Let’s talk dirty water and Sps

Troylee · Feb 11, 2023

Fish Styx said:
Very similar story here. I had a hiatus from 2014 until 2021. January 2nd to January 2nd. I made the switch the SW from GW back in '09 and started reefing in the ULNS days. By the time I had to take a break, I had moved away from it because I had some LPS in my system and found that, not only did they do better with some "dirt", but so did my acros!

Exactly what just happened to me.. I always had a Sps reef.. this go around I have Sps and lps.. I bought some high end torches that were beautiful they looked fake the gold was so brilliant.. I started bringing the nutrients down a little and then hair algae took them out lol.. my torches lost almost all of their gold and my Sps stopped flourishing… so it’s back up we go with the numbers! I wish I would have had it mixed back in the day.. I feel these torches are harder than sticks haha! Torches are good indicators for sticks in my latest experience… if my torches are happy the sticks are super happy! And torches it’s easier to see if there’s a issue vs Sps that don’t budge lol

Fish Styx · Feb 11, 2023

Troylee said:
Exactly what just happened to me.. I always had a Sps reef.. this go around I have Sps and lps.. I bought some high end torches that were beautiful they looked fake the gold was so brilliant.. I started bringing the nutrients down a little and then hair algae took them out lol.. my torches lost almost all of their gold and my Sps stopped flourishing… so it’s back up we go with the numbers! I wish I would have had it mixed back in the day.. I feel these torches are harder than sticks haha! Torches are good indicators for sticks in my latest experience… if my torches are happy the sticks are super happy! And torches it’s easier to see if there’s a issue vs Sps that don’t budge lol

Yeah, my new system was built with SPS in mind, and now that it has matured (still very young at the 2 year mark), I'll be adding the first frags soon. Wish me luck!

Troylee · Feb 11, 2023

Fish Styx said:
Yeah, my new system was built with SPS in mind, and now that it has matured (still very young at the 2 year mark), I'll be adding the first frags soon. Wish me luck!

Get some aquacultured pieces and it will take off like crazy! I have a few high end ones and a wild one that’s sloooooow growing but it’s encrusting.. waiting for it to take off! Speciousa or how ever you spell it lol… second one is after party I just got that was brown as could be.

bakbay · Feb 11, 2023

I’ve been running at 26 no3, 0.19 po4 and no water change for 28 months now. The usual “easy” SPS corals are growing like weeds; esp torts, green slimer, pc rainbow, etc. “High-end” ones seem to color-up and grow (albeit slower) hence their price.

I’ve been playing with only running CaRx during the day while Kalk in ATO + CO2 scrubbing to push pH up.

So far so good though

Perry · Feb 11, 2023

I usually test after weekly 20% water change, usually within 10% of these numbers for at least 6 months, even higher. Values below represent lower end of my typical results.
6.8-7.3dkh
8.0-8.3ph

bakbay · Feb 11, 2023

What I’ve observed for my tank - better coloration from a low Alk (8ish) vs 9.5(ish). I try not go wander under 8 Alk to give me room for error. The CaRx keeps things stable but playing with Kalk+ATO ain’t fun. I might resort to a Kalk stirrer one of these days.