Mom can i have it ?

mrferrit · #1 12/22/2007, 03:29 PM

okay so i was at the LFS today x mas shopping thats my gift from my G/F

so i saw a nice green birdsnest (i think) andi was wondering if my system could support it.

currently
only 1 175 halide(getting more someday) about 12 " off the water

all mushrooms doin great GSP xenia and kenya all wonderful

levels:
ph 8.0
alk. 11.2 +\-
calc. 580 +/-
trate\trite=0
amonia 0-.25 as it set longer and longer probably 0

flow 1290 return through 4 outlets
seio 1200 and a 300 powerhead

do ya think i could get away with having this coral closer to the top ?

it was about 3-4 inches tall and about 5 branches for 30$
the tank it was in it was about 2-3 ft from the light and looked pretty good

any suggestions? or any one local (St Pete)l i could buy a frag from for my present?

daywn · #2 12/22/2007, 04:22 PM

i got a birds nest under T-5's and it's doing great.a 175 should be fine.

MikeBrke · #3 12/22/2007, 04:25 PM

I also have a birds nest under 4 T-5's and it is doing well.

Your calcium seems high at 580. Do you usually keep it that high?

mrferrit · #4 12/22/2007, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MikeBrke
I also have a birds nest under 4 T-5's and it is doing well.

Your calcium seems high at 580. Do you usually keep it that high?

well i dont really add anything so it is just kinda there

this would be my 1st sps so im guessing it would go down a bit if i did get sps.

i have the 2 part but i have only used it to raise alk about 2 months ago and havent touched it since

a2fire2i · #5 12/22/2007, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mrferrit

alk. 11.2 +\-
calc. 580 +/-

What is your Mag at? 580 is really high. What are you using to test? What salt are you using, and what about your water change schedule? Is your coraline taking off?

mrferrit · #6 12/22/2007, 05:49 PM

i have no coraline at all and never have had any
i dont test mag mut thinking i need to start but my mangrove just sprouted 2 leaves

i used to use oceanic salt but last few times reef crystals

skimpin on water changes did a 65 gallon change about a month ago

but water changes arnt regular
also using tap with conditioner as top off for now

BlitzK · #7 12/22/2007, 05:57 PM

imho, save the money on livestock and buy an RO/DI unit.

..but NO coraline? hrmmm...

mrferrit · #8 12/22/2007, 06:12 PM

nope never had coraline my rocks are purple the back wall has kinda like aa hair algae i do get light brown algae on the front glass after like 3 days but only very spotty
no cyano no nothing

i have no idea what my phosphates are but ido have a bunch of macro trying to take over

mrferrit · #9 12/22/2007, 06:30 PM

nope never had coraline my rocks are purple the back wall has kinda like aa hair algae i do get light brown algae on the front glass after like 3 days but only very spotty
no cyano no nothing

i have no idea what my phosphates are but ido have a bunch of macro trying to take over

BlitzK · #10 12/22/2007, 06:37 PM

Do you have any current pics of the tanks?

mrferrit · #11 12/22/2007, 06:48 PM

no current pics no camera

james37128 · #12 12/22/2007, 06:53 PM

Let me get this straight, your rocks are purple but you have NO coraline?

mrferrit · #13 12/22/2007, 07:21 PM

well i have nice color of most of my rocks but not alot mostly newer rocks
but it does seem to fade over time
never any coraline on the glass and i have never cleaned the back

BlitzK · #14 12/22/2007, 08:02 PM

do you add any kind of 2-part?

mrferrit · #15 12/22/2007, 08:04 PM

at one time my alk was real low so i added some to get it just over 10.6 or something like that but that has been almost 1-2 months ago i havent added anything in a long time

BlitzK · #16 12/22/2007, 08:19 PM

So how did your calc get so high?

mrferrit · #17 12/22/2007, 08:30 PM

i have no idea i have heardthat oceanic salt has a very high calc content

but i just started testing for alk and calc about 2 months ago
so i have no idea its been tested with my test and the lfs and there pretty close between 540-580

rogergolf66 · #18 12/23/2007, 08:17 AM

IMO return the SPS. Coraline grows in the same conditions SPS grow but it is much more forgiving. First off start using RODI water for water changes. Start dosing some kind or cal-alk. They are more important then Mag. because if using a good salt with a very low coral load you will maintain your mag levels that is if do you your water changes. you need some kind or calander that you keep your maintainse info on and stick to it. but you will not maintain your Cal and Alk levels

Also you are better off going smaller water changes more often. you did a 65 gal water change? don't you have a 65 gallon tank?

tcwayne · #19 12/23/2007, 09:23 AM

Nope he's got a 180 with a lion the size of small dog. Dennis I would test your tap water for calcium levels. The filter system that I use I have no problems with. It's not RO/DI but it works well for me and I have tested it. Like I said when we traded for the Clown, I can give you a set up like this. It's good for 18,000 gallons.

jade2122 · #20 12/23/2007, 01:14 PM

from the way your tank sounds definately not ready to get into sps. you need stable conditions, regular testing, calc too high, don't know what your mag is. if you have any ammonia that is not good either. sps doesn't forgive very well. get your tank in better condition, get coraline growing, test regularly, and get your levels in check and then maybe try a monti or something.

lifesworksataol · #21 12/23/2007, 02:51 PM

i bought my ro/di 6 stage off e b a y for 99.99 was way awesome

mrferrit · #22 12/23/2007, 03:08 PM

thanks for all the advice
i have not bought this coral yet i dont buy stuff without researching it alot before buying.

i do run my wter through a fridge filter so its not quite tap but ihave never tested TDS on it before but i still add conditioner

roger:
i do test often every few weeks and every thig stays the same

why would i want to dose anything if everything is where it should be exept high calc?
and yes it is a 180 with about 50 gal in the sump so 230 gal total
65 gallons is about 25 %
but i think i understand do more water changes and then i might have to dose ?

tcwayne lol yup my lion is like a little chihuahua lol that was funny lol

so what to do about getting coraline to start growing ?

(i need a mentor lol)

thanks everyone

lifesworksataol · #23 12/23/2007, 03:39 PM

there is always purple up - but thats mostly calc . sooo...
seriously i would just buy a ro/di or get some from your lfs and do serious water changes till you have changed about 200% of your water over the period of a month or so. but make sure you stay with the same salt and water. i would try purple up as well even if you just use a little. another thing- what is your temp like? is it high? how old are your bulbs?
where all do you go scuba diving at? you do any collecting? i do in west palm, but there isnt much close to over here in orlando/deltona area.

rogergolf66 · #24 12/23/2007, 03:51 PM

sorry about the confusion on the cal. levels I have been reading so many of these things I thought you were one one with cal at 320 sorry about that. Yes you are right 65gal is a normal size water change for that tank.

do you have an urchint? They eat coriline

You should have plenty of coriline with that high of cal and alk check mag levels. Also a 175W MH is not even close to enough light. Maybe you put this in before but what else are you running for lighting. T5, PC, VHO and what bulbs are you running?

mrferrit · #25 12/23/2007, 05:02 PM

before i got the halide i used to run vho only i was running 48" 2 dayslight and 2 actinic.

still under lit but was always good for softies

no urchin

but currently only 1 175 in the middle where everything is