Too SPS or Not Too SPS

[gablett]

Yea zoas have been the bane of my existence. I can get Rastas to grow more than a 10 polyp frag, red hornets more than a couple, but I can bring back a 3/4 dead red setosa and grow any sps like its a weed. Some things just work that way, I dont think they like the same things.

As far as levels go, I might not be the best example there. I dont believe in allowing a machine that can malfunction to do my job. I dose everything by hand daily with the exception of top of water. Not only do I know it was done right, but it gives me some close up time with the tank. The corals really tell you whats going on more so than test kits. Because of this my levels fluctuate very much. My alk with go from 7.5 to 9.5 in an evening when I dose. Calcium will fluctuate by about 50 ppm at minimum. I do keep my Mag at 1500 to 1600 to help keep things stable. But since I dose all at once, thats how much my coral uses in a day so I just replenish. Never had a problem. My coral grows faster than most I know of and never lost 1.

[FoundNemo]

Im using the Red Sea test kit. That is the zone were it tested. The kit does not use the dKH measurement. I tested everything again. My Mg is at 1400, CA is 450, Alk is still in the normal zone, PO4 - NO3 - No2 - Ammon are 0, pH is 8.65, temp is 78.6, Salinity is 1.022, and Iodine was 0.10

Originally Posted by dknuckles

Just noticed your Alk 1.6-3.2 (or 4.5-9) that is a heck of a drastic fluctuation (not to mention low on the 1 end)! Especially for SPS! Until that is stabilized I would not even consider SPS.
Myself, I am a die hard calcium reactor fan, keeps alk perfect consistantly. Dosing is ok if testing daily (IMO)

[dknuckles]

1st thing is I would buy a LaMotte Alkalinity test kit (most accurate IMO) you need exact value. That value is what you want stable (that range is acceptable if FOWL).
Until you gain more experience w/ SPS I would not rely on a visual judgement. The typical rule of dosing is "do not dose if you do not test for it".

I live in Madison Hgts and my restaurant is in Oak Park, I would be happy to test your water if you bring some buy (PM me we will set up something). I will also check PO4 w/ Hannah meter (never found an accurate titration kit for PO4)

Lastly I seem to recall a talk we had @ a swap about ATO (if not u please dis regard) as it will also help keep parameters stable