Trying sps

[Hannahmunt]

Hello,

id like to get a few sps frags to try. My tank is 40g with one so hydra 32.

I’ve been told by my lfs that I need to have two hydra 32s. Is this correct?

dimensions of my tank are:

length: 76.5cm
height: 53cm
depth: 52cm

 

[blaxsun]

Not necessarily. SPS typically require good lighting and flow, with PAR levels upwards of 200. If you're able to rent or borrow a PAR meter you can test the current levels of your single Hydra 32. It also depends on where you place the SPS in your tank (directly under the light will receive more exposure).

 

[Uncle99]

Depends completely on PAR.
Without this info, it’s hard get everyone happy.
If they want to sell another light, maybe they could rent ya a PAR meter, then, there will not be any further guessing.

300 at the surface, 125-200 mid range, 75-120 bottom, and 50 in the corners.

So Acros high and big flow at the top, Monti caps, Montipora Digita in the middle, LPS on the bottom with less flow.

 

[Lavey29]

Agree with the above but you cam always try some easier inexpensive frags like stylo, birdnest, monti digi, etc... save the flashy acros for later.

 

[Rmckoy]

You won’t know unless you try .
one light source in the middle seams a little under but to be sure a par meter is the only way to know for sure .

this is exactly why I went with t5’s from the start and having a hard time convincing myself to upgrade to leds .
i Have never questioned having enough light .

 

[Loosechangereef]

sps like tanks little over a year old , use top off water/wc 0 tds,your lighting sounds good,like stability especially alk,also alot of flow not directly on corals , random flow,

 

[X-37B]

Yes you will be able to grow sps with one 32. 2 would be better for full coverage.

This is my 18" 20g nano cube with mostly sps. I run 2 16hds 10" off the surface. Tank is 6 months old.

 

[Loosechangereef]

Yes you will be able to grow sps with one 32. 2 would be better for full coverage.

This is my 18" 20g nano cube with mostly sps. I run 2 16hds 10" off the surface. Tank is 6 months old.

BTW cool nano

 

[Hannahmunt]

Not necessarily. SPS typically require good lighting and flow, with PAR levels upwards of 200. If you're able to rent or borrow a PAR meter you can test the current levels of your single Hydra 32. It also depends on where you place the SPS in your tank (directly under the light will receive more exposure).

I Google’s eat beginner sps and have ordered, caliendrum, forest fire and birds nest.

my water has been stable for a good month now. I recently upgraded my wave maker to a redsea reef wave 25 so the flow is good.

my lights are quite low, they are around 8” from the water surface.

 

[Hannahmunt]

Agree with the above but you cam always try some easier inexpensive frags like stylo, birdnest, monti digi, etc... save the flashy acros for later.

I Google’s eat beginner sps and have ordered, caliendrum, forest fire and birds nest.

my water has been stable for a good month now. I recently upgraded my wave maker to a redsea reef wave 25 so the flow is good.

my lights are quite low, they are around 8” from the water surface.

 

[MoshJosh]

I can't speak to the exact requirements, as I am far from an SPS expert, but high light high flow seems to be a general starting point, though high flow can be relative to proximity to pumps/wavemakers.

My first SPS corals were pavona and montipora (per my LFS recommendation) and even as a novice I have seen good growth out of these corals.

 

[X-37B]

I Google’s eat beginner sps and have ordered, caliendrum, forest fire and birds nest.

my water has been stable for a good month now. I recently upgraded my wave maker to a redsea reef wave 25 so the flow is good.

my lights are quite low, they are around 8” from the water surface.

8" is fine but 10" will give more spread.
What is your schedule and setting for your 32?

 

[Hannahmunt]

You won’t know unless you try .

one light source in the middle seams a little under but to be sure a par meter is the only way to know for sure .

this is exactly why I went with t5’s from the start and having a hard time convincing myself to upgrade to leds .
i Have never questioned having enough light .

8" is fine but 10" will give more spread.
What is your schedule and setting for your 32?

I’d like to have it higher but I can get it any higher unfortunately. Will need to have a think and may have to do a bit of diy.

I have attached photos of my light schedule, my wave maker and a video of the tank

 

[Hannahmunt]

here is a video of the tank right now. I’ve just moved a few things round so that’s why loads of bits floating about

 

[Hannahmunt]

Yes you will be able to grow sps with one 32. 2 would be better for full coverage.

This is my 18" 20g nano cube with mostly sps. I run 2 16hds 10" off the surface. Tank is 6 months old.

Beautiful tank!

would love to have some nice sps growing like this

 

[X-37B]

You won’t know unless you try .


I’d like to have it higher but I can get it any higher unfortunately. Will need to have a think and may have to do a bit of diy.

I have attached photos of my light schedule, my wave maker and a video of the tank

Your settings are quite low for acros, imo.
Here is the settings I run on all 4 tanks with my 16hds.
1 hr ramp up/down
10 hrs peak
UV 140%
V 140%
RB 125%
B 125%
R 6%
G 6%
W 30%

This is my 45 frag system running 3 16's.

 

[Hannahmunt]

Your settings are quite low for acros, imo.
Here is the settings I run on all 4 tanks with my 16hds.
1 hr ramp up/down
10 hrs peak
UV 140%
V 140%
RB 125%
B 125%
R 6%
G 6%
W 30%

This is my 45 frag system running 3 16's.

I turned the Uv down on mine as it seemed to be burning my torches, they’ve lost there colour and gone white :(

I will try your settings, should I do your settings but a bit lower as my light is 8” from the water surface.

 

[Hannahmunt]

Your settings are quite low for acros, imo.
Here is the settings I run on all 4 tanks with my 16hds.
1 hr ramp up/down
10 hrs peak
UV 140%
V 140%
RB 125%
B 125%
R 6%
G 6%
W 30%

This is my 45 frag system running 3 16's.

Could you show me an example on the app of this?

 

[Hannahmunt]

Your settings are quite low for acros, imo.
Here is the settings I run on all 4 tanks with my 16hds.
1 hr ramp up/down
10 hrs peak
UV 140%
V 140%
RB 125%
B 125%
R 6%
G 6%
W 30%

This is my 45 frag system running 3 16's.

How does this look?

 

[X-37B]

How does this look?

This is my setting.