hoping to transition to SPS only tank

[tran]

dear experienced reef hobbyst!

My 57g tank is now just a mix of LPS, softies and with a few SPS frag. I plan to gradually transition to just SPS dorminated tank starting in a month or so.
I just wasn't sure what are some of the most important factors in keeping SPS reef tank?

Do I need stronger light? (currently using 4xATI T5 bulbs)
Do I need more flow (currently have MP10, JVP 102 power heads and a mag 5 for return pump)
More rocks or less rocks?
How feasible is it to maintain an sps dominated tank with out the addition of a calcium reactor ? currently doing the 2 parts dosing
What are the criterials to be able to keep a healthy sps reef tank?
Any help would greatly appreciate very much

thanks

Tran

 

[newenglandreef]

stability is the factor in my view.

 

[frank180reef]

I am not an sps expert, but SPS need a lot cleaner water, more flow as u suggest and strong light

 

[wrassefan]

I'm keeping half my tank with sps...only use limewater, filter box for flow and occasional carbon and 2 powerheads. I do use a 250 DE MH but that is basically it. Sure it can be done...stable salinity, stable ph/alk and low low nutrients. I only have 1 fish and 4 or 5 snails.

 

[mandrake]

Do I need stronger light? (currently using 4xATI T5 bulbs)(4 bulb fixture should be O.K. for corals at top of water column and if fixture is close to surface, 4")
Do I need more flow (currently have MP10, JVP 102 power heads and a mag 5 for return pump)( O.K. to start but as corals grow would probably need more flow)
More rocks or less rocks?( dont know how much you currently have but you would probably need 50 pounds at least)
How feasible is it to maintain an sps dominated tank with out the addition of a calcium reactor ? currently doing the 2 parts dosing( again two part dosing should be fine to start with until corals grow and demand increases)
What are the criterials to be able to keep a healthy sps reef tank?(stable water parameters,alk 7-10 dkh,calcium 400-450,mag 1250-1350,temp78- 82,and speaking from experience good dipping and quarantining of all incoming corals is important and often overlooked.)
Any help would greatly appreciate very much

I have answered in brackets, I would also say a good protien skimmer is important and that I always run carbon in a reactor changed out monthly and dont forget water changes with replacement water at the proper levels of alk,calc,mag and salinity.

 

[tran]

thanks everyone.
I probably will go very slowly just to see how they do .

 

[Bobbofin]

Light suggestion

This is what I have on a 2'x2'x2' 60 cube but in the 24" 150w flavor. http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/H-A31H2502T5.html
This should do you fine no matter what you decide to do. I really like the legs (not shown on website), they are heavy duty and lift the fixture 8" off the water not 4-5" like most legs. I would swap the T5s for ATI Blue+ 420/460nm actinic as I did because the ones that come with it are 420nm and pink not blue. I really like the 14,000k mh bulb but will switch to a XM 15,000k when it needs to be replaced. The only con is that the LED moon lights burn out quickly due to the heat of the MH next to them. I gave up on them and don't worry about it. It has four cords; fan, mh, t5 and leds.
If you want to see the fixture first hand shoot me a PM then come up....... Bobby

 

[pvh]

Do I need stronger light? (currently using 4xATI T5 bulbs)(4 bulb fixture should be O.K. for corals at top of water column and if fixture is close to surface, 4")
Do I need more flow (currently have MP10, JVP 102 power heads and a mag 5 for return pump)( O.K. to start but as corals grow would probably need more flow)
More rocks or less rocks?( dont know how much you currently have but you would probably need 50 pounds at least)
How feasible is it to maintain an sps dominated tank with out the addition of a calcium reactor ? currently doing the 2 parts dosing( again two part dosing should be fine to start with until corals grow and demand increases)
What are the criterials to be able to keep a healthy sps reef tank?(stable water parameters,alk 7-10 dkh,calcium 400-450,mag 1250-1350,temp78- 82,and speaking from experience good dipping and quarantining of all incoming corals is important and often overlooked.)
Any help would greatly appreciate very much

I have answered in brackets, I would also say a good protien skimmer is important and that I always run carbon in a reactor changed out monthly and dont forget water changes with replacement water at the proper levels of alk,calc,mag and salinity.

Exactly what I was going to say.

 

[The Ng Thing]

Aside from stability, I would stress the importance of QT'ing and incoming treatments. All of your hard work will be for nothing if you allow a couple pests to sneak in. Before I start my next SPS dedicated tank, I'm going to develop a QT system first.