LPS parameters

[AntarcticIkeelu]

So I have a few questions regarding my 150 gal tank. It is almost all LPS with a few softies (zoa's and mushrooms). I know the LPS tend to like the tank to be a little dirtier when it comes to nutrients so my question is what is a good level to keep them at? My current parameters are:

SG-1.025
Mg-1400 (haven't tested in about a week but been stable for several months now)
Cal -420
Nitrates: 5-10ppm
Nitrites - 0
Ammonia - 0
Phosphates - 0.25ppm
AK - 8.5dkh
Ph - 8.2
Temp - 78

Corals in my tank:
3 meat corals (acanthrophyllia)
3 scolys ( 2 bleeding apple and 1 war paint)
1 green wall hammer
1 branching hammer
2 frogspawn
1 Xenia
1 meteor shower
1 larger rock of zoa's (no name)
2 heads of Amor of Gods (zoa)
13 heads smoldering cauldron (zoa)
4 larger purple mushrooms
1 large red mushroom
1 jawbreaker mushroom
1 green bounce mushroom
4 blastos
1 gold interstellar mushroom
20-30 heads of Green Bay packers (zoa)
2 heads of torch coral
1 carpet anemone
2 mummy eye chalice
1 JF raja rampage chalice
1 red and yellow chalice
1 jackpot chalice
1 blue and red chalice
1 tree leather ( nepthillia)

Fish:
2 clowns
1 lyre tail
1 coral beauty
1 Royal gramma
1 melanarus wrasse
1 purple firefish
1 yellow assessor
1 blue tang

Inv:
Multiple snails
1 longspine sea urchin

 

[cromag27]

There's no exact answer to your question. your corals and tank will tell you what to do. you obviously don't want to find out too late. personally, I'd keep no3 no higher than 10 and po4 no higher than 1. if the corals start to look bad or you get algae, then you know something's wrong.

 

[tangerine3486]

Antarcticlkeelu,
I have been wondering this same thing. Did that response get you the answer you wanted / have you validated it over the past few months?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

There's no exact answer to your question. your corals and tank will tell you what to do. you obviously don't want to find out too late. personally, I'd keep no3 no higher than 10 and po4 no higher than 1. if the corals start to look bad or you get algae, then you know something's wrong.

1 ppm phosphate?

I'd aim for more like 0.03 ppm phosphate. Too much risk of algae at higher levels, IMO.

 

[AntarcticIkeelu]

Antarcticlkeelu,
I have been wondering this same thing. Did that response get you the answer you wanted / have you validated it over the past few months?

Yes tank looks good now and seeing good growth, had 4 rainbow bta's up to 6 now, had a 4 head of blastos that now has 9 on it and my zoas are going crazy

 

[tangerine3486]

That is fantastic! What are your target nitrates and phosphates?

1 ppm phosphate?

I'd aim for more like 0.03 ppm phosphate. Too much risk of algae at higher levels, IMO.

What are your thoughts on nitrates in a low to none SPS tank?

 

[AntarcticIkeelu]

That is fantastic! What are your target nitrates and phosphates?



What are your thoughts on nitrates in a low to none SPS tank?

I keep my phosphates at 0.25 and my nitrates at 15, my lps really seem to like a little higher nitrates...more food for them I guess.

 

[AntarcticIkeelu]

Oh and I have 0 sps in my tank as well

 

[tangerine3486]

Awesome i'm glad i happened by your thread!

 

[AntarcticIkeelu]

Here are a few picks of some of my favorite livestock

Would gladly include names on zoas if you wanted to know a particular one

 

[tangerine3486]

Solid Zoa collection! How about the orange black one, 3rd pick on the left?

 

[AntarcticIkeelu]

Smouldering cauldron, very old school zoa, don't see them around anymore.

 

[tangerine3486]

Well that is unfortunate! Very nice though

 

[maleks.reef]

Yes tank looks good now and seeing good growth, had 4 rainbow bta's up to 6 now, had a 4 head of blastos that now has 9 on it and my zoas are going crazy

What are your parameters like? I plan on keeping a tank similar to yours. Thanks.