Input on tank build and coral placement

[brianfarm6767]

Hello,
I have had my new tank setup wet now for about 6 months. It is a IM Nuvo 20 AIO. Started with around 15 pounds of dry rock and 3/4 of a bag of special grade sand. Have a MP10 set at 60% lagoon mode, Radion Blue G6 on AB+ set on 30% with high intensity lens and diffuser to try and reduce as much light spill as possible. AI Axis 40 return pump set at 65%. Below I will add my par readings using a apogee 420x as well as my tank parameters that I have been able keep for the most part stable with dosing All For Reef and 20% weekly water changes.

Hoping for any input on any potential things I am overlooking or improvements. Also any input on coral placement as I have been picking up frags slowly as I come across them and doing my best to place them in proper places as well as keep in mind potential aggression and growth. Trying to go with LPS mainly with a few SPS and softies in higher and low light areas. Thanks for any info.


Water Parameters

Temp - 78
Salinity - 1.026
PH - 7.85
Nitrate - 6.5
Phosphate - .15
Calcium - 410
Alk - 8.5
Magnesium - 1450


Par Readings

Back (Left - Middle - Right)

70 - 180 - 55
50 - 105 - 55
40 - 70 - 40


Middle (Left - Middle - Right)

65 - 220 - 50
50 - 140 - 50
45 - 90 - 55


Front ( Left - Middle - Right)

40 - 150 - 40
65 - 150 - 60
75 - 120 - 75

 

[tbrown]

Not saying you can't be successful, just be careful with Acros. A lot of those PAR measurements are fairly low for higher light SPS. The 220 and 180 can grow some, but most of the rest will likely cause browning of most Acros.

 

[brianfarm6767]

Not saying you can't be successful, just be careful with Acros. A lot of those PAR measurements are fairly low for higher light SPS. The 220 and 180 can grow some, but most of the rest will likely cause browning of most Acros.

Agree with you. I just have a few monti, birdsnest and anacropora right now in the highest par area. I have the lights at 30% so if I ever wanted to crank up the par I could, but thought it was better to start lower and raise it up over time if I needed more par in the tank.

 

[Dmmz]

sps definitely will need higher par but nice setup

 

[dstockwell]

Nice scape.

 

[brianfarm6767]

Nice scape.

Thank you

 

[tbrown]

That's probably a good plan. I keep my Anacropora at different PARs. My Slimeball is in around 125 and my CB The Thing is in around 180-200.

Monti caps are usually anywhere for me - anywhere from 100 - 250 in my tanks.
Digitatas are Mid to high levels in the tank.
Encrusters I usually have around the middle of the tank.

My Birdsnest do good in any light it seems like. They're mid to top in my tanks.

Those don't require a ton of PAR so you should be good with them. Stylophora is another you could even look at. I've had those in as low as 75 PAR successfully and as high as 225.

 

[brianfarm6767]

That's probably a good plan. I keep my Anacropora at different PARs. My Slimeball is in around 125 and my CB The Thing is in around 180-200.

Monti caps are usually anywhere for me - anywhere from 100 - 250 in my tanks.
Digitatas are Mid to high levels in the tank.
Encrusters I usually have around the middle of the tank.

My Birdsnest do good in any light it seems like. They're mid to top in my tanks.

Those don't require a ton of PAR so you should be good with them. Stylophora is another you could even look at. I've had those in as low as 75 PAR successfully and as high as 225.

Thanks I will keep those in mind. I live about an hour from any LFS so I like to keep a list of coral I might want to add when I take a trip.