for sps. And any other corals. No matter how old your tank is.

 

[flyfisher2]

6 month old upgrade with true live rock.
Sad people have to get dead rock and try to seed it.

Id suggest to anyone find someone breaking down a system with real live rock to start a new tank.

I never considered myself a "sad person" but I'll respect your observation. Lol

 

[Gatorpa]

I never considered myself a "sad person" but I'll respect your observation. Lol

lol

Shound have been it‘s sad that people have to buy dead rock.

I meant no offense. People are limited with what they can buy…

 

[rtparty]

Day 1 (95% dry rock)

Week 1 SPS went in (only blue XHO on tank)

Between weeks 2-3 halides go up

Weeks 4-6

About a month ago (need to get a new FTS)

My alkalinity has been around 6.5 to 7dkh the whole time. It's spiked as high as 9dkh at least once. Not a single issue from that spike. If water, flow, and light are good then SPS will do fine from very early on (assuming no pests or fish bothering them.)

 

[flyfisher2]

No... this tank is only 9 months old in these pics...

Live rock... stability... proper maintenance... I dont think there is a secret recipe...

Very nice mixed reef. Incredible growth!
All frags 9 months ago?

 

[wculver]

Hi all,

A bit frustrated recently with my 11 months old tank and loss of sps coral, and I am not talking about those difficult sps, I am talking about birdsnest, stylophora and montipora digitata.

My tank:
About 250L
Dosing ALK and Cal
Par level is about 200 on sand bed and 300 on top of the rock.
Dry rock

Water Parameters:
ALK: 8.0 to 7.7
CAL: 430
MAG: 1380
NO3: 5
PO4: 0.02-0.04

I admit I made some mistakes along the way, like letting NO3 bottom out for couple of months but already keep it at 5 for last few weeks, MAG drop to 1230 recently but already brought it up now, a wavemaker gave up on me. But things are getting quite stable now. I put some SPS frags in around 2 months ago (when my tank is about 8 or 9 months old), like Acropora Millepora, Montipora Digitata, Pink/Green Birdsnest and Purple Stylophora.
Millepora started encrusted on the rock and suddenly started peeling and it's dead now.
Montipora Digitata was half dead but coming back at the moment.
Pink Birdsnest dead, but I think this one is wild caught so may be difficult.
Green Birdsnest frag also dead.
Purple Stylophora started peeling now.

I know it is recommended to wait 12 months before keeping SPS. But it seems some people (from YouTube channel) are able to keep SPS even when the tank is new, like 1-3 months new, and doesn't look like they use live rock, how do they do that?

I think the 12 months wait is for the bacterial being matured. So how some people are able to keep sps when their tank is new? Do all you guys wait for 12 months before keeping sps?

Sorry for the whining, just wondering about everything of reef keeping.

So here are some challenges I see.

- If the nitrate bottomed out it also took the alkalinity up in the opposite direction which is a double whammy to the coral. As things stabilize so should the alkalinity.
- The stress of even that one event is going to linger. It can take months to recover but it can and will recover with stability. For the time being I would recommend testing alk and nitrate every day or two. Get to know what the numbers look like and anticipate what's going to happen.
- I usually suggest moving a struggling coral to a lower position in the tank to avoid zapping the remaining beneficial bacteria. For me I literally put them on the sand bed because I designed things to be liveable for anything there in low light You'd have to use your best judgement on what a happy medium would be.

 

[brmc1985]

agree .3 change on dKH won’t kill corals. I’ve seen tanks get a 1.5-2 dkH bump and not kill SPS

I’ll do a 3 dkh increase on this in less than an hour and you won’t see a change.

 

[flyfisher2]

lol

Shound have been it‘s sad that people have to buy dead rock.

I meant no offense. People are limited with what they can buy…

No worries. Thanks for the clarification.
I agree that not all people can buy Live rock or even want to for various reasons.
I’ve had live rock in my early years and reaped the benefits and dealt with the problems as well.
My choice was based on convenience and aquascaping.
As it stands I am content with my bare bottom and having seeded the tank from an established tank.
Aiptasia and vermetid worms are an issue which was introduced with livestock.
A hobby opens the door to our personal tastes.
Imagine what it would be like if we all had the same exact tank with same lights, filtration, rock scape and fish?
I’m always interested in seeing what my fellow hobbyist have envisioned and achieved with more and with less.

To the OP I say, Patience is key.
Take your time. Enjoy the process. There is no long lasting pride in instant gratification.
As with all things development and growth are a process which can be enjoyable if we take the time to appreciate it.
Our hobby is a process and meant to last.

 

[Rmckoy]

Hi all,

A bit frustrated recently with my 11 months old tank and loss of sps coral, and I am not talking about those difficult sps, I am talking about birdsnest, stylophora and montipora digitata.

My tank:
About 250L
Dosing ALK and Cal
Par level is about 200 on sand bed and 300 on top of the rock.
Dry rock

Water Parameters:
ALK: 8.0 to 7.7
CAL: 430
MAG: 1380
NO3: 5
PO4: 0.02-0.04

I admit I made some mistakes along the way, like letting NO3 bottom out for couple of months but already keep it at 5 for last few weeks, MAG drop to 1230 recently but already brought it up now, a wavemaker gave up on me. But things are getting quite stable now. I put some SPS frags in around 2 months ago (when my tank is about 8 or 9 months old), like Acropora Millepora, Montipora Digitata, Pink/Green Birdsnest and Purple Stylophora.
Millepora started encrusted on the rock and suddenly started peeling and it's dead now.
Montipora Digitata was half dead but coming back at the moment.
Pink Birdsnest dead, but I think this one is wild caught so may be difficult.
Green Birdsnest frag also dead.
Purple Stylophora started peeling now.

I know it is recommended to wait 12 months before keeping SPS. But it seems some people (from YouTube channel) are able to keep SPS even when the tank is new, like 1-3 months new, and doesn't look like they use live rock, how do they do that?

I think the 12 months wait is for the bacterial being matured. So how some people are able to keep sps when their tank is new? Do all you guys wait for 12 months before keeping sps?

Sorry for the whining, just wondering about everything of reef keeping.

I don’t know if I believe 12 months as a rule . But there has been many posts about corals when starting with dry rocks .
perhaps pushing the maturity time a little longer to achieve conditions stable for more sensitive corals such as sps

fwiw branching montipora have always been hit or miss for me .