SPS only nano requirements

[james1990]

Setting up 27gal cube wanting to try my hand at SPS. (ready for the learning curve.) There's a lot of good info on here regarding SPS in nanos but it would be good to consolidate on one thread.

We know the basics of keeping SPS are high flow and great water quality. additional tips I have read and heard are using an oversized skimmer, keeping trace elements in check, and high lighting.

Can anybody add to any of these points or add anything else?

 

[budddman]

I keep an Sps nano, and find it much easier to maintain then my larger tank. My only advice would be not over feeding and frequent 5 gal water changes. Thats all ive ever needed to to with my nano.

Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using Reefs

 

[james1990]

the big debate:

bare bottom for better flow
or substrate

 

[JonnyJ]

OWater changes only last for a while. They worked for me for the past year but now I'm dosing. - dosing isn't really that bad once your fluent in testing lol.

My setup is 25 gallons. Full sps. Over 35 different species and having awesome growth.


Bare bottom is a good idea in nanos.

 

[james1990]

What do you use to dose? And what are you dosing?

 

[james1990]

I hear such mixed reviews on going bare bottom. I would think I have to find my mandarin a new home if I went bare bottom because of lack of pods?

 

[JonnyJ]

Shouldn't have a mandarin in a nano unless they are eating frozen. It will deplete the population way to fast.


I dose 2 part, need to check levels to know how much to dose.

 

[budddman]

If i had to do my nano over i would go bare bottom...with that being said i did set up a second tank and still did a sand bed. It will just make it easier to keep your nano clean.

Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using Reefs

 

[james1990]

@jonny my mandarin eats frozen like a pig im lucky.

i dont mind cleaning the tank, but every time i go in there i piss off corals and knock sh!t over. im going to do some more research on bare bottom

 

[JonnyJ]

That's a good thing but in a nano over feeding and sps doesn't work for long.

The amount you'll have to feed him will qualify as overfeeding and its going to continuously decline your water quality.


Going bare bottom isnt needed but it will help keep your levels in check and detritus suspended. It's amazing what builds up under and around the sand.

 

[james1990]

That makes a lot of sense. Tm the Mandarin is going up for grabs. If someone wants him pm me.