| Author |
 Topic Search  Topic Options
|
ninja_brandon 
Guest
Joined: January 29 2009
Location: Salt Lake City
Status: Offline
Points: 260
|
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote  Reply
 Topic: SPS/LPS only advice
Posted: May 09 2011 at 11:25am |
Hi all, I am planning on moving my current mixed tank to an SPS/LPS only tank. I am beginning to research and plan for the conversion.
Im curious if anyone has any advice for me. I have heard that soft corals release toxins in the water that inhibit SPS growth. Im uncertain of this at the moment. I have a pink birds nest/pocilopora/orange plate coral that I have seen decent growth in my tank over the last year however I do have a blue acro that seems to grow very very slowly so the rumors may be true.
Any advice is greatly appreciated. Also some recommendations on hardy sps/lps coral would be nice.
|
 |
ninja_brandon
Guest
Joined: January 29 2009
Location: Salt Lake City
Status: Offline
Points: 260
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 09 2011 at 11:28am |
My current setup is a 120 gal fat(4') with 30 gal refugium, Mag 12 return pump, 1 Koralia#3, 2 Koralia#2s. G1 In sump skimmer, RO top off
CA: 425 ALK: 10.4 Mg: 1500+ Salinity: 1.027
Edited by ninja_brandon - May 09 2011 at 11:30am
|
|
Ryan Thompson
Guest
Joined: April 11 2006
Location: Lehi
Status: Offline
Points: 3546
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 09 2011 at 11:41am |
|
Things look good to me. I would maybe lower SG a little. 1.026 is the highest I like to see but 1.027 shouldn't hurt anything.
When it comes to SPS you need three things
1) Good lighting
1) Good flow
1) Complete stability with water parameters.
Yes they are all numbered "1" for a reason. Neither is more important than the next. It takes all three to be successful.
Some SPS I found to be easy were Birdsnest (any color), Green Slimer, Millipora and montis are usually pretty easy.
|
|
ninja_brandon
Guest
Joined: January 29 2009
Location: Salt Lake City
Status: Offline
Points: 260
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 10 2011 at 2:18pm |
I know my flow is pretty pathetic at the moment. I was considering 2 for these
Koralia evolution 1400
Would this be enough or should I consider more?
|
|
Josh95
Guest
Joined: December 17 2010
Location: West Velley
Status: Offline
Points: 1763
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 10 2011 at 3:38pm |
consider more. 2 mp-40s would be good flow for a 120
|
|
Ryan Thompson
Guest
Joined: April 11 2006
Location: Lehi
Status: Offline
Points: 3546
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 10 2011 at 3:57pm |
|
I agree with Josh on the Vortechs but I don't think Brandon is gonna drop $1000 on some pumps right now.
I have read mixed reviews of the newer Koralias and don't think I would buy them.
The Aqueon powerheads are pretty nice and I also like the new Maxijet Pro pumps. They come with a kit that turns them into a powerhead instead of a streamline pump. I have heard they don't come with magnets right now and that is a major bummer. Suction cups always fail.
Just research what pumps you like and get some more. Flow is the most important thing for corals in my mind. I see tanks suffer all the time because they don't have enough flow.
It isn't so much about GPH, it is about not having any dead spots. Sometimes that can take one pump, others it will take 5 pumps. All depends on rock work and setup.
|
|
boysty
Guest
Joined: June 14 2007
Location: SLC
Status: Offline
Points: 1480
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 10 2011 at 4:56pm |
|
I have a 120g and run a return pump that does 1000gph and two koralia 4's and one Aqueon 700 power head and it has pretty nice flow. I would love to MP 40's but dont want to spend that kind of money on them
|
|
Time waits on no one
|
|
ninja_brandon
Guest
Joined: January 29 2009
Location: Salt Lake City
Status: Offline
Points: 260
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 10 2011 at 5:06pm |
I have been watching videos and reviews of the MP40W and it is selling me but man that is alot of cash.
Has anyone ever used Tunze? They seem to be the middle choice between super low end and high end.
|
|
Ryan Thompson
Guest
Joined: April 11 2006
Location: Lehi
Status: Offline
Points: 3546
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 10 2011 at 5:21pm |
 ninja_brandon wrote:
I have been watching videos and reviews of the MP40W and it is selling me but man that is alot of cash.  Has anyone ever used Tunze?  They seem to be the middle choice between super low end and high end. |
They are worth every penny to me.
I have my Vortech going on my 7.5g cube right now and there isn't a better pump for this tank. The flow is so broad and gentle that I don't have to worry about peeling the flesh off my corals.
The Tunze pumps are good pumps as well. The Tunze crowd will tell you how quiet the Tunze are compared to a Vortech and while it is true, the Vortech puts no heat or electricity into the tank. They are two totally different technologies. Both work well and have great customer service if you ever need it.
|
|
Supareef22
Guest
Joined: January 30 2011
Location: Orem, UT
Status: Offline
Points: 128
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 11 2011 at 2:37am |
|
I have seen more chemical warfare from my l
|
|
Window Well Covers Custom Built
Discount For Reef Friends
|
|
Supareef22
Guest
Joined: January 30 2011
Location: Orem, UT
Status: Offline
Points: 128
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 11 2011 at 2:39am |
|
I have seen more chemical warfare from my LPS the from any of my softies but maybe I just have bad placement.
|
|
Window Well Covers Custom Built
Discount For Reef Friends
|
|
bstuver
Guest
Joined: April 17 2006
Location: Provo
Status: Offline
Points: 9386
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 11 2011 at 2:41am |
|
I love my maxijet 1200 with the kit that makes them higher powered. They have some great flow, enough to get from one end of my tank all the way to the other as my tank sits peninsula style. I have two of them and had to add a sponge around them so my seahorses didn't get sucked in, I plan to add two more with my 120g tall upgrade.
|
|
Jackie Stuver
"wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart
|
|
ninja_brandon
Guest
Joined: January 29 2009
Location: Salt Lake City
Status: Offline
Points: 260
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 13 2011 at 2:16pm |
|
Supareef22, what lps/sps did you keep?
|
|
Snowsrfr
Guest
Joined: September 04 2005
Location: North Ogden
Status: Offline
Points: 3645
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 13 2011 at 8:59pm |
|
I basically the same set up you're looking at. It's SPS dominated, but have started adding some LPS to brighten up the sand bed and give a little more diversity.
|
|
"A fish tank is not a pet. It's a TV that you gotta feed." - John Caparulo
|
|
hydro phoenix
Paid Member
Joined: June 04 2010
Location: Salt Lake City
Status: Offline
Points: 1724
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 30 2011 at 12:02pm |
|
maxijets are pretty good too
|
|
recent absurdity..Unicorns have rabies
|
|
CapnMorgan
Guest
The Capn'
Joined: August 19 2009
Location: Tooele
Status: Offline
Points: 3537
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 30 2011 at 8:50pm |
|
The new Koralia Evo's are actually great pumps, especially for the money. The first run did have start up issues due to the shaftless design but they have worked it out since then. I use a few of them in my 180 and we use 2 in Sabra's 95 Wave. Great pumps, very low power consumption and easy to clean.
|
Steve My Old 180G Mixed ReefCurrently: 120G Wavefront Mixed 29G Seahorse & Softies Running ReefAngel Plus x2 435-8
|
|
ReefdUp
Guest
Joined: March 20 2011
Location: South Weber
Status: Offline
Points: 4166
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: May 30 2011 at 9:01pm |
I had 5 Koralia 4/1400's in my 150g tank plus a Mag 12 return pump. The surface of your tank should be fairly choppy (you shouldn't be able to look down and see anything). Just make sure the powerheads aren't pointing directly at anything.
We recently upgraded to 2 x MP40's...wish we had done it earlier. 5 Koralia 4/1400's is not too far from buying one MP40. We set the MP40's to the nutrient export at first...and watched all the crap (literally) coming out of the rocks. Our tank was cloudy for a good hour (with a full filter sock and skimmer going bonkers.) I blow out the rocks with every water change, but not that well apparently! We splurged and got the battery backup...and it already paid for itself (had a 5 hour power outage.)
Definitely start with birdsnest & montiporas...pretty difficult to kill, but if you do, you know you have a serious issue. If you can get them to grow, then move on to the typical "green slimer" and/or millipora.
Lighting is important, but if you're coming from softies, you may find that SPS are more sensitive. Corals like leathers, etc have extremely extremely high photosaturation points, but some Acroporas have photosaturation at only 250 PAR. Yes, it takes a lot of light to keep SPS, but there's a quick limit. I have 2 x 400W MH + 2 x 54W t-5 on my 150g, and I've had to acclimate some SPS to 750 PAR...and that took about a year to do. Totally not worth it IMO.
|
|
www.reefdup.com
Diving since 2009, reefkeeping since 2007, & fishkeeping since 1987
200g, 75g, & 15g Systems
PADI Advanced Open Water
|
|
Roy
Guest
Joined: March 22 2009
Location: Cache Valley
Status: Offline
Points: 442
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 04 2011 at 3:34pm |
The Koralias just dont have enough ump to push the water around enough. I would save up and buy a MP40 , 1 has plenty of flow if positioned correctly with the Koralias you already have.
They are pricey but worth every penny.
|
|
90 gal Corner with / 200 gal sump.
|
|
bur01014
Guest
Joined: March 02 2010
Location: Salt Lake
Status: Offline
Points: 1435
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 05 2011 at 2:36am |
I can't make myself spend as much money as I would on a solid light fixture, just for a couple of noisy fans that blow water.....yet, blow water really well (vortechs)....  ...someday when I am unsatisfied I will make the plunge, but I would get with a couple maxi-jet 1200s, with the sure flow mods....yes magnets are also available for the pumps. I have run the new koralia evos too and they are nice pumps. However, I setup a maxi-jet 1200 with sure flow kit next to a 1400 gph koralia evo and the maxi blew it away.....2100 gph, quite amazing for 30-40 bucks...look into them, while you save your pennies for a 300+ dollar water fan like me! I would suggest 2 maxi's running in a gyre in your tank, then add a couple koralia's and run them with a controller or something randomly to change the flow up.....plenty for a SPS tank Oh and I also keep LPS in my SPS dominated tank and never have had any problems.... frogspawn, hammer, candy canes, and some acans......heck I even have some gsp in there....
|
|
ReefdUp
Guest
Joined: March 20 2011
Location: South Weber
Status: Offline
Points: 4166
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: June 05 2011 at 7:05am |
It took me 4.5 years saving my pennies to get the MP40's (granted, most of that time I was a starving college student...and my fish ate better than I did!) I had SPS dominant tanks with Koralia 4's up until then. Yup, they worked and worked fine. Just wish I could've gotten them sooner. I've noticed a significant growth increase with them - better random flow pattern, and more flow with less stress on the corals since the flow is so broad.
I would just go with the regular Koralias - I see no point in the controller for those as they are quite a pretty penny and don't have nearly the features/reputation the MP40's have.
You may be able to pick up some older Tunze's for cheap...seems most people switched to MP40's.
***Edited for clarity
Edited by Reef'd Up - June 05 2011 at 3:40pm
|
|
www.reefdup.com
Diving since 2009, reefkeeping since 2007, & fishkeeping since 1987
200g, 75g, & 15g Systems
PADI Advanced Open Water
|
|
