SPS death related to lighting?

[sontdo]

I bought few SPS frags, acropora, which are gone now. My yellow leather is shriveled and is almost gone too. My LPS, zoos are OK. I'm not sure why SPS died. I have 6 Actinic VHO 110W; 2 175W MH; 100G; 15W UV sterilizer; recently water changed 40% of tank; Actinic on 8 hours; MH on 5 hours; 2 powerheads with natural wave setting in the opposit direction. Water condition is good.

I would like to get more SPS frags but not sure if they will survive with the current lighting. Should I upgrade my lighting to 250W or 400W MH or add seaswirl for better current. Any input or suggestion would be greatly appreciated.

[andy]

2 powerheads in a 100gal tank? What type?

[sontdo]

Powerhead: Max Jet 900 and 600

[Michael7979]

That isn't very much for a 100g tank. Most sps people are well over a 20x's tank volume per hour for flow.

For example in my 100 when it was set up it was at 25x's + 600 gph going thru the sump. I didn't think I had enough flow in my tank. JMO

[impur]

Yah i would also say flow. I have over 5000gph in my 75gal not including my return pump. You have about 300gph not including your return pump. No SPS will thrive with that low of flow.

[sontdo]

So do I have another powerhead? or what do you recommend?

[Nyles]

I would add two maxi jet 1200 with sure flow kits... one on each side of tank. That would cost you about $70 total and draw 40 watts of power.

[andy]

If you prefer to just pick stuff up locally, a couple of Koralia 4 stream-style powerheads would be a good start (though they're less efficient and cost more than Nyles' suggestion).

[sontdo]

thanks for the input. Just clarifying: I add 2 Max Jet 1200 in addition to the current powerhead MaxJet 900 and 600. what direction of water flow should I aim for. I can only put powerheads in the back of the tank and not on the sides.

Do the SPSs need to be high, medium in the tank. Thanks again guys.

[Nyles]

optimally you should get the pump facing each other this will create variable current.... here is a pic of mine taken some time ago but they still work wonderfully (I just run 2 on each side in my 155).

http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n184/nyleswright/Reef%20Tank/10-23-06003.jpg

[Nyles]

you could mod the 900 as well if you like, the kits are $15. as far as position it really depends on your lights, with what you have I would start them half way up and if they don't color up well I would shoot for raising the frags up. As for flow just don't point the powerhead at the coral at more than 12" away, I like to keep mine at the top and I have on pointing towards the center back to keep waste in suspension on my 72" long tank. You won't be able to put the powerheads down low because they will blow the same all over in that 20" deep tank, if in fact thats what it is.

[sontdo]

I have MaxJet 900 and 600 pointing toward each other in the back of the tank, in the center back. Should I add 1200 or another 900 in the back, pointing to the front of the tank? Where can get a reasonable price MaxJet? Online usually is less expensive but have to wait.

[impur]

I think Nyles was talking about MJmods, where you mod the Maxijet with a RC boat prop similar to Tunze pumps. This really ramps up their output, the MJ1200 stock is like 196gph, after modding its more like 1500gph.

If it were me, i would add 2 of the Sureflow mods, or go with a couple Koralia 4s in there. This is the link to the Sureflows

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~SearchStr~~action~view~idProduct~AF155 1~idCategory~FIPHAC~category~Algae_Free_Sure_Flow_ 1600_Maxi_Jet_Upgrade_Kit_Saltwater_Aquarium_Suppl ies_Powerheads_Accessories~vendor~.html

[sontdo]

thanks for the website for sureflows. So should I get another MJ 1200 pump in addition to what I have now: 900/600. Thanks.

[andy]

I'm gonna chime in and recommend the Tunze Nano Streams (here (http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_searchItem.aspx?IdCategory=FIPH&vendorname=Tunze&vendorcode=TZ&breadcrumbsid=3304755&searchlogtext=Powerheads&logtype=current_category&searchstep=0&pageindex=0&category=Saltwater_Aquarium_Supplies-Powerheads&SearchText=nano&parsed=1), for example). They're a bit more expensive, but their mounting system is, imo, the best out there. You can place them just about anywhere, and point them in just about any direction. Koralias come a close second, but don't have as wide a directional range. Just something to think about.

[Nyles]

thanks for the website for sureflows. So should I get another MJ 1200 pump in addition to what I have now: 900/600. Thanks.

Thats what I mean... two sureflow kits and two maxi 1200. You can try that and if you feel you need more flow add a few of those existing ones back in, but those two sure flows will completely BLOW AWAY what you have

[Holly]

Tunzes are 'spensive but they kick(censored). I have 2 in my 180g (plus 4 Rios, a Sieo, and another pump behind the rocks). Tunzes provide SERIOUS current, and Andy's right about the mounting--with the magnetic mounters it's a breeze and you can move them anywhere. Just my 2cents :D

IMO I'd put SPS in the top 1/2 of the tank. Mine flourish in the top 1/3 of mine (which is 24"D and has 750MH & 624W Actinic03s), and they also seem to like a fair bit of direct current...

Good luck!

[spectra]

I really like the Tunze to but my mount broke on mine have to get a new one. I have a few MJs but have not modded any of them yet.

[ocboat]

Check out the Triton Aquatics Gulf Stream II kit. They will mod a MJ 1200 to 2500GPH and come with a pivoting mount for $20.00 - $25.00. They really put out a lot of flow and are well made. www.tritonaquatics.com

[Nyles]

Im going to close my eyes now, I JUST purchased 6 of the sure flows.

[reefboy]

How old is your system hate to say this but I keep sps in low current trays with no problems im thinking your tank may still be abit to young to support acro types if it less then 8 months old and id check all parameters make sure there in check one cause may be fluxing ph and any number of things if your system is young anyways just my two cents check phos as well.

[sontdo]

hi reefboy,

you're right. my tank is about 4 month old. my LPS is doing fine. I just bought some acros and will see if they survive. I'll have to increase current flow and lighting. Will check phosphorus. pH is OK. Thanks for your insight.

[reefboy]

hi reefboy,

you're right. my tank is about 4 month old. my LPS is doing fine. I just bought some acros and will see if they survive. I'll have to increase current flow and lighting. Will check phosphorus. pH is OK. Thanks for your insight.

Never hurts to increase flow and lighting( as long as heat dosnt become a issue) hope new additions do well but you may just need to wait abit more and you'll get what you want:D

[Palani]

can you use those mj mods with wavemakers?

[andy]

You can, but they'll chatter on the power-cycle. The Seio wavemaker should work better.

[impur]

I think you could run the Sureflo's on a wavemaker. They start up really quietly. I'm amazed. And they are built really really well.

[sontdo]

I ordered 2 MJ 1200 with mods and should be here tomorrow. I'll set them up and see what will happen. I got to get new lights, 250W X 2. Amazing Aquarium is selling for $275 for two. Has anyone bought light from Amazing Aquarium in Albany?

[Cobalt]

reefboy, your low flow trays might actually have a ton of flow compared to the oversll volume or surface area of the corals, or you have low velocity flow but over a large area, so it has the appearance of low.

I'm taking a wild guess, but your reef trays are probably pretty small (i'm imagining the invert cubes common at LFS) so you are probably getting good flow around the corals.

Letys say your reef trays are supplied by a 1in pipe at 5psi (return pump that can put out 15ft of head, minus 5ft of elevation), that equals 25gpm or 1500gph.

sontdo has a large tank with two small powerheads so he was probably getting poor nutrient delivery/waste removal to/from the SPS...

I have had my 28g nanocube setup for 6 months now and have been fairly sucessful with my SPS. Haven't lost a frag other than one that fell behind the rockwork and about 2 brown-outs, but thats about it. In my 28g nanocube I have a korrillia #2, nanostream 6025, and a MJ900 equivilent for the return with a 150W HQI bulb. However my water is only 20in deep and my 150W HQI is an inch from the water's surface.

Sontdo, remember, radiation (light) drops off by the distance squared. So halving the distance of your lights to the corals with result in a quadrupling of intensity (and heat).

I'd like to hear what happens when you get the new pumps, they look pretty cool and are a cheap alternative to specialized stream pumps.

[sontdo]

Cobalt...will let you know. I get the MJ1200 today. I hope my LPS won't suffer from high flow. I'll keep experimenting...

[reefboy]

reefboy, your low flow trays might actually have a ton of flow compared to the oversll volume or surface area of the corals, or you have low velocity flow but over a large area, so it has the appearance of low.

I'm taking a wild guess, but your reef trays are probably pretty small (i'm imagining the invert cubes common at LFS) so you are probably getting good flow around the corals.

Letys say your reef trays are supplied by a 1in pipe at 5psi (return pump that can put out 15ft of head, minus 5ft of elevation), that equals 25gpm or 1500gph.

sontdo has a large tank with two small powerheads so he was probably getting poor nutrient delivery/waste removal to/from the SPS...

I have had my 28g nanocube setup for 6 months now and have been fairly sucessful with my SPS. Haven't lost a frag other than one that fell behind the rockwork and about 2 brown-outs, but thats about it. In my 28g nanocube I have a korrillia #2, nanostream 6025, and a MJ900 equivilent for the return with a 150W HQI bulb. However my water is only 20in deep and my 150W HQI is an inch from the water's surface.

Sontdo, remember, radiation (light) drops off by the distance squared. So halving the distance of your lights to the corals with result in a quadrupling of intensity (and heat).

I'd like to hear what happens when you get the new pumps, they look pretty cool and are a cheap alternative to specialized stream pumps.

umm nope there 4ft long 2ft wide by a 10inch deep

[Cobalt]

well there you have it, 50 gallons. You would need to have 195gph to have roughly similar changeover to sontdo. I bet you have much more than that, and if it is a prop tank I am gussing your supply and overflow are on opposite ends so you are getting reasonable laminar flow from one end to the other, whereas sontdo has his aiming directly at each other so some of his flow is bing reduced by turbulance.
also, sontdo probably has LR that further disrupts his flow, whereas you prop tank may just have the fragging racks that allows more laminar flow.

water can be very deceiving. that's how people underestimate the force of water in a flood and try to cross a road and get dumped into the drink

[sontdo]

hi Cobalt,

Should I place two MJ with mods on the opposite sides of the tank or I can get away put in the rear center of the tank hooking up to natural wavemaker? Thanks

[Cobalt]

I'd go with Nyle's advice or any of the others to start. Im not sure if there would be a huge difference between the different options, as long as you get water circulating in most areas of the tank. All we know is that the flow in an ocean is huge and there is not usually very high water velocities. Powerheads in our tanks are poor at replicating this flow because they put out high water velocity in a narrow path. In the ocean two opposing streams of water are rarely pointed at one another, but if the corals don't seem to mind, it may work well enough. But ideally there should be one stream pump on each end of the tank set to run on LONG alternating cycles (hours), just like the tides in the ocean. As long as the corals are happy, it doesn't really matter what configuration you end up with. Why buy a wavemaker if your corals seem healthly, you know?

[impur]

Yah, just point them at each other from opposite sides. You will get lots of chaotic flow that way. My corals love it.