Taking the next step?

[j.speaks]

Hello everyone,

I have experienced a lot of success In the hobby over the last few months, with the additions of new corals (thriving) and stabilizing my water. I feel like I’m starting to understand and feel the rhythm of the hobby more and more, and I would like to dip my feet Into the sps world.

I have a 65 gallon reef (82 system) with zoas, mushrooms, hammers, chalices, and a few others, all of which are doing extremely well. I run one AI blade grow, and am planning to get another during the holidays. Would this lighting be sufficient for easier acros? I’m gonna make use of my local club’s par meter soon, too. For flow, I currently have a sicce syncra pro, and am going to get an AI Nero 5 soon as well.

My params have stayed very stable around 440 cal
1.025 salinity
10 dkh
0.04 phosphate
8.2 ph
Temp 78
(No mag test but I’ll def get one)

My nitrates stay around 6-8, but I can pretty easily lower them by feeding less and turning down my skimmer. Would this have a major affect on my current corals?

tank has been up and running for just about a year, and I’m just starting to see coralline in places that don’t have frag plugs near them. I know keeping a mixed reef is hard but I’m totally open to shift some of my params to suit this. (Please let me know)

i don’t want to make an impulsive descision just because I’m finding some success, but a battle box is calling my name lol.

Please let me know what can be done/steps I need to take to take the next step! (if I can at all!!)

 

[bobnicaragua]

It looks like you’ve done your home work. Make sure to run carbon in a mixed reef.

I recommend dosing kalkwasser at night for calcium and alkalinity. It also reduces the PH drop when lights are out.

I would shoot for 250-350 par at the top of the rocks. Light bars provide good coverage, so shadowing won’t be an issue.

Lots of strong random current. Blow the detritus out of your acros with a power head or turkey baster a few days a week.

I’ve bought from battle corals before. The across came in looking good.

Here’s my Battle Stag:

 

[j.speaks]

Amazing coral!!!!

 

[goosemans]

How deep is the tank? I’d imagine two would be enough for sps on top of rock work. Green slimer, digitata, purple stylo, birdsnest, ora acroporas all tend to be very forgiving for you wanting to try sps without blowing $. I really like the way birdnest grows. Hoping for your success

 

[j.speaks]

How deep is the tank? I’d imagine two would be enough for sps on top of rock work. Green slimer, digitata, purple stylo, birdsnest, ora acroporas all tend to be very forgiving for you wanting to try sps without blowing $. I really like the way birdnest grows. Hoping for your success

Sorry forgot to mention the tank is 36” long by 12” deep by 18” tall. And thanks!!!

 

[j.speaks]

Bump!!

 

[Troylee]

You should be fine if you keep the acros in the top of the tank and under the light or lights. Start with a slimer, Miyagi tort etc.. I find those the easier ones to keep and if they do well move up to higher end ones but don’t expect great growth from them “hence the price tags” cheap sps grow great like any Ora piece or real home grown frags such as battle corals pieces..

 

[j.speaks]

You should be fine if you keep the acros in the top of the tank and under the light or lights. Start with a slimer, Miyagi tort etc.. I find those the easier ones to keep and if they do well move up to higher end ones but don’t expect great growth from them “hence the price tags” cheap sps grow great like any Ora piece or real home grown frags such as battle corals pieces..

Awesome and thanks for the reply!

 

[j.speaks]

Bump

 

[Featherweight]

Happy arbor day