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Old 02-27-2006, 12:44 PM   #1
christensonjes
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Could I house SPS corals?


I was wondering if I could have SPS corals in my tank? I have a 20 gallon tank with a Coralife PC 130 W fixture. Also has Penguin Bio-wheel 350. Red Sea Berlin Skimmer.(airstone type) and 2 powersweeps 160 gph. Any Opinions? I know they probly wont get the greatest color but, would it work? Will they grow?

Someone from reef central said my Bio-wheel might be an issue if I am measuring nitrates. Well, I am but what does he mean by that?
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Old 02-27-2006, 12:49 PM   #2
Casey
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I would say no.
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Old 02-27-2006, 12:51 PM   #3
three90s&125sump
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If you have enough LR you may want to consider removing the power filter. If you get some "hearty" SPS and keep it at the top it should do ok as long as your nitrates stay very low (under 5) and you don't get any algae to bother the coral. You may want to get some more flow as well. Do you have a sump? if not be sure to keep the "skin" off the top of the water. It will reduce light penetration significantly. What else do you have in your system. If you have more than a couple small fish it might be too much for the SPS to cope with, waste wise.
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Old 02-27-2006, 12:52 PM   #4
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Bio wheels are like any other type of mechanical filter. They trap detritus and keep it in the water column so are a perpetual source of nitrogenous waste.

Coral, especially SPS corals should be in as pristine an environment as possible, as free of any type of nutrients as possible, including nitrogenous wastes. Bio wheels are fine for fish only tanks, fish can handle nitrates, but they are not good for reef tanks.

Could you keep them? Perhaps. Will they thrive in your tank? Not likely.

How much LR do you have? If you have 20lbs or so of LR that would provide enough biologic filtration, and you can go with what you have, minus the Bio wheel.

I am not an expert on the lighting, but the wattage seems enough. Most SPS folks dont like PC's though, I am not sure why this is. SPS tanks also need a lot of flow, you might have enough with the PH's and the skimmer, I am not sure.

Probably the next person will tell you that your skimmer isnt good enough either, but it works.
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bio wheel , bio wheels , mechanical filter , red sea berlin skimmer , sps corals , sps tank , trap detritus



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