First SPS Corals Am I on the right track?

[aquamann]

So after a year and a half I finally decided to try some sps corals. I picked up Forest Fire Digitata, Green Birdsnest, and a Grafted Monticap. They have been in the tank for about 10 days and was just wondering if they look healthy or not. At the moment I am still slowly raising alk to 8.5 and at that point I will try to dial in alk dosing to daily consumption to stay around the 8.5 range. So my main question would be at the moment based off the pictures do the corals seem happy and healthy or do they look like they are struggling. The thing I'm most confused by is flow. Not sure if they are showing signs if they are receiving too little, too much, or just right.

All testing is done with hanna checker and I am using red sea blue bucket if that matters.

Parameters:
5/14: alk 6.7 calc 480 mag 1340 nitrate 11.6 phosphate 0.04
5/17: alk 7.2
5/20: alk 7.2 calc 450 mag 1380
5/21: alk 7
5/24: alk 7.3
5/27: alk 8 calc 440 mag1410
5/28: nitrate: 11.3 phosphate 0.06
5/29 alk 8.2

 

[aquamann]

It's primarily alk but any of the big 3 can mess stuff up

sounds good, i'll stay on track of alk the most until i feel like its stable. With a hanna checker would it make sense to test alk multiple times in one day or just test once a day at the around same time.

 

[Lavey29]

sounds good, i'll stay on track of alk the most until i feel like its stable. With a hanna checker would it make sense to test alk multiple times in one day or just test once a day at the around same time.

Once a day at the same time for 3 consecutive days and that will give you a good idea of alk consumption. New SPS frags aren't going to cause any real noticeable changes to what you were already measuring.

 

[IntrinsicReef]

If you have a properly air circulation in the room I wouldn't worry about it

I don't know if air circulation is the right wording. Fresh air exchange with outside air is what keeps pH from dropping excessively. The more people/ animals in the house, the more CO2, the lower the pH in the water.

So after a year and a half I finally decided to try some sps corals. I picked up Forest Fire Digitata, Green Birdsnest, and a Grafted Monticap. They have been in the tank for about 10 days and was just wondering if they look healthy or not. At the moment I am still slowly raising alk to 8.5 and at that point I will try to dial in alk dosing to daily consumption to stay around the 8.5 range.

The corals look healthy with polyp extension and no sign of STN. I like to base my buffer dosing on pH, but plenty of people do it by alk. I would recommend just keeping parameters stable. Those are fast growing coral and your consumption of minerals will change as they grow. Test calcium and alk once or twice a week after you get a baseline and adjust dosing to keep stability. They should do great. If you want to watch pH, I have had solid results with this. $75 https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/pinpoint-ph-monitor-american-marine/

 

[KC2020]

Honestly I have never measured PH so I'm not sure what it's at. Do you know of any affordable way to measure ph? Ideally would want a monitor but it is out of my budget.

Hanna makes this very affordable checker for pH.

 

[Lavey29]

I don't know if air circulation is the right wording. Fresh air exchange with outside air is what keeps pH from dropping excessively. The more people/ animals in the house, the more CO2, the lower the pH in the water.

The corals look healthy with polyp extension and no sign of STN. I like to base my buffer dosing on pH, but plenty of people do it by alk. I would recommend just keeping parameters stable. Those are fast growing coral and your consumption of minerals will change as they grow. Test calcium and alk once or twice a week after you get a baseline and adjust dosing to keep stability. They should do great. If you want to watch pH, I have had solid results with this. $75 https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/pinpoint-ph-monitor-american-marine/

Agreed and a fuge helps with the night drop

 

[Lavey29]

Hey Aqua don't get discouraged if your first SPS don't do well. My first few didn't make it and then it was like my tank went through an evolution and became much more stable and predictable. 38 frags since then grown into large colonies and mini colonies. I just donated some big SPS colonies to my LFS so I could start fresh again with a bunch of new frags and colors.

 

[aquamann]

Hey Aqua don't get discouraged if your first SPS don't do well. My first few didn't make it and then it was like my tank went through an evolution and became much more stable and predictable. 38 frags since then grown into large colonies and mini colonies. I just donated some big SPS colonies to my LFS so I could start fresh again with a bunch of new frags and colors.

Yeah hoping they do well, seems like they are doing fine at the moment so only time will tell. I'll just keep eyes on parameters to get them stable and hopefully see some growth down the line.