Stable parameters for SPS

[Nicksreef2022]

Hi All , I’m pretty new to sps so just trying to understand more on their needs . I keep reading and hearing a lot of people saying stability is the key for SPS . I just wanna clarify , what is stability? Is it keeping the water parameters within the correct range at all times or keeping water parameters at the correct values at all times . For example should CA be kept at 450ppm all the time or does a range of 400 -450ppm still considered stable . Same with all other parameters KH , PH, MG etc .
would someone please enlighten me . Thank You

 

[EeyoreIsMySpiritAnimal]

Simple answer = Stability is keeping the same levels.

 

[mermaid_life]

Parameters will naturally fluctuate throughout the day. Test kits have their own margin of error and human margin of error also.

Ranges are fine when looking at it throughout the day. However if you take measurements the same time in different days, they shouldn't fluctuate too much. For example. My alk is always around 8.4 around noon but drops at night.

 

[Max93]

I think it is misleading to just tell people “stable parameters” and the only focusing on numbers versus the WHY.

you also need to replenish your trace elements.

you can do this via many different methods - pick your game and stick to it.
Personally the only way I’ve had success is by dosing trace elements after ICP tests, run kalkwasser AND also dose ca alk and mg.
For nutrient export I use NOPOX and heavy skimming. zero water changes.

 

[Nicksreef2022]

Parameters will naturally fluctuate throughout the day. Test kits have their own margin of error and human margin of error also.

Ranges are fine when looking at it throughout the day. However if you take measurements the same time in different days, they shouldn't fluctuate too much. For example. My alk is always around 8.4 around noon but drops at night.

So assuming if the water is tested the same time of the day and one day I get a 460 reading for Calcium and 3 days later I get a reading of 450 . Is that acceptable?

 

[Dburr1014]

Calcium and magnesium won't fluctuate to much.
Alk is the one that should be tested about the same time of day.
To your question, yes. As you get data, you will start to see trends. As you see the trends, you will get to know the tank and it's inhabitants better.
Try and write down the test numbers as you do them for reference.

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

Stable parameters mean nothing. Every sps help thread starts with “my parameters are stable”. My tank should have crashed years ago if stable parameters are required.

 

[mermaid_life]

So assuming if the water is tested the same time of the day and one day I get a 460 reading for Calcium and 3 days later I get a reading of 450 . Is that acceptable?

As someone else has stated, it depends on the parameter. With calcium, same time different day, 450 vs 460 is more than fine.

In the beginning, I would aim to keep your alkalinity within 0.5 dkH, same time diff day. As your tank matures and you have more sps, you will have to start dosing more which also means your fluctuation MAY increase as well. Think about it..... if your tank is unhappy for a day and everyone stops eating, then you might end up overshooting dkH. HOWEVER, by this point your tank has also matured enough and sps are healthy and established enough to survive one-off big fluctuations.

There's no straightforward formula. IME, if you put in frags and they are RTN-ing overnight, the frags either weren't super healthy ie from shipping or your tank is fluctuating too much for it's current maturity level. That's just my experience to date.

 

[Biddence]

Stable parameters mean nothing. Every sps help thread starts with “my parameters are stable”. My tank should have crashed years ago if stable parameters are required.

I agree with this 100% the only time i have ran into serious trouble, when i had “higher” phosphate and nitrate.. get worried about it and throw a bunch of GFO in and shock and starve acros

 

[Troylee]

Stable parameters mean nothing. Every sps help thread starts with “my parameters are stable”. My tank should have crashed years ago if stable parameters are required.

Def with you on that! I don’t test unless I have a problem and I dose everything by hand.. I think if someone is able to keep everything perfect and stable the corals become accustomed to it and it leads to disaster when it does change.. water changes alone change stuff a lot if it’s a big enough one.. mines all over the place like yours and I found myself going nuts trying to keep it all perfect. I can say I only lost a single Sps since I got back in and I have over 50 different ones now.. a birds nest of all haha!

 

[bobnicaragua]

I run the moonshiners method on my SPS tank. So I test alk weekly, and get an ICP test once a month. That’s it.

 

[Reef Psychology]

So assuming if the water is tested the same time of the day and one day I get a 460 reading for Calcium and 3 days later I get a reading of 450 . Is that acceptable?

Choose a salt mix you like and just try to keep those parameters. Sharp changes over hours are bad, but not often disastrous. Gradual changes over weeks are well tolerated. Most corals can adapt to imperfect parameters. You never want to see free ammonia or large amounts of heavy metals. Some corals just won’t like your aquarium no matter how perfect your water may be.

”Stability“ is a general rule because it conveys an overarching wisdom in this hobby. You should strive for it, but understand that it isn’t the an absolute philosophy.

Go find 2-3 tanks in the build threads that are older than a few years and look good to you and follow their techniques. Ask questions, but try not to diverge from them until at least a year or until you have a strong understanding of the hobby.

 

[acrojunkie]

Hi All , I’m pretty new to sps so just trying to understand more on their needs . I keep reading and hearing a lot of people saying stability is the key for SPS . I just wanna clarify , what is stability? Is it keeping the water parameters within the correct range at all times or keeping water parameters at the correct values at all times . For example should CA be kept at 450ppm all the time or does a range of 400 -450ppm still considered stable . Same with all other parameters KH , PH, MG etc .
would someone please enlighten me . Thank You

Stability meaning that they stay in their respective ranges with minimal fluctuation, they all matter but alkalinity swings greater than 1 dkh can be detrimental to the corals.

 

[Ghostbuster]

Stable parameters mean nothing. Every sps help thread starts with “my parameters are stable”. My tank should have crashed years ago if stable parameters are required.

Impressive flow and polyp dancing! Is it like that 24/7?

 

[Nicksreef2022]

Impressive flow and polyp dancing! Is it like that 24/7?

Wow , impressive tank . Your sps are flourishing with your high phosphate and Nitrates.

 

[Ghostbuster]

Wow , impressive tank . Your sps are flourishing with your high phosphate and Nitrates.

@Charlie’s Frags tank

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

Impressive flow and polyp dancing! Is it like that 24/7?

Thank you and yes the flow is pretty much like that 24/7. I have a little lower flow when the lights are off but not by much.