Carl_in_Florida Posted August 6, 2004 Share Posted August 6, 2004 It's opinion time. I have a torch that has been doing well for months. I want to know if I could get away with some montis (either caps or digis). Here are the specs: I have a 10 with a 6 gallon fuge. The 10 has the standard 70 watt MH and 2 32 watt actinics. No problem there. Water stays between 78 and 80 degrees. No problem there. When I test my water (not very often) I never have any nitrates. I have only one fish, that I feed pellets (2) a day. Every now and then I throw in some frozen Formula 1. Tiny bio load. No problem there. I never have tested my Ca or Ph. or Alk. I do water changes now and then and top off with RO/DI. Problem here? I am honestly not going to begin keeping close track of my water. I set it up so it stays clean and I don't have to chase it. I don't like doing water tests so I don't do them. I am not going to test my ph at 3 a.m. and I am not going to get a Ca reactor. The farthest I am willing to go is drip kalk but that is pretty much it. Do you all think I could sucessfully keep some of the hardier sps? Honest answers please. Carl Link to comment
Razin Kane Posted August 6, 2004 Share Posted August 6, 2004 Originally posted by Xx_de_xX go for it. DITTO! Link to comment
onthefly Posted August 6, 2004 Share Posted August 6, 2004 Do it Carl! Get the Alk and Ca test kits, and a 2 part additive (bionic or tech ca/cb)......you'll be set! Link to comment
emurray Posted August 6, 2004 Share Posted August 6, 2004 My 2 Cents: 1. Go for it. 2. Look out for anything toxic in your tank... Most all soft corals are toxic to some degree, especially leathers such as Nephthea, Sarcophyton and Sinularia. Some zoos and shrooms are also toxic. There is no way to prove it, but i think a Nephthea (african green tree) leather I had close to my first Montipora digitata frag killed it. This is a big reason most people do a sps only or softy only tank. You could run carbon 24-7 and change it every two weeks to a month if you wanted. I have also heard that skimming can help remove some of the toxins. 3. B-Ionic is totally easy, works like a charm. I dose my 10g in the morning. Takes 30 seconds and does not mess with the pH that much at all. I have seen some noticeable accelerated corraline growth in the past week since I have started using it. Besides, in a 10g, the small bottles will last you forever. I would recommend testing at least for Calcium in the beginning. You should only have to test a few times in the beginning... once you figure out the dosage for your tank, you should only need to test every couple of months or so, as your corals grow and consume more calcium. Before I started B-Ionic, my CA was around 250, with Instant Ocean water changes, 1g per week. Real Ocean water is around 450. Hope this was helpful. Good luck. Link to comment
Xx_de_xX Posted August 6, 2004 Share Posted August 6, 2004 Originally posted by emurray [bBefore I started B-Ionic, my CA was around 250, with Instant Ocean water changes, 1g per week. Real Ocean water is around 450.[/b] What was your alk while your calcium was 250? Do you recall? Link to comment
Undertheradar Posted August 6, 2004 Share Posted August 6, 2004 One of my nanos is as you mentioned above. 10gallon w/ 70wattMH...sump...etc. I run a fuge and a nano-skimmer sometimes. I have been using R.O. water however, as the tap water here is high in phosphates among other crap. You didnt mention this, but I would at least test for that unless you use R.O. as well. Phosphates can really stunt the growth of stony corals. Otherwise, a 70watt is fine for many of the lower light SPS like: Green monti cap Encrusting Monti Pruple digi Orange digi Green digi brown type acroporas red monti cap some millipora any LPS BTW I have found that the 70watt is not enough for blue and purple millipora, pink monti cap, green slimer, any of the medium to high light acros (blue tortuosa is a no no). I would consider the 70watt halide to make the tank a medium light tank...even though it is 7watts/gallon, it is only 70watts! I have crocea clams in that tank as well, but they need more light as well (putting them in my 35gallon w/ a 250wattDE MH). The tank also has 300gph+ running through it...a tornado...but any less and the SPS just isnt as happy. I dont run a reactor or anything, just dose the 2part KENT calcium stuff...works fine. If you really want to open up your options, swap out the 70watt for a 150...then you can do anything! Link to comment
szesteve Posted August 6, 2004 Share Posted August 6, 2004 I would say you should have no problems. You can probably drip kalk once or twice a week. Link to comment
Carl_in_Florida Posted August 7, 2004 Author Share Posted August 7, 2004 Wow! I was not expecting this much feedback. I have a phosphate and calcium test kit. I guess it not be to painful to break them out and see what they read. Under - Does my 64 watts of Actinic count? If I drp kalk, would I still need to dose with b-ionic? Can someone give me a link to some concise info for the non-sps junkie? Link to comment
bill33 Posted August 7, 2004 Share Posted August 7, 2004 go for it, your ph might be a little low tho Link to comment
Korbin Posted August 7, 2004 Share Posted August 7, 2004 Originally posted by Carl_in_Florida Can I SPS? Since when is SPS a verb? Only if I can lobophilia your sister. Link to comment
Carl_in_Florida Posted August 7, 2004 Author Share Posted August 7, 2004 Korbin - Since I used it as a verb and no you may not Carl Link to comment
skeletor Posted August 8, 2004 Share Posted August 8, 2004 Originally posted by Korbin Only if I can lobophilia your sister. make sure she doesn't have goniopora first :-) -skeletor- Link to comment
coraldude37 Posted August 19, 2004 Share Posted August 19, 2004 yo carl. i just gt some sps coral for my reef tank and i have a question about it. i put it in the tank and it started to wither in about a day. the next thing i know it was dead! how can you help me with my sps problems? i was wondering if it was maybe the calcium was too low, around 300 or so. Thanx a bunch LOL... Link to comment
Carl_in_Florida Posted August 19, 2004 Author Share Posted August 19, 2004 Bro... I had to ask if I could even try to keep sps. I have no clue why yours would die. Carl Link to comment
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