slash_halen
<span style="color:#088A4B">SPS Help & Advice
After a break from the hobby I'm back and ready to get my hands salty again. This is a project I've been planning for a while, it will be a slow burner, however due to other commitments I want to take my time and spread out the potential problems. So the first 18 months I'll be focusing on the SPS only, getting them pest-free and grown out before I even get the display tank set up. Once the DT is setup and the corals are transferred and settled, my focus can then turn towards the fish and making sure their quarantined and settled correctly.
The Aquarium
The tank with be at least 7 ft long (maybe 8), 24" wide and 26" high, containing minimal rock to allow the corals to fill the space.
I'm building the stand myself out of 2x4 wood, making the project cheaper, and providing me more options to customise the cabinet with cladding further down the line.
Here are my current plans for the stand:
The space at the back-left will be where the weir will sit.
The Method
The tank will be ran off the EcoSystem method, a method I've had great success with on my previous tank. The sump will have a large area for chaeto to control Nitrates and Phosphates, it will also house Miracle Mud.
The tank will be skimmerless and should not need any reactors. I will be using activated carbon now and then, but this will be placed in a passive area.
Originally I was going to try a calcium reactor, however I'm sticking with what I'm familar with and will be using the balling method. I may trial the classic method to start with to see if the colours are better than I was getting previously with the lite method.
The Equipment
- Lighting: 2 x ATI 8x39w T5's
- Return Pump: 2 x Ecotech Vectra M1 (with battery backup)
- Circulation: Tunze
Quarantine Procedure
Everything in this tank is getting quarantine, I will not be taking any chances, the tank will be housing butterflies and angels that are proned to parasites.
Corals
I will have a QT setup to quarantine all the corals and CUC I buy. I'm giving myself a 6-9 month buying window to get the SPS i want, during this time I will be dealing with any AEFW, nudi's etc that come along. I will also use several prophylactic red bug treatments once I'm finished buying. After the buying window the corals will be rested for 12 months to grow out into colonies. Once the corals are transferred to the DT, this tank will become the supervision tank for the fish.
Fish
I will be following the TTM (Tank-Transfer method) to prevent White Spot. During 2 of these transfers the fish will have a 5 minute freshwater bath with formalin (to prevent Velvet and Brook). After the TTM period the fish will be homed in the supervision tank for at least 6 weeks, this tank will also house a few corals (to monitor nipping habits of the butterflies). During this time the fish will be wormed prophylactically with praziquentel, and if required Levamisole if signs of internal issues arise.
The Fish
My fish list if not for the faint hearted, the chances of having LPS in this tank are nil
. The Chaetodon Paucifasciatus are considered a risky choice, however I'm giving them a go as I've seen enough success by several reefers reporting no damage to their SPS even though they continually nip. Polyp extension has never concerned me so i'm happy.
Depending on the bioload, I'm hoping this will be the full stocking list.
Butterflies
2 x Chaetodon Paucifasciatus (Red Sea Pearlscales)
2 x Chaetodon Tinkeri (Tinkers Butterfly)
1 x Chelmon Rostratus (Copperband)
Tangs
1 x Acanthurus Leucosternon (Powder Blue Tang)
1 x Zebrasoma flavescens (Yellow Tang)
Angels
1 x Pygoplites Diacanthus (Regal Angel)
1 x Pomacanthus Navarchus (Majestic Angel)
1 x Apolemichthys Xanthopunctatus (Goldflake Angel)
Dwarf Angels
1 x Centropyge bispinosa (Coral Beauty)
1 x Centropyge loricula (Flame Angel)
1 x Centropyge multifasciata (Multibar Angel)
Wrasse
1 x Anampses Meleagrides (Yellowtail Tamarin Wrasse)
1 x Anampses Femininus (Femininus Wrasse)
1 x Halichoeres Iridis (Iridis Wrasse)
Others
20 x Apogon leptacanthus (Threadfin Cardinalfish)
The Aquarium
The tank with be at least 7 ft long (maybe 8), 24" wide and 26" high, containing minimal rock to allow the corals to fill the space.
I'm building the stand myself out of 2x4 wood, making the project cheaper, and providing me more options to customise the cabinet with cladding further down the line.
Here are my current plans for the stand:
The space at the back-left will be where the weir will sit.
The Method
The tank will be ran off the EcoSystem method, a method I've had great success with on my previous tank. The sump will have a large area for chaeto to control Nitrates and Phosphates, it will also house Miracle Mud.
The tank will be skimmerless and should not need any reactors. I will be using activated carbon now and then, but this will be placed in a passive area.
Originally I was going to try a calcium reactor, however I'm sticking with what I'm familar with and will be using the balling method. I may trial the classic method to start with to see if the colours are better than I was getting previously with the lite method.
The Equipment
- Lighting: 2 x ATI 8x39w T5's
- Return Pump: 2 x Ecotech Vectra M1 (with battery backup)
- Circulation: Tunze
Quarantine Procedure
Everything in this tank is getting quarantine, I will not be taking any chances, the tank will be housing butterflies and angels that are proned to parasites.
Corals
I will have a QT setup to quarantine all the corals and CUC I buy. I'm giving myself a 6-9 month buying window to get the SPS i want, during this time I will be dealing with any AEFW, nudi's etc that come along. I will also use several prophylactic red bug treatments once I'm finished buying. After the buying window the corals will be rested for 12 months to grow out into colonies. Once the corals are transferred to the DT, this tank will become the supervision tank for the fish.
Fish
I will be following the TTM (Tank-Transfer method) to prevent White Spot. During 2 of these transfers the fish will have a 5 minute freshwater bath with formalin (to prevent Velvet and Brook). After the TTM period the fish will be homed in the supervision tank for at least 6 weeks, this tank will also house a few corals (to monitor nipping habits of the butterflies). During this time the fish will be wormed prophylactically with praziquentel, and if required Levamisole if signs of internal issues arise.
The Fish
My fish list if not for the faint hearted, the chances of having LPS in this tank are nil
. The Chaetodon Paucifasciatus are considered a risky choice, however I'm giving them a go as I've seen enough success by several reefers reporting no damage to their SPS even though they continually nip. Polyp extension has never concerned me so i'm happy.Depending on the bioload, I'm hoping this will be the full stocking list.
Butterflies
2 x Chaetodon Paucifasciatus (Red Sea Pearlscales)
2 x Chaetodon Tinkeri (Tinkers Butterfly)
1 x Chelmon Rostratus (Copperband)
Tangs
1 x Acanthurus Leucosternon (Powder Blue Tang)
1 x Zebrasoma flavescens (Yellow Tang)
Angels
1 x Pygoplites Diacanthus (Regal Angel)
1 x Pomacanthus Navarchus (Majestic Angel)
1 x Apolemichthys Xanthopunctatus (Goldflake Angel)
Dwarf Angels
1 x Centropyge bispinosa (Coral Beauty)
1 x Centropyge loricula (Flame Angel)
1 x Centropyge multifasciata (Multibar Angel)
Wrasse
1 x Anampses Meleagrides (Yellowtail Tamarin Wrasse)
1 x Anampses Femininus (Femininus Wrasse)
1 x Halichoeres Iridis (Iridis Wrasse)
Others
20 x Apogon leptacanthus (Threadfin Cardinalfish)
