Sps Lighting Advice

[Crazy fishes]

Just recently posted that I have 11 liter tank which is cycling at the moment. I have been thinking and would like to try and put together a pico sps system. As the tank is only 9.5x9.5x9.5 inches I was thinking that PC compacts would give sufficient light to keep SPS corals (well a few fragments) but what wattage to use is the question that I put to you fellow fish fanatics? I was thinking that a twin 18W unit would probably be best as the overhang would be minimal and produce nice even and intense lighting.Your thoughts would be much appreciated.

Just a note of interest has anyone seen the 28g D-D tank?? Reading the specification and my experience with the 24g makes me think that it looks really good. Does anyone have one or know anyone with one? The price tag is a little steep and makes me wonder if people would spend the little extra for the Red sea cube if they are after a self contained ready to run kit.

Regards

 

[Colin_T]

Having two globes on the tank would probably be fine. However, I would be more concerned about temperature fluctuations with stuff like Acroporas. Due to the small volume of water the temp might go up and down a few degrees each day and that will knock the acros about.

 

[Crazy fishes]

Having two globes on the tank would probably be fine. However, I would be more concerned about temperature fluctuations with stuff like Acroporas. Due to the small volume of water the temp might go up and down a few degrees each day and that will knock the acros about.

What are globes? As for the temperature it has been running for two days now and the temperature has remained at 26 C. I have also found that the evaporation rate is two days per 0.001 units. As this is the first data generated I will continue to measure this and so by day 4 I should see it change to 1.026 from 1.025. The lower SG than I normally run just as a safety measure as I saw the SG at 1.027 today from my usual 1.026. I thought the acros and monti would appreciate it. I am running the flow rate at about 40x which I have modified today with a wave deflect since it looked a little like a whirlpool!! Things are looking a lot better.

Can you think of any fish I could have in the tank? I am thinking that it would be a little cramped so probably best to stay away from fish. I was initially think a small jawfish as I have a good two inches of substrate.

Regards

 

[Colin_T]

globes = power compact fluoros

you don't want the salinity/ specific gravity to go above 1.027 and I prefer to keep it a bit lower, around 1.024. (1.026 is fine)

the tank is probably a bit too small for any fish. If you were really desperate for a fish then perhaps a yellow coral goby (Gobiodon okinawae). You might even find some coral crabs living among the acropora branches at the LFS. See if you can get a couple of them. They are small and live in the coral so won't cause any problems to it. And they can be fed tiny bits of food every now and then, which will help keep the filter bacteria alive.

 

[Crazy fishes]

globes = power compact fluoros

you don't want the salinity/ specific gravity to go above 1.027 and I prefer to keep it a bit lower, around 1.024. (1.026 is fine)

the tank is probably a bit too small for any fish. If you were really desperate for a fish then perhaps a yellow coral goby (Gobiodon okinawae). You might even find some coral crabs living among the acropora branches at the LFS. See if you can get a couple of them. They are small and live in the coral so won't cause any problems to it. And they can be fed tiny bits of food every now and then, which will help keep the filter bacteria alive.

Never heard anyone refer to power compacts as globes before; you learn something new everyday. Not really bothered about having fish, I only enquired because I was think what to use to keep the filter in prime health. It seems that coral crabs are the answer if I can get hold of some.
Thanks for the reply

Regards

 

[dilbert]

Never heard anyone refer to power compacts as globes before; you learn something new everyday.

WA probably refers to Western Australia and not to Washington state ...

My pico with 12 liters has less change of temperature than my nano. The reason is that the pico has only one powerhead (Hydor Koralia nano). The thermostat of the heater is at 26.5 °C and it went to maximal 29 °C when the nano (thermostat at 25 °C but with 5 powerheads) went to 30°C already and I used a fan only on that nano.

And surely, avoid big poo-ers like fish as they make live more complicated.

 

[SkiFletch]

Yeah, your lighting options on a tank like that would be either a pair of 18watt CF bulbs, or a single 70watt halide clipon.

 

[Crazy fishes]

Yeah, your lighting options on a tank like that would be either a pair of 18watt CF bulbs, or a single 70watt halide clipon.

Thanks Ski for the reply. I think I may try and stick with the PC lighting as it is cheaper to set up and run, produces less of a thermal effect on the tank and 70 watt halide might be a bit extreme as the tank volume is less than 4g. I think a 400l/h powerhead with wave deflector and 50:50 18w twin compact fluorescent lighting is what I will kit it out with. I am thinking of running the S.G at 1.025, the temperature at 26C, calcium 450ppm and dKh 13. For live stock I was thinking no fish, just two turbos (or if I can get hold of them astrea), maybe a couple of blue/red legged hermits and SPS coral. I would like some blue/green/orange monti plates and a central branching upper tier with bluetipped/purple tipped acros. Are there any problems with that stocking list or set up? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated too.

Regards

 

[SkiFletch]

Well, it has been done before (SPS in a nano/pico) but it's exceptionally difficult. Your largest challenges IMO will be chemistry, flowrate, and the required attention to detail of each of these for success. Chemistry will obviously be difficult with the small water volume compared to the demand for calc/alk/mg by SPS. When colonies get larger and healthier they can guzzle these ions quickly.

Flowrate though is tricky. Not just the amount of flow, but the fact that SPS really prefer random turbulent flow which is tough to achieve in a tank that size. My suggestion would be to go Bare Bottom and get an easily adjustible powerhead and change its direction daily or every other day.

 

[Musho3210]

70 watt will not be too powerful, mainly because light is light, doesnt matter what tank. A coral positioned say... 6" directly under a 70 watt halide in a 14,000 gallon tank will get the same light as the same coral positioned 6" directly under a 70 watt halide in a 4 gallon tank.

Anyway, Pc's should be enough though. Flow will be hard to provide, i can try and find some links of people who have tried or are trying to make pico SPS tanks if you want, but they may be links to other forums so i'd have to pm you. PM me if your interested.

 

[dilbert]

I got ONLY LPS in my pico...

I have only one hermit and I'm happy with that decision as I don't have algae (apart from a little Chaetomorpha that grows very little despite much light and flow).
The rocks have turned a little bit more greenish since I bought them and I see the hermit rhythmically moving his claws so he's eating something but I don't see actually any algae. But if you have another tank you can surely take out some cleaners later on.

I have placed one Hydor Koralia nano with 900 liters/h in the middle of the long side of the nano. That streams from the rear side to the front glass. On the left and the right are each one rock with a Caulastrea frag. The water is quite turbulent there and not unidirectional.

Due to the elevated position of the frags I have only one 11W PC.

Here a few pictures.

 

[Musho3210]

the pump that comes with the tunze nano pushes quite a bit of water for its size, but it has crappy suction cups. Check out the tunze website, im pretty sure you can get the pump without getting the skimmer.

Im not sure about its comparison with the hydor nano since ive never seen a hydor nano out of a box in real life.

 

[Crazy fishes]

Well as I mentioned previously the tank is being used at the moment for looking after a three striped damsel (which I think is also known as a humbug damsel) a flame scallop and an electric blue legged crab. They were bought over today and I added them to the tank since they were being kept in a bin with room temperature water and no filter. God knows how they are still alive??? They all seem to be in good health though which is a bit confusing but a relief. The rock has just finished cycling and nitrates peaked at 10ppm. I think it wasn't massive because it is a smallish piece and singular. I will do a water change soon just to freshen things up a bit and sort out the pH which at present is about 7.8. I have also decided to give a brine shrimp hatchery a go today. I thought that some live food as well as the frozen counterpart would be a welcomed addition by the fish. I also have the motive of maybe trying my hand at breeding clowns or possibly Banggai cardinals. Well hopefully things will be ok with looking after these guys and I can get something happening in the tank real soon.

Regards