Looking for LPS reefer friends

[hydrox78]

Hi all LPS members,

I am new to marine keeping, perviously from dogs showing competition for 15 years.

A good friend intro me marine fishes and i started with FO tank last december.

I am very new to LPS ( been 5 months now) and totally new to this forum. Then i got some softies and LPS into my tank to decor and in the end got hooked.

I realize it quite different from FO water parameter and many more other knowledge such as equipment and placement.

I am sincerely looking for nice reefer to give a pointers and share with me their experience, as i am facing many problems with some LPS and almost feel like giving up already

I stay around Holland area and like to make some real friends. I hope to learn from the experience LPS reefer such improving my tank system, what elements to add for different LPS, flowrate and placement, and really hope to learn propagation of LPS corals.

So all pros, i look forward for your guidance and help.

Attach is my simple reef tank picture

Pls do send me a message .

[klim]

Nice corals

[ryanlio]

What problems Bro.. I think u got 1 of the best lps tank I've seen..

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[chrislwp]

Agree. All looks so healthy.

Only Chromis seen, bioload should be low.

[hydrox78]

Hey all Seniors,

Thank for the kind comments. I think I still have much to learn.

Actually i have more fishes than these two chromis, just that when i took the picture.

All my tangs went to the bottom of the tank and hiding behind the front. i position my tank ( 3 views)

Ya, some of the fishes are from my previous FO tank. Manage to keep some and give up most of my fav angels.

1. Yellow tang

2. Purple tang

3. Sailfin Tang

4. PBT

5. Atlantic Blue

6. Orange shoulder tang

7. Betta (this one don’t eat my corals :S)

The coral start to die slowly, some receding and some do not open fully as before.

I started to wonder why and the following:

1) as i have not try glue them on the rock, snails and crabs and fishes knock, some fall onto the sand bed and other corals. (Example a few time one time the octopu corals fall and hit the elegance on the bottom, start receding and die after a few days)

2) I keep changing the position when I add in new corals; some does not like the new place.

3) As i just started, i do not have any calcium knowledge (no calcium test kit yet lol), but i started slow drip seachem reef Kalk in the night for two weeks now, will buy the test kit soon. (stopped this week)

4) Using a poor wavemaker, I am using boyu china brand with two head blaster, could it be the flow is not good or too strong?

Do you think i need a calcium reactor for now? How to test for bio load? Ammonia test?

Currently, all ammonia and nitrate are within acceptable range, so is KH, PH temperature at 26 deg and using T5 ( avg 6-8 hrs) As I do water change 10% every week. (using fresh sea water from LS)

Do you guys add iodine and magnesium for LPS? I have these bottles, but after some coral start receding, I start to panic and stop using these for a while. (3 week now)

I start to get worry what wrong with the water and the system of my tank. As said, most of the equipments were used for FO tank.

Hope for your advise and guidance.

[chrislwp]

Besides placement, temp, lighting, and current, go get a good set of test kit like Salifert, you will then know where goes wrong with higher accurate reading.

Looking at the amount of fish, likely due to high nitrate. What No3 test kit u using? I think Salifert cost below $30.

For nitrate, you can look into biopellets, denitrator, refugium, water change etc.. I don't think you need a calcium reactor unless u are into sps, cheaper and simpler to dose calcium for Lps.

[hydrox78]

Currently Nirate level <10ppm ( i think is high)

testing No3 with API.

I use Biopellets and recent add in 6 managrove plants.

What brands and stuff do you dose for calcium?

[chrislwp]

Bro. I have the same perception like u when I use API for No3 & Po4 until I switch to Salifert.

Nothing against the brand. I "thought" I have good water quality like you do.

[ryanlio]

Applying from my culinary experience.. " seasoning to taste;".. u can add additives if insufficient, but u can't take out if overdosed. I don't make adjustments to parameters I can't measure.. hope it helps

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[Solo77]

Hi, not an expert here. Just wish to give my personal opinion. For lps and softies, I think they do not need extreme good water like sps and they do need some nitrate level, etc. they also need KH, mag, trace element, etc but less demanding than sps. However, it will be good to maintain good water elements to ensure yr coral health. Lighting and current within yr tank also play important roles in determining placement and type. Lastly, some corals do sting and must understand their chacteristics and treat yr corals to prevent any possible infection before introducing to yr tank. It will be good if u can pay Henry of marine life a visit and I believe he will share lots of info with u. His shop address can be located at the sponsor column. Think he is one of the most knowledgeable lfs owners I can think of. Cheers and enjoy.

[hydrox78]

I joined the forum just only a few days and I already got so much help from some really nice reefers. Thank you bros!

Someone lend his Salifert test kit to me. The result surprises me and is much easy to tell the colour differences, I am always confuse with the bright yellow colour using API

Will buy the Salifert calcium test kit this weekend and test my water.

Can i check with you guys what is the most appropriate or reliable wave maker to use?

Currently using LVP -202 Flow rate 12000l/h (24W)

[spkentchai]

I joined the forum just only a few days and I already got so much help from some really nice reefers. Thank you bros!

Someone lend his Salifert test kit to me. The result surprises me and is much easy to tell the colour differences, I am always confuse with the bright yellow colour using API

Will buy the Salifert calcium test kit this weekend and test my water.

Can i check with you guys what is the most appropriate or reliable wave maker to use?

Currently using LVP -202 Flow rate 12000l/h (24W)

Go for Tunze or Vortech if you do not have budget issue....won't go wrong with these 2 brands...I have a few tunze for you to try it if you want...

[David5077]

Vortech still the best compare with other brands

[alexy]

nice cloral you got there

[hydrox78]

Hi Alexy,

Thank you for your compliment.

Is good to see you have still left with 9 post to get 100 posting.

You can post more in this column

[hydrox78]

From a 4x2x2.5 ft FO Tank (since Jan 12) to a 3-view LPS tank (end of March 12).

Since i have joined the club in July, I have quite good success of getting coral growth and no more coral dying.

I like to thanks those reefers who have answer to my PM on some advise when I just started , especially to Solo77 and harlequin mania , although I have not met you in person. Almost meet solo77 when u came to collect the Swissguard from Justin.

Many thanks to chrislwp for all the support and help.

This is a great website to learn and share about reefing.

Anyway I have decided to transfer my current corals to another 5 ft tank in beginning Jan 13, donated by kind reefer Spkentchai, a tank size to my liking. This time I will move slowly to some easy SPS just to add some variety.

I am aiming for a balance reef coral tank. (Likely to share at the member's tank posting soon)

I like to seek some advise from those who have experience moving corals and fishes to another tank successfully. I plan to re-use my current rock for scaping, possible if i can re-use the sand also. (Save cost)

Plan 1

move all the fishes to QT tank for 2 weeks

move all the corals to another container for 2 week with chiller and lights ( you think they can survive for this long? )

Take out the bio-media, rocks and sand – wash with the water from the current tank

When tank arrive, put in the washed sand and rock and fill it with NSW to cycle for 1-2 weeks

Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thank you

[Davidlow]

Nice coral !

[ryanlio]

Why not run the two tanks in parallel.. wait for the 2nd tank to cycle. Stabilize before transferring? Also sps needs a balanced parameters.. I think if tank too new.. it might not be advised..

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[ryanlio]

Oh yes.. if u ever go sps.. then your title needs change Liao... " looking for sps reefer friends".. the we have to see you go over to the dark side.. hahaa

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[gymbvolka]

nice LPS tank and amazing result for a newbie.

Congrats and looking forward to your new posting on your next set up.

[hydrox78]

Why not run the two tanks in parallel.. wait for the 2nd tank to cycle. Stabilize before transferring? Also sps needs a balanced parameters.. I think if tank too new.. it might not be advised..

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Hey ryanlio,

At first i was thinking about that, but do you think the HDB room can handle one 5ft and 4ft load at one corner?

I'm worry that flooring cannot take the load and causes crack below my neighbour ceiling. Anyone can advise?

I also need the rocks from the current , so i think i still need to transfer the fishes and coral into another tank first right?

[hydrox78]

Oh yes.. if u ever go sps.. then your title needs change Liao... " looking for sps reefer friends".. the we have to see you go over to the dark side.. hahaa

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Haha, yes i like to know more reefers( LPS and SPS) and learn from their experience.

I still look on the bright side in reefing

[Solo77]

Didn't know u know Justin and surprised to know he decommed. Seeing yr tank makes me feel inferior. Lol. Well done and can see your patience.

[ryanlio]

Not a problem with 5 ft and 4 feet side by side. That way can share sump, chiller.. Etc.. Else u need 2 x equipment.. I know someone with a lot more tanks at home. Haha.. Hope it works well for ya.

[hydrox78]

Didn't know u know Justin and surprised to know he decommed. Seeing yr tank makes me feel inferior. Lol. Well done and can see your patience.

Thank you for your kind word, i am still learning and hopefully to be better in near future.

Justin is the first to introduce me to reefing but sad to see him decom after 3 years.

Actually not easy as i expected, seeing the number for decom reefers from this site, i hope i can survive longer , lol