Thinking bout giving up on sps

[superclown]

I don't know what it is about sps I just can't seem to keep it. I'm at the point that I feel like I'm throwing my cash away everytime I purchase it. Its not like I'm new at reefing. I can keep most any lps or soft coral. My system is almost completely automated weekly water changes low nutrient system. Skimmers reactors etc... temps stay within 77-80 I have a rodi with fresh filters I try to make everything as sterile as possible got a great cuc.

I keep also having trouble with red slime.

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[kilralpine]

A bit more information may be able to help us figure out what your problem could be. What size is that tank? How heavy is the bioload? How big are your WCs? Whats your photoperiod like? Whats in your reactor? How do you feed and have you tested for phos?

 

[porpoiseaquatics]

Do you have enough internal flow? SPS like high flow. Cyno can also result from low flow.

 

[kilralpine]

+1 ^

 

[frantz]

I have to admit I'm not the cleanest reefer. My sps grows just fine, maybe not super fast, but I never lose pieces. Water flow is my SPS best friend. I have lots of it and i have my pumps on alternating power cycles to vary flow. Helps keep dirt outta the nooks and crannies too.

 

[superclown]

30g 24x24x12

deep blue frag tank mp10 for flow I don't know the mode name but it slowly ramps up about 3/4 full back down to slow and back up etc..etc..

I have the tank oriented so over flow is on left and lockline points out right side of tank and the mp 10 is mounted on the left side of tank facing to the right so it creates kind of a dual whirl pools effect but I still seem to get some dead spots. In the center but I have the flow nozzle directly pointing in direction of frag rack.

I use elos test kits last 3 test have shown virtually no phosphates. I run phosban in reactor and also carbon in filter sock changed bi weekly along with sock. I do 5 gallons when I do changes. Photo period is 10 hours total first 2 hours is blue leds then white leds overlay for 6 then back off and blue only for 2 hours

Bioload is one pair of clowns a small watchman goby a fire shrimp cleaner shrimp and maybe a pistol shrimp ain't seen him since day one lol but I do hear him sometimes.


Let me know if u need any other info.

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[ralph atl]

Calcium=
Alk=
mag=

click on hyper here:
http://www.marinedepot.com/Elos_Professional_Aqua_Test_Kit_Phosphate_Phosphate_Test_Kits_for_Saltwater_Aquariums-Elos_USA-EO4131-FITKPT-vi.html">low range phosphate test kit=</a>

Trates=

lighting=

what's in your sump?

 

[stickx911]

My gsp moves like a tornado, but my SPS loves it. I've never been successful in the past, but this tank is just an sps dream; however, I can't keep zoa's. In my tank either the flow is too high, or light is too bright depending on where I put them. My ph stays low, but it is very consistent. I spread one dose of micro-vert and "fuel" over a week when I feed.

 

[picoreefguy]

you said you run a low nutrient system, are you carbon dosing? if so than thats why you are having problems with cyano because carbon dosing is giving bacteria food and red slime is a type of cyanobacteria.

 

[ichthyoid]

Picoreefguy;838054 wrote: you said you run a low nutrient system, are you carbon dosing? if so than thats why you are having problems with cyano because carbon dosing is giving bacteria food and red slime is a type of cyanobacteria.

I do not know this to be true. If anything, Cyanobacteria just outcompete other life forms under certain conditions.

My suspicion is that cyano thrive under lower nitrate, with phosphate and Organic carbon available.

 

[superclown]

Im not dosing I was looking into it but with my work schedule I decided against it. When I say low nutrient I mean as far as feeding/ water changes and stuff.

I don't imagine its as low as carbon dosing but I don't have much hair algae at all and I have a good abundance of coraline in sump and back walls of tank.

It only grows on top of the sand bed I suck it out and it comes right back.



Calcium was at 440 ph is at 8.6 mag unknown alk unknown I use salinity salt it seems I have more issue with rtn than bleaching of color like where the color still is looks great.

Not sure if it will tell anything but I've heard millipora is harder to keep than others but my millis are fine all my zoas frogspawn anemones and other corals are great

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[ralph atl]

SuperClown;838084 wrote: Im not dosing I was looking into it but with my work schedule I decided against it. When I say low nutrient I mean as far as feeding/ water changes and stuff.

I don't imagine its as low as carbon dosing but I don't have much hair algae at all and I have a good abundance of coraline in sump and back walls of tank.

It only grows on top of the sand bed I suck it out and it comes right back.



Calcium was at 440 ph is at 8.6 mag unknown alk unknown I use salinity salt it seems I have more issue with rtn than bleaching of color like where the color still is looks great.

Not sure if it will tell anything but I've heard millipora is harder to keep than others but my millis are fine all my zoas frogspawn anemones and other corals are great

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if you have algae, you have a trate & phate problem.

you cannot keep SPS with trate & phate issues, and you Calcium, ALK, and mag must be managed 24-7 within range.

you will never keep SPS until your tank is ready to keep SPS.

ULNS is not your tank, either.....that's a different "animal"...

 

[heathlindner25]

jmike50;838052 wrote: Jenn, I use API Saltwater Master test kit. I got a reading of 160ppm. I test once a week and do my once a week water changes, but I do not clean/change my filter media often. I am going to get some Matrix and /or Denitrate tomorrow. thanks for the help everyone.

SuperClown;838084 wrote: Im not dosing I was looking into it but with my work schedule I decided against it. When I say low nutrient I mean as far as feeding/ water changes and stuff.

I don't imagine its as low as carbon dosing but I don't have much hair algae at all and I have a good abundance of coraline in sump and back walls of tank.

It only grows on top of the sand bed I suck it out and it comes right back.



Calcium was at 440 ph is at 8.6 mag unknown alk unknown I use salinity salt it seems I have more issue with rtn than bleaching of color like where the color still is looks great.

Not sure if it will tell anything but I've heard millipora is harder to keep than others but my millis are fine all my zoas frogspawn anemones and other corals are great

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if you don't know what your alk is , that could be your problem there. when alk swings around sps die.

 

[ralph atl]

heathlindner25;838091 wrote: if you don't know what your alk is , that could be your problem there. when alk swings around sps die.

I'm thinking plus some.....

 

[silver surfer]

Ph is 8.6? What's up with that.

should be between 8-8.3

 

[mph84]

What kind of LEDs?

 

[silver surfer]

Radions

 

[jimmystephens]

Get a alk testing kit. And see where ur at. U cant dose cal or cal, alk or mag without knowing where your tank is out and how much you need to dose to keep it consistent.

 

[ripped tide]

Is the SPS dieing? Or does it just look like crap?

How are you acclimating it to the light and flow?

 

[superclown]

I will check for alk and see where its at. I understand my ph is high but if u look at the side of salinity bucket it says will maintain a ph of that level first time I saw it I was shocked but 8.6 is still fine from what I read.

When I acclimate sps I float to temp then drip for hour end up pouring water out every 15 min as container filld then I turn my leds down and ramp them up gradually over 4 days. For months I had no issue at all and then bam overnight they looked like crap next day



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