Top 10 Tips For Keeping a SPS Reef Tank

[ReefBum]

Well, I have been in this hobby for over 20 years and I have learned a few things along the way. What is great is that I am still learning new things today, a testament to how challenging and dynamic this wonderful hobby of ours can be.

Anyway, here are some tips I would like to pass along that have helped me keep thriving SPS tanks. I know others have achieved great success following some different principals so please don't view this as the definitive list.......although its worked for me!

http://reefbum.com/instructional/top-10-tips-for-keeping-a-successful-reef-tank/

Keith

http://reefbum.com
ReefBum Youtube Channel
ReefBum Facebook Page

 

[revhtree]

Thanks for sharing! Great info!

 

[Russ265]

for someone with 20 years experience, how old is that tank you are showing us?

 

[ReefBum]

My latest tank is a year old and I have had SPS for about 8 months. I had some challenges such as dinos, diatoms and a bacterial bloom but things appear to be heading in the right direction now.

You can check out a live stream of the tank here:

http://reefbum.com/reefbum-tv/live-hd-web-cam/

 

[Russ265]

My latest tank is a year old and I have had SPS for about 8 months. I had some challenges such as dinos, diatoms and a bacterial bloom but things appear to be heading in the right direction now.

You can check out a live stream of the tank here:

http://reefbum.com/reefbum-tv/live-hd-web-cam/

how did you avoid corraline taking over?
our tanks are similarly aged. (i also have had 2 dino outbreaks)

7 ft of glass is hard to scrape. so is the left side view....

water first entered my tank may 2015

 

[ReefBum]

how did you avoid corraline taking over?
our tanks are similarly aged. (i also have had 2 dino outbreaks)

7 ft of glass is hard to scrape. so is the left side view....

water first entered my tank may 2015

I clean my glass with a magnet every other day and I also use a scraper to keep any corraline on the glass at bay. I can also get behind my tank so that makes it much easier to keep the back panel clean.

BTW.....diggin your aquascape :)

 

[Russ265]

I clean my glass with a magnet every other day and I also use a scraper to keep any corraline on the glass at bay. I can also get behind my tank so that makes it much easier to keep the back panel clean.

BTW.....diggin your aquascape :)

thanks.
just this corraline is a pain. even if i scrape i cant get behind the rocks near the back glass. almost wanna just let the corraline take over.

how it looked before water got in. so all dead rock.

i may just give in and let corraline have the back glass. i was hoping for a little bit more insight from a veteran as this is a problem for me.

 

[ReefBum]

thanks.
just this corraline is a pain. even if i scrape i cant get behind the rocks near the back glass. almost wanna just let the corraline take over.

how it looked before water got in. so all dead rock.

i may just give in and let corraline have the back glass. i was hoping for a little bit more insight from a veteran as this is a problem for me.

One of the things I do when I set up a tank is leave a space between the rock work and the back glass. This serves 2 purposes....1) it allows me to clean all of the back panel and 2) it creates a space where I can direct flow to help prevent a dead spot in the back. It will be tough to keep the coralline off of your overflows but it can be done on the back and sides with a regular routine.

 

[Luis Fernando Soto]

Nice tips can you tell us wich are your parameters about Ca, Mg, Kh

 

[ReefBum]

Nice tips can you tell us wich are your parameters about Ca, Mg, Kh

Many thanks.....My parameters are as follows:

Ca ~ 420ppm
Kh - 8-9 dkh
Phosphate - .03 ppm
Nitrates - 5-10 ppm
Salinity - 1.025
Mg - 1350 ppm

 

[SeaDweller]

This should be your number 1 tip: don't start because once you do, you CANNOT stop!

 

[ReefBum]

This should be your number 1 tip: don't start because once you do, you CANNOT stop!

Very true, very true :)

 

[saltwater667]

Tank set up looks nice

 

[ReefBum]

Tank set up looks nice

Thanks! It's always hard work but it is worth it.

 

[Mwells]

Love the set up and the videos, I'm subscribed!

 

[ReefBum]

Love the set up and the videos, I'm subscribed!

Thanks! More vids to come!

 

[zoomonster]

thanks.
just this corraline is a pain. even if i scrape i cant get behind the rocks near the back glass. almost wanna just let the corraline take over.

how it looked before water got in. so all dead rock.

i may just give in and let corraline have the back glass. i was hoping for a little bit more insight from a veteran as this is a problem for me.

My current was much the same issue. Nearly inaccessible back and one side difficult due to rock placement. I pretty much let coraline take over for a while. Part of the problem is that new coraline was growing on the glass well before the new rock. Occasionally I would scrape some to continue seeding the tank. When things finally got out of hand (2+ years) I got a black urchin who has pretty much stayed on the back glass eating it. Just recently I rearranged the tank so I have full access to both sides and better access to rear. I also cleaned all the coraline from the back glass and the tank actually looks a little weird now with a black back that does not reflect light like coraline. My problem is I have a huge center overflow that is completely covered and as I found out scraping does not work to well. The urchin moved over to it from the glass and hopefully he will put a dent in it. Moral of the story is if you don't want the plastic overflow covered in it then you will have to keep up with it and not let it get established or it will be difficult to clean.

 

[cobraz]

One more tip to add as a FYI... learn your lighting.
LED lights are not plug and play like T5s and HDs...
LEDs have controls built in to raise and lower the amount of light they throw - which can burn or under light your coral. (Found out the hard way).
Lastly get or loan a PAR meter... oh and by the way - Get or loan a PAR meter can't say that enough.