New to SPS and have some ?'s.

[gixxer600]

I am starting my journey into the world of SPS and i was wondering if dosing anything is necassary or if nice clean water is going to do the trick? I dont dose my tank as of now and everything is growing and doing well. I keep Softies and LPS at this time but would like some of those colored sticks aswell. My lighting is Dual 250watt 12k reeflux bulbs with T-5 actinics and this is in a standard 90. Thanks for the help in advance.

 

[gnashty]

well, you are pretty much covered in the lighting dept...

All I can say is that SPS (as will other coral) will deplete Alk and Ca from your system. In order to keep it stable you will need to replace what the corals take up.

Im kinda new to SPS as well and I have to dose 2 part to keep my Alk and Ca stable, with regular WC's. Others use Ca reactors, Kalk drip, 2 part etc...and ive heard of people not dosing anything at all.

All I can say is test, test, test for alk, ca, mag as you add more coral and thru this process you can figure out if you need to dose, and how much. keep up with WC's and an eye on phosphate as well.....

EDIT: didnt see charlies post! lol

 

[hackman72]

what's ULNS?

 

[ralph atl]

Hackman72;585922 wrote: what's ULNS?

less than 1.0 trates and 0.028 or less on phates
breeding strains of Bacteria that eat trates & phates usually due to a liquid (vodka) dosing schedule or a solid carbon (sulfur or bio-pellets) on a reactor.

 

[ichthyoid]

mysterybox;585929 wrote: less than 1.0 trates and 0.028 or less on phates
breeding strains of Bacteria that eat trates & phates usually due to a liquid (vodka) dosing schedule or a solid carbon (sulfur or bio-pellets) on a reactor.

FWIW- there are other forms of carbon that work as well. I use calcium acetate, which I make myself from pickling lime and vinegar (cheap too). This form has the advantage of raising both alk and calc, as part of the process of feeding the bacteria. The bacteria consume the acetate and release calcium while raising alkalinity, in balance. A win-win-win.

 

[rbredding]

Gonna have to read this one when I get home tonight..

 

[gnashty]

mysterybox;585929 wrote: less than 1.0 trates and 0.028 or less on phates
breeding strains of Bacteria that eat trates & phates usually due to a liquid (vodka) dosing schedule or a solid carbon (sulfur or bio-pellets) on a reactor.

so...if I run less than 1.0 trates and less than .028 phosphates but do not dose vodka or other carbon sources (other than GAC) am I still running a ULNS?

 

[misu]

gnashty;586016 wrote: so...if I run less than 1.0 trates and less than .028 phosphates but do not dose vodka or other carbon sources (other than GAC) am I still running a ULNS?

for now yes

 

[gixxer600]

Thanks for all the help. It looks like i have a little more reading to do and some test to get. But definantly going to try and go for it.

 

[gnashty]

gixxer600;586163 wrote: Thanks for all the help. It looks like i have a little more reading to do and some test to get. But definantly going to try and go for it.

Yeah, go for it - just got in myself and I really enjoy the colored sticks more than I thought I would

 

[gixxer600]

Sounds good Amici. I was just thinking it was about time to do so instead of just hanging around. It might be nice to be apart of something good.

 

[gixxer600]

I was given a bottle of Brightwell Aquatics Liquid Reef and was wondering if that is an "all in one" type of dosing formula. The guy i got it from used it everyday and liked it but i am not sure if i should use it or not.

 

[brianjfinn]

Amici;586187 wrote: Tell you what since you are in Cumming, if you want to join the ARC Ill give you a free SPS starter pack when you are ready. Ill be in Alpharetta off and on over the next few weeks so just let me know.

Nice Charlie! That's a great gesture!

gixxer600;586218 wrote: I was given a bottle of Brightwell Aquatics Liquid Reef and was wondering if that is an "all in one" type of dosing formula. The guy i got it from used it everyday and liked it but i am not sure if i should use it or not.

Just keep in mind it's not a great idea to dose for anything you're not testing for. There are a number of two-part dosing systems that people like, just make sure to get quality test kits.

 

[demifelix]

This article is awesome. Thanks for the link.

ichthyoid;585998 wrote: FWIW- there are other forms of carbon that work as well. I use calcium acetate, which I make myself from pickling lime and vinegar (cheap too). This form has the advantage of raising both alk and calc, as part of the process of feeding the bacteria. The bacteria consume the acetate and release calcium while raising alkalinity, in balance. A win-win-win.