In need of SPS tank build advice, please

[ksicard]

Hey all,
January 15,2013 I brought home my 75g tank w/stand and canopy and I've already made up my mind to go for a SPS dominant tank. I wanted to run my equipment and maintence by you to see if it matches up correctly for SPS care, and above all I want some advice and tips on what I can do to improve my tank to meet the standards for keeping SPS corals.

Lighting: 28 nuetral white/28 royal blue Luxeon 3w(each led) LED's

Circulation: 500gph pump for sump/MP40

Filtration: tunze 9006 skimmer/phosban reactor/chaeto/carbon/sponges

Other equipment: LED light controller/refuge light for chaeto

Maintence: 10g water changes weekly/daily dosing of Mg/Ca/Alk

Photo period: 10-12 hours (the LED's will not run at 100% throughout the whole day, they will be ramping up and down and peaking for about 4-6 hours)

Live rock: 80-90 lbs of fiji live rock

Ideal conditions: SG: 1.026/ates: 0/ites: 0/ ammonia: 0/phosphate: as close to 0 as possible/Ca:420-440/Mg: 3x Ca level/DKH: 9-12/temp: 78-79 degrees

That's what I have so far in terms of equipment and ideas of keeping an sps dominant tank. Please correct me if I'm wrong on anything or if there's any other ways to improve my tank setup in any way possible. I'm looking to learn so educate me please

 

[ripped tide]

Looks like you have most of your bases covered. Make sure you give the tank plenty of time to mature. Different bacterial and ionic balances are taking place in the first 2-3 months.

Edit: I won't bother ranting about lighting, but MH is generally recognized for being the best source of light for SPS.

 

[ksicard]

I plan to let the tank mature for 2-3 months before adding anything, and I do understand that MH are typically the way to go, but for me looks is everything and you just can't beat the color control of LED's. I've done my research and the LED's I have can def support SPS corals.

 

[ripped tide]

I've seen some fail and I've seen some succeed with LEDs. I hope you can share a success story with us!

Dosing manually takes a lot of discipline. You may want to consider a CA reactor or dosing pumps if you have a busy schedule.

 

[ralph atl]

DKH lower to 8-9 unless you are using a salt that has a high Boron level like Seachem, add 10%, or 9-10 DKH.

Weekly 10g water changes are not enough, imho.

Lighting: LED's and sps, meh...I still find my SPS growing like mad with 2, 400 watt radiums...

GFO, ROX 0.8 Carbon, and Carbon dosing all need to be considered.....however, if you only have one or two fish in your entire system, this might not even be nessessary.

nutrient reduction:

only needed if you have a bio-load and you feed it!

if so,
phates: I recommend HC GFO from BRS and use like a cup a week and change weekly
organics: Rox carbon 0.8 change same and use the same

trates: water changes, seachem matrix, and vodka & vinegar dosing, maintain sandbed, etc...

 

[ksicard]

Thank you mysterybox, I'll have to do some research on the vinegar and vodka dosing. And I don't plan to have a heavy bio load, maybe 3 fish. What size water changes would you recommend for weekly changes?

 

[fidofence]

I have radion led and sps just dies, I have another tank with same equipment but t5 lighting and sps grows like a champ

 

[ksicard]

Also mystery do you have any recommendations on Ca reactors or dosing pumps in terms of brand?

 

[ralph atl]

ksicard;834353 wrote: Thank you mysterybox, I'll have to do some research on the vinegar and vodka dosing. And I don't plan to have a heavy bio load, maybe 3 fish. What size water changes would you recommend for weekly changes?

Light bio-load 15-20%
High = 30% or more

3 fish, and I prob would not vodka dose, and higher than I would...

Depends upon the three fish, too! 3 larger, high energy fish might add to some bio...

Edit:

ksicard;834356 wrote: Also mystery do you have any recommendations on Ca reactors or dosing pumps in terms of brand?

I would ask Dave (acroholic) on calcium reactor.

120 and below dosing pumps are usually fine.....

Bubble Magnus dosing pump system should be great, unless you use a controller and pump separately...that's great, too...

 

[ripped tide]

If you choose to go the Ca reactor route, I highly reccommend the MRC nano dual reactor for that size tank. I have the CR-2 on my 93cube/30frag system. I used to have the nano, but I upgraded when the growth was out performing the reactor.

 

[heathlindner25]

above all equipment and gizmos,( because I don't have any, my tank is SPS acro dominant) is water stability! keep your levels in check and find a way to keep them the same number constantly, and SPS will flourish led or halide.

 

[ksicard]

Thank you all for the information, I got some good stuff from all of this. And heath that's gonna be my goal, but it might seem easier said than done.