Whats your key

clowns101 · Jan 8, 2011

Well it seems we all have "keys" to keeping SPS,and Id like to know what they are!

It seems some people will dose Vodka to keep SPS,some will dose Zeovit,and some use Bio Pellets!So what do you use to keep SPS,you dont have to use those additives,it can be anything,but those are most popular!

What do you do if you dont dose ANYTHING to keep you tank clean other than Ca,Mag,Alk ,and other normal additives needed to keep corals.

Thanks!

m and m · Jan 8, 2011

STABILITY is one second i am testing the waters with my first full blown Zeo tank.

sexycorals · Jan 8, 2011

i just got into them not too long ago but i think i got it figured out.. Its constantly keeping level stable.. =) irritateing that i gotta test param almost twice maybe 3 times a week but hey thats that i gotta do.. :cry:

FaviaFreak · Jan 8, 2011

Stable Alk

Dave3112 · Jan 8, 2011

S-stability P-promotes S-success. I don't dose anything but Ca, Alk and Mg. I just have a skimmer and do 10% water changes every two weeks no Vodka or Zeo or what ever the fad is this week for me.......I'm not knocking what other people do I just like to keep it simple and as natural as possible.

clowns101 · Jan 8, 2011

All that makes since!It makes tons of since.All of my SPS STN and RTN,and I would say it has to do with the alk,and I do need to get more flow into my system,I have a MP40 on order,possible another one.

Im familier with the SPS term that S-stability P-promotes S-success,Greg Caroll told me that,hahaha!LOL

What type of filters do you SPS fans have on your systems?

Troylee · Jan 8, 2011

Keep your alk stable.... Nothing else matters... I dose a ton of crap thou, just to get the super duper colors and excelerated growth..... Can't say if any of it helps since I have never had sps without dosing it all....

clowns101 · Jan 8, 2011

Well,I want good color,not exagerate coloration,but I do want exagerated growth.

What extra stuff are you dosing?

Troylee · Jan 8, 2011

Cal,alk,mag,strotium,lugols,potassium,mb7,vodka,vitamin c, coral aminos, hmmmm reef snow occasionally... Lol
All brightwells line besides albertsons vodka lol...

btkrausen · Jan 8, 2011

One thing that helped my growth is the addition of Magnesium, and maintaining it above 1300. As soon as I did that, I saw a big increase in growth.

I am also dosing vodka right now, and believe I just hit the mark with starting to see a difference in coral. Some of my SPS has just recently started growing new branches, and one went bright purple tips with green polyps. My Hawkins has deepened in color as well, its a gorgeous dark turquoise. My Phos never would come down low enough and long enough for me to feel comfy with switching to the maintenance dosage, so I added GFO back into my system tonight.

One thing I think helps me with SPS is automating everything, making it super stable. I use an Apex to manage things. My top off that runs through a PM Kalk Reactor runs for 20 seconds every 9 min, so I have a steady supply of Calcium, which helps keep the kH and pH stable. My pH swings only .2 throughout the day, from 8.0 to 8.2.

Troylee · Jan 8, 2011

I also top off with kalk... I bet 90% of the people who can't keep sps tryed topping off with kalk they would succeed....;)

MitchReef · Jan 8, 2011

I hardly ever do water changes, I keep my Mg around 1450 with Oceans Blend Magnesium, I dose Oceans Blend two part on a DIY automated doser at 3AM and 3PM and my temps are stable to 80 +/- 0.5. Lots of flow and a hearty fuge. I also don't test my water as often as I should, but I kinda have a feel for how the corals are doing. I skim constantly and don't use a sock or anything (they are just nitrate traps if left in place more than about a day at a time IMO). My Phos is undetectable, Nitrates <0.1, I aim at 430Ca and 9.3 dKH.

As was said by so many...consistency is the only key...I know successful SPS keepers who run over 84 degrees ALWAYS, but consistantly....

I'm no expert by any means but have adequate success.

clowns101 · Jan 8, 2011

LOL,well,I dont top off with it,guess I need to try!

rossco · Jan 8, 2011

I run a calcium reactor for alk and calcium, dose mag when needed. In an effort to darken my colors as they were too pastel, I started feeding the fish more and feed oyster feast and phytoplankton. No other supplements. I have an oversized skimmer -rated for a 180 for my 75. My SPS grow very fast (well, most of them anyway) and I am happy with the colors.

FiReBReTHa · Jan 8, 2011

love.

secretreefer · Jan 8, 2011

RLC--- reef lovin' care

clowns101 · Jan 8, 2011

LOL,I love my tank to much Ive been told!

cmjreef · Jan 13, 2011

Not to make it sound too simple, but very stable conditions. SPS are very hardy within a range. If your parameters are even close to good, and you can keep them there consistently, your SPS corals will thrive. I use nothing but 2part, 10%/week water change, and 2-3/week food (Rod's, coral frenzy, etc.). Dont overstock w/ fish, don't overfeed fish, and dont try to make your SPS tank a fish tank. Make it an SPS tank. Thats a big problem I see a lot; people want SPS, but they also want fish... too many fish.

Paul_N · Jan 13, 2011

Stability and don't get too hung up on what someone else is running their tank at as far as parameters. You will find successful reefs kept with alk in 7-10 range. Your tank gets unstable and you start getting swings when you chase numbers. I ran my 75 with alk- 10/11, Ca-500, mag 1600. I broke the tank down and set up my temp system in the rubbermade and now the parameters that work are alk-8/9 Ca-460, mag1500. Now there are differences in that the 75 had a DSB, Ca reactor and I dosed Vodka. The temp setup has very little sand, I dose 2 part and use Ecobak pellets. I am getting the same color and growth but slightly different parameters. My current parameters were settled on by my system...it told me....if you listen very carefully yours will talk to you and let you know also....:nerd: