What are you feeding your SPS?

[spspirate]

So some of you know Im running a new system and a skimmer less one as well. So I try to keep my bioload down to a minimum.... really just feeding what little fish I have in there. So to supplement for my corals I picked up some Red Sea Reef Energy A and B at my local LFS. I'll give it a shot and see what my results are in the next couple weeks. I probably wouldn't run an amino supplement if I were feeding an array of foods and had more fish so hopefully this will do the trick.

 

[ERIC1975]

No skimmer? OMG! For sps tank?? What are your method of nutrient export beside water change?
And I would go easy with Reef energy A and B as the un-used portion can spike PO4 and Nitrate.

 

[spspirate]

Believe it or not water changes go a long way. I change out about 25 gallons a month total water volum is roughly 50 gallons. I'm running ROWA and lignite carbon and have a basket full of rubble with 5 mangroves in the sump.

 

[Asgardian]

Back when I had my tank, I was running the Red Sea ABCD, Red Sea energy A & B, and feeding Reef-Roids. I did not see much improvement in growth with the Energy. I honestly saw much more growth and better color when i used the Aquavitro Fuel instead of the Energy A & B, but that was mainly in the select few LPS I kept in my SPS tank. What i would recommend to do though is to feed/dose the Reef-Roids and amino acids about an hour after the lights went out, I would see killer polyp extension from my SPS. I could be wrong on this because its been over a year since I've done much research, but I think corals mainly feed at night, but as I said, I could be wrong on that.

 

[bif24701]

How long have you been skimmer less?

 

[mhaun]

I run a low nutrient system as well and had to start supplementing reef energy A and B and I feed coral frenzy with good results. My corals definitely colored up nicely once I started this. But as someone said above I had a p04 spike. I believe Red Sea recommends using the N03:P04 supplement to keep that in check. I just keep 1/4 cup of gfo running that keeps it in check. I really enjoy my 2 big feedings weekly. I load up the cup with all of the Reef energy and coral foods along with mysis and veggies. I like to cut off my return pump and let it circulate for about an hour. I had several pieces come back from near death and are now flourishing.

I'm a fan!

 

[spspirate]

How long have you been skimmer less?

Since March Iv'e been skimmer less.

 

[mhaun]

By the way. Some of those "recovered pieces" came from you!

 

[spspirate]

By the way. Some of those "recovered pieces" came from you!

Oh Sweet! Which ones? Sounds like you got that reef locked in!

 

[mhaun]

Pretty sure I got a purple garf and some other acros, a Reef tech sunburst and possibly a friki tiki from you. I think a few other pieces when you took down the savvy. My memory is terrible though. I've been dialing this thing in for a year now(calc reactor has been a nightmare). Think I finally found the sweet spot.

 

[spspirate]

Good to hear...I need to get some GARF back from you..LOL Dialing them in can be a battle but once you get it you got it. For now it's 3 part for me manually dosing until the demand of calcium and alkalinity....(alkalinity mainly) start getting out of hand. I had a Schuran Pico Stream calcium reactor on my old 30 gallon...... small little reactor...loved it!

 

[bif24701]

I run a low nutrient system as well and had to start supplementing reef energy A and B and I feed coral frenzy with good results. My corals definitely colored up nicely once I started this. But as someone said above I had a p04 spike. I believe Red Sea recommends using the N03:P04 supplement to keep that in check. I just keep 1/4 cup of gfo running that keeps it in check. I really enjoy my 2 big feedings weekly. I load up the cup with all of the Reef energy and coral foods along with mysis and veggies. I like to cut off my return pump and let it circulate for about an hour. I had several pieces come back from near death and are now flourishing.

I'm a fan!

Reef energy is for daily use, you are getting results with only weekly use?
I have been looking into using it also. My nutrients are very low.

 

[mhaun]

Reef energy is for daily use, you are getting results with only weekly use?
I have been looking into using it also. My nutrients are very low.

I use it twice weekly. I was using it daily until I saw a noticeable change in the health of my system. My reasoning for only twice weekly is that I feel it is too much for me to handle. I cut back as soon as I saw the climb in P04. Before using RE I could not get my system above .02 p04 with multiple daily feedings. I dosed RE near daily for about 2 months and when I tested p04 again it was up to .4. So I believe you absolutely have to keep up with that. I will probably get back up to dosing every 2 or 3 days once I have a better handle on the balance between this and gfo.

 

[dkray944]

Fish poop is all mine needs... Every time I start dosing things I end up regretting it going back to the basics. Water changes and healthy fish that like to eat and poop

 

[oceanslide]

Anyone using oyster/phyto feast??

 

[bif24701]

Fish poop is all mine needs... Every time I start dosing things I end up regretting it going back to the basics. Water changes and healthy fish that like to eat and poop

All systems are different. I have a low fish load right now. Also my export systems where chosen for a much higher load so they are extremely efficient right now.

 

[spspirate]

Anyone using oyster/phyto feast??

I used too and like it. Got a little pricy after a while.

 

[dankreef]

Fish poop is all mine needs... Every time I start dosing things I end up regretting it going back to the basics. Water changes and healthy fish that like to eat and poop

Same here. Every time I dose any type of amino or supplement I will get cyano. Lately I have been dosing stump remover only it's keeping my nitrate nice and present . The crazy part is I never get po4 spike and if it does after dosing oyster or something it's 0 next morning . Skimmer or not . Personal belief that excess trace elements = cyano . Who knows if that's true but that's my experience multiple times

 

[FMF0331]

i use reef chili ( brs ) -- frozen reef plankton ( ocean nutrition ) --- and whatever the fish poops out .

I also blast my rocks 2 twice a week with turkey baster to suspend all those particles into the water column

 

[reef4beer]

I'm also running my tank skimmer less with a ton of sps, honestly every often just drop some reef roids and that's all.

Usually when I do throw the reef roids in I turn off the pumps and power heads, after maybe an hour I turn on the power heads and then later turn the system back up. Some times I do spot feeding but mostly just broadcast.

No specific times to be honest, do night time feedings with lights off randomly.