Two tanks: Here's my parameters, which one to choose for SPS?

[MissMolly]

I can't comment on the two light options, but I'd put the SPS in whichever of the two tanks has better flow. Unless you are directly blasting your coral with a powerhead, it is very hard to overdo flow. Multiple pumps is a good idea.

I'd also bump the salinity up to 35 ppt, and target an alkalinity more like 8 dKH. Pick a salt mix with parameters close to how you want to maintain your tank, so water changes are less of a stress on the corals.

Also try to get the phosphate to decrease slowly to some stable, lower value. GFO and increased water change frequency will help, but it's important to remember phosphates are only getting into the tank through food. Some foods are lower in phosphate, and I've found my tank settled on a lower PO4 value when changing from mostly pellets, to mostly frozen foods.

I have had very good luck with a lot of SPS, from wild caught colonies to "high end" frags. Stable dKH and PO4, paired with plenty of light and flow is a simple formula that seems to keep them happy.

Thank you so much for your response. That is a very good point with the food. I mainly feed pellets and flakes and frozen secondary. I should def switch that up!

I have a wavemaker and a powerhead and I have tried playing with them. With the wavemaker alone it can get to hurricane levels in the pico. In the nano with the two + flow from my oversized Tidal filter it seems adequate. I know with SPS that I need very very high flow and then more. But I think that is a lot more simple to improve than parameters. You can’t but one more water parameter machine and hang in the corner

 

[MissMolly]

Hi! So just wanted to give an update. I got my phosphates down to a reasonable level by changing Phosguard every four days and feeding less. Chose the nano for the acropora And also opted for some more hardy ones… Now lets see how it goes