Recipe for Success in nano??

[paintballer768]

Apparently its the polar opposite of what I have now LOL. Ive got a 24 gallon Aquapod with the 150 watt DE metal halides. Ive tried to keep sps frags (m. digitata and m. capricornis) yet I cannot get anything to live, let alone encrust the base of the plug. Heres my specs:

24 gallon Aquapod
150 watt Sunpod MH (Bulb is 6 months old)
Maxijet 900
Oceanic Biocube Protein Skimmer (added roughly 2 weeks ago)

1 Maroon Clownfish
1 Coral Beauty Angel

Ammonia/Nitrite = 0
Nitrate = Between 0 and 5
Phosphate = Between 0 and 0.1 ppm
Salinity = 1.026-7
Calcium = 400
Alkalinity = 3.8 meq/L

Topoffs performed with RO/DI water, water change water is filtered seawater from my LFS.


Ive kept all my SPS frags middle/bottom of the tank, yet they NEVER seem to encrust the base where I put them, and they ALWAYS bleach out. Ive got 1 frag of purple montipora digitata (its actually brown/orange right now) thats not all the way bleached yet, but on its way.

Anything noticable that Im forgetting? PLEEEEEEASE let me know. My other corals range from gsp, mushrooms, palythoas, a crocea clam, and a duncan.

Any help is very appreciated.

 

[oceanparadise1]

I think u need more flow, every tank i have seen with sps has ALOT of flow

 

[paintballer768]

I think u need more flow, every tank i have seen with sps has ALOT of flow

Could that cause sps to bleach out?

 

[oceanparadise1]

might, not sure on that part i do know with out a lot of flow they dieee

 

[gflat65]

Stressors will cause bleaching. What kind of temp swins do you see? Swinging high can cause bleaching pretty quickly. Is the bleaching slow or quick? Is it bleaching or RTN/STN (are there still polyps, only white, or is it bare skeleton)?

How steady are the parameters? In a nano, it can be difficult to hold everything (and a little too much of something can upset the balance a lot more easily than in a larger tank).

Do you get surface skimming? I've found that to be pretty beneficial (otherwise, the oxygen exchange isn't what you want over time).

A little more flow wouldn't hurt for SPS.

Do you run carbon? Sometimes that can help with mixed tanks and toxins/pollutants.

 

[paintballer768]

Stressors will cause bleaching. What kind of temp swins do you see? Swinging high can cause bleaching pretty quickly. Is the bleaching slow or quick? Is it bleaching or RTN/STN (are there still polyps, only white, or is it bare skeleton)?
Temperature ranges from about 77 to 80 in a day. Its slow bleaching, polyps being lost with tissue.

How steady are the parameters? In a nano, it can be difficult to hold everything (and a little too much of something can upset the balance a lot more easily than in a larger tank).
Parameters are definitely very stable. The water change water is nearly the same as that taken out, except the new water obviously bring levels back up a bit. I do weekly 5 gallon changes, and always keep 5 more gallons on hand in case of emergency.

Do you get surface skimming? I've found that to be pretty beneficial (otherwise, the oxygen exchange isn't what you want over time).
Yea the surface is definitely aggitated well, I dont think thats much of a problem.

A little more flow wouldn't hurt for SPS.
I know some flow would be better for em. Im just afraid itd make it so turbulent that I couldnt keep the LPS I want in the future. Im going to be picking up some candy canes and maybe another piece within the next few weeks.

Do you run carbon? Sometimes that can help with mixed tanks and toxins/pollutants.
Never ran carbon before.

Answers in red. Im starting to think that I should have set this up to cater to specifically SPS needs. Its kind of hard keeping a mixed reef in a small system.

 

[oceanparadise1]

i would get to k1s and u should be fine for flow in that tank for sps and lps

 

[paintballer768]

i would get to k1s and u should be fine for flow in that tank for sps and lps

Does it put out more than the maxi 900? What do you think about replacing them?

Also, regarding the temperature going between 77 to 80, do you think I should put a heater in? I have a stealth 50 watt laying around, dunno how well itll work.

 

[oceanparadise1]

i would, keep it more stable, and yes 295 vs 400 plus its not a stream of water but a propeller type giving way better flow. They are well worth it and give a more random flow so its better for the corals IMO

 

[johnr2604]

I would increase your flow maybe two K-1's or K-1 and a K-nano. I would also recomend keeping the SPS toward the top of the tank.

 

[oceanparadise1]

I would increase your flow maybe two K-1's or K-1 and a K-nano. I would also recomend keeping the SPS toward the top of the tank.

+1:cool::cool::cool:

 

[paintballer768]

i would, keep it more stable, and yes 295 vs 400 plus its not a stream of water but a propeller type giving way better flow. They are well worth it and give a more random flow so its better for the corals IMO

Thats true. Theyre so expensive I just want to make sure theyre worth it is all.

I would increase your flow maybe two K-1's or K-1 and a K-nano. I would also recomend keeping the SPS toward the top of the tank.

That wouldnt pound my corals? Ill post a picture of my tank if I happen to find a decent one on photobucket. If not, tomorrow Ill post one. Give you all an idea of what it looks like

 

[oceanparadise1]

not at all and bro find htem used u can get a k1 used for 20 bucks, i baught 4 off a guy for 85 shipped

 

[johnr2604]

I am assuming that the maxijet is replacing the stock pump or is that in addition to the stock pump? Like said above propeller powerheads like the koralia and the tunze give a more omni-directional flow as opposed to a uni-directional flow. You can have alot more water movement and not dammage softies or LPS.

 

[jonbar1]

I've kept lots of SPS in my 12g AquaPod mixed reef with a 150w for about two years now and have had lots of success. Most of mine are Acros but there's a couple Montis in the mix.

Is the MJ900 doing the water return or supplemental to what you already have in the back? If it's the only pump in the tank, YOU NEED MORE FLOW!!! I use the MJ900 on the 12g and it was nowhere near enough flow on it's own as a return so I added a Koralia to the display part and could still use more flow. I'm not sure about just keeping montis, but if you were having trouble with acros, this is what I would say is your problem.

Other than that, I keep most of my SPS at the very top of the tank. Montis can take less light, and I don't see them dying quick from being in the middle or bottom so I don't think that's the culprit.

Keeping alkalinity stable and up is the only other problem I could see you having. I have to dose almost daily to keep up, and with a clam in the equation I would have to dose twice a day...the few weeks I had one he took up insane amounts of alk and when he found a new home that problem went away. Test it everyday for a week or two and I'm guessing you'll find this is where your problem lies.

I run carbon too, but couldn't say one way or the other if it's doing anything noticeable.

 

[paintballer768]

not at all and bro find htem used u can get a k1 used for 20 bucks, i baught 4 off a guy for 85 shipped

I forgot about used equipment!! Not bad haha. Good point. So a K-1 and a K-Nano wouldnt be too much. Another question (I appologize everybody), Ive NEVER gotten basically any polyp extension, and if I do get some its very very little. Flow could cause this?

 

[oceanparadise1]

dude trust me get to k1s and you will be SO much happiers

 

[oceanparadise1]

Yes flow could cause it, BUT dont do a k1 and a nano do 2 k1s its worth it bro

 

[paintballer768]

I am assuming that the maxijet is replacing the stock pump or is that in addition to the stock pump? Like said above propeller powerheads like the koralia and the tunze give a more omni-directional flow as opposed to a uni-directional flow. You can have alot more water movement and not dammage softies or LPS.

I have the stock pump, and the maxi 900 in the DT for additional flow. I think what youre saying about the different flow directions will definitely help out.

I've kept lots of SPS in my 12g AquaPod mixed reef with a 150w for about two years now and have had lots of success. Most of mine are Acros but there's a couple Montis in the mix.

Is the MJ900 doing the water return or supplemental to what you already have in the back? If it's the only pump in the tank, YOU NEED MORE FLOW!!! I use the MJ900 on the 12g and it was nowhere near enough flow on it's own as a return so I added a Koralia to the display part and could still use more flow. I'm not sure about just keeping montis, but if you were having trouble with acros, this is what I would say is your problem.

Other than that, I keep most of my SPS at the very top of the tank. Montis can take less light, and I don't see them dying quick from being in the middle or bottom so I don't think that's the culprit.

Keeping alkalinity stable and up is the only other problem I could see you having. I have to dose almost daily to keep up, and with a clam in the equation I would have to dose twice a day...the few weeks I had one he took up insane amounts of alk and when he found a new home that problem went away. Test it everyday for a week or two and I'm guessing you'll find this is where your problem lies.

I run carbon too, but couldn't say one way or the other if it's doing anything noticeable.

Maxi 900 is supplemental to the stock pump. Ill test my alk daily for the next few days to see if what you said is an issue.

 

[paintballer768]

dude trust me get to k1s and you will be SO much happiers

Yes flow could cause it, BUT dont do a k1 and a nano do 2 k1s its worth it bro

Hahaha alright alright. Ill cave into the peer pressure this time.