The SPS Q&A Thread.

[TopNotchCorals]

I have been thinking for a very long time and have done an endless amount of reading on MB7/vodka dosing,for the past few months I have been receiving more "dont do it" and very little "do it".Im leaning more towards doing it though.So what would you reccomend my starting doses be on a 50g cube 24x24x20?

 

[m and m]

How do you check your PO4 m and m? Hanna or other test kit? Just curious. Higher phosphates can definitely cause color loss (amongst many other issues with SPS). As for the algae issues, this is a perfect scenario for vodka dosing. I have seen it wipe out major algae outbreaks. If you're using GFO, it may help but will likely take months to see any difference. MB7 and vodka dosing can help much faster (if used properly in the tank). Have you dosed vodka before?

I think i might try it, its just that i feel its riding a fine and would hate to lose alot of stuff trying to fix this prob.

 

[TopNotchCorals]

I think i might try it, its just that i feel its riding a fine and would hate to lose alot of stuff trying to fix this prob.

Same thoughts Im having on it but gonna try while my tank is still young and full of frags rather then colonies.

 

[WWC]

well I did know my nitrates were high but not that bad :angel:I don't have my systems tied up but i won't dose vodka as my problem is not how to get my nitrates down, if i were to feed like a normal person my nitrates will be zero since I have a well established BB system, I do feed VERY heavy about 8 to 12 times a day large amounts :crossedlips: If my nitrates were to go down to zero my acros will not like it at all, they will turn pale and won't grow at all, now when they get their (fix :tongue:)10 to 25 nitrates you can clearly see all the polyp extension.

Well at about 40 nitrates recession should be expected, or at least highly likely. Could I interest you in some vodka? :tongue: LOL

You guys have some amazing pieces and setups so keep doing what you are doing. I wouldn't be comfortable with nitrates that high, but with extra skimming and a more efficient nutrient export system you should be good to go.

Its tough giving you a specific recommendation beyond the basics, especially considering that your store systems are probably tied all together.

 

[WWC]

you are welcome to anytime :bigsmile:

I would die to see how your things run behind the shows.

 

[TonyV]

Any ideas on why a few of my SPS would have PE at night and not during the day? My Green Slimer and a few frags I got from the infamous Kraylen are exhibiting this trait. Could it possibly be too much light? Tank is light by an AquaticLife T5 HO system with ATI bulbs.

 

[m and m]

Sonny, how do you feal about making a cocktail of all the chems i use and putting them in at once. Suck as my vodka,AA,Iodian and Pottasiom?

 

[JBs_Reef]

anyone have a good link to a balanced calcium and alkalinity table. My old link is broken....thanks

 

[FISH PROS]

this is what i used when i used to 2 part

Reef Chemistry Calculator

 

[waxy]

That is a very detailed calculator, pretty interesting.

 

[JBs_Reef]

this is what i used when i used to 2 part

Reef Chemistry Calculator

Thanks fro trhe link

 

[SunnyX]

So, lets hear some more of your questions reefers! I know it is the summertime and everyone is out and about but I know someone out there has some really good questions. Bring it!! :bigsmile:

 

[DML08]

I'll pick!..
Balling light Vs 2 part..
basically the same thing just at different concentrations per L plus the trace B and daily dosing of Mag..
your opinion?

 

[MikeB]

SunnyX Love your blog. Beautiful tanks and lots of helpful information

 

[johnanddawn]

on Ca/ALK sup - anyone else still topping off with kalkwasser?

i drip kalk every night and find my 2 part is greatly reduced
also a freind is having daily pH swings (generally considered to be caused by CO2/O2 photsynthesis/respiration cycles) and i recommended to him that he start dripping kalk at night

it seems as if the benifits of kalk have been lost in recent times

how many of you guys still use kalk - why or why not?

 

[SunnyX]

I'll pick!..
Balling light Vs 2 part..
basically the same thing just at different concentrations per L plus the trace B and daily dosing of Mag..
your opinion?

When looking at both of those options it comes down to personal preference as I dont think that one is better than the other. The one cons with both Balling light and two part is that you will need to keep an eye on your salinity as it will go up with use.

Here are a couple links:

Balling Light: http://shop.faunamarin.de/media/content/manual_balling-methode_eng.pdf

Two Part: An Improved Do-it-Yourself Two-Part Calcium and Alkalinity Supplement System by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

 

[SunnyX]

SunnyX Love your blog. Beautiful tanks and lots of helpful information

Thanks!!! :D

on Ca/ALK sup - anyone else still topping off with kalkwasser?

i drip kalk every night and find my 2 part is greatly reduced
also a freind is having daily pH swings (generally considered to be caused by CO2/O2 photsynthesis/respiration cycles) and i recommended to him that he start dripping kalk at night

it seems as if the benifits of kalk have been lost in recent times

how many of you guys still use kalk - why or why not?

I like Kalk but I no longer have a reactor to run some in. Kalkwasser is beneficial and I recommend it, but it seems like it has fallen out of favor over the years. The decrease in use may be due to the fact that two part can now be purchased discounted in bulk, or that quite a few reefers have lost systems due to Kalk over dosing.

Anyway, if you are happy with kalk then keep on using it.

 

[mbattles22]

Hi, I'm new to this site and relatively new at reefing. We have a 120g tank, set up since Nov. 09. Currently we have 3 175w MH, but are switching to LED/T5 combo as we have had poor color and growth overall. We have been having the worst time with SPS! Are chemistry is in line, at least with our test kits (Alk 8.0, ph 8.1-8.2, salinity 1.023, temp 77.2, nitrates 0 and Ca 450) but most of the frags we have end up RTN or STN after a week to several months. It all seems so variable. As soon as a show a sigh of relief thinking we've made it, it starts receding at the base. I have several right now that have lost tissue, but still have PE on the remaining tissue! This has happened to our birdsnest and pocillopora as well as the acro's, so I don't think it is a parasite. Any help/advice would be much appreciated. I am almost at the point of throwing in the towel. But, I am already addicted!

 

[SunnyX]

Hi, I'm new to this site and relatively new at reefing. We have a 120g tank, set up since Nov. 09. Currently we have 3 175w MH, but are switching to LED/T5 combo as we have had poor color and growth overall. We have been having the worst time with SPS! Are chemistry is in line, at least with our test kits (Alk 8.0, ph 8.1-8.2, salinity 1.023, temp 77.2, nitrates 0 and Ca 450) but most of the frags we have end up RTN or STN after a week to several months. It all seems so variable. As soon as a show a sigh of relief thinking we've made it, it starts receding at the base. I have several right now that have lost tissue, but still have PE on the remaining tissue! This has happened to our birdsnest and pocillopora as well as the acro's, so I don't think it is a parasite. Any help/advice would be much appreciated. I am almost at the point of throwing in the towel. But, I am already addicted!

Hello and welcome to R2R! :D Please dont throw in the towel just yet, we will help you build a successful SPS reef. While your parameters look good what stuck out was the specific gravity at 1.023. While it may not be the main cause of the RTN issue your specific gravity could use a boast. I personally run my SG at around 1.026-1.027. I like the higher level as it aids in skimming and I seem to have had great success with it. If you decide to raise the SG please do it slowly.

I have a couple questions to aid me it finding you a solution:

-I didn't see you post it but have you tested your Po4?
-What are you using to test your nitrate?
-Do you currently have any algae issues?
-What are you dosing and how often? Please include water changes as well.
-What other corals do you have in your tank OTHER than SPS?
-Are you running carbon or GFO?

Thanks,

Sonny

 

[mbattles22]

Sonny, Thanks so much for your response. Have actually been raising the SG, currently at 1.025. Phosphates are 0. API test for nitrates, Red Sea for phosphate, Salifert for Alk. Dosing Alk 8.3 (recently having to dose every other day - Alk now 8.3-8.5) , and Reef Plus Amino Acid (once a week), essential supplement every other week. Using Oceanic salt for water changes, 10% every week. Minimal hair algae in the tank, some small spots of what we think is cyanobacteria. Running a phos reactor, and until recently was using carbon as well. Other than SPS, lots of zoas, some acros, bubble, plates, hammers, cyphastreas, frogspawn, two bubble tip anenomes (away from the corals), favias, chalices, and a couple of brain corals. We have a monti stellata that is doing well, and can't figure out why we are losing other SPS! We are in the process of getting a Sfiligoi LED/T5 fixture, and setting up to run a 2 part Alk/Calcium system when the lights and a controller arrive.

Looking forward to hearing what you think.