If I were to add SPS....

[jhanover]

So the MH light (3x150W) light has been running for a week and looks very good. The light is about 7-8" up off the tank and the brace (tank is 150G acryllic) is barely warm. Probably will add a fan at some point but I don't believe it is an issue.

I have read some but do not understand all that is entailed with adding SPS (other than the colors make the tank look really, really good!). I have two main concerns (maybe I should have more?) from what I have gathered: red bugs and calcium.

I find my tank's calcium has been pretty stable, but the alk is constantly low (not sure why). But if I add SPS (and clams) I know it will need calcium boosts. Is 2 part dosing better than the (equipment cost of a) calcium reactor? I can't find a good source to explain the calcium reactors and what would be right for my tank (total water is 180-200g). Hoping someone here can explain it in simple terms as well as the DIY dosing techniques.

As for the red bugs - I am not running a quarantine tank for various reasons. I know some people treat new frags with Interceptor but that is very hard to find. What do you all do?

As you can tell, I am quite ignorant in this area (not that I am all that knowledgable in any other area of this hobby but enough to keep my fish/softies tank going pretty well for a few years now). As always, help/advice is appreciated

Jon

[KDodds]

First, from my experience with SPS, I would quarantine all new acquisitions, and not mix sources (even if purchased from the same tank at different times) in that QT. That's going to go a VERY long way towards preventing problems. On the Ca/Alk end, I would consider using pickling lime to make Kalkwasser for top off. With only a few SPS, this should be more than enough to keep things going fine.

[jhanover]

Thanks K. I a 10 gallon tank big enough for QTing corals? I know that it isnt for fish. I can put some T5 light over the tank which should be good enough.
Where does one get pickling lime and kalwasser? Drs F & S and similar?

[KDodds]

Oh, yeah, the smaller the tank, within reason, the better for QTing corals. You need to invest less in light and equipment that way. Just make sure you aren't using it for fish as well.

Do a google search on Mrs. Wage's Pickling Lime. This is the same Calcium hydroxide powder you would get if you order it from a pet supplier (usually sold as Kalkwasser mix), The difference being that you might pay 10x the amount from a pet supplier than from a food supplier.

[KDodds]

Oops, forgot, dose rate is 1-2 tsp per gallon. I'd start off with 1/2 tsp. and work up as/if needed. You will also see an explosion of coralline algae when using Kalkwasser, so be prepared to scrape glass more often. I've found that nothing, and I mean nothing you can buy in a pet store or elsewhere, beats a Dobie and a little elbow grease for "scraping" glass.

[jhanover]

or in my case...scraping acryllic

[KDodds]

Yes, in mine too (450 at least). Dobies are acrylic safe though, it's the coralline algae you have to worry about scratching the acrylic.

[ralphie]

I get my Mrs. Wages from a WalMart. Depending upon the season, you can get it real cheap since they are looking to get rid of it. I have been using Mrs. Wages from the beginning instead of buying Kalkwasser, since it is so much cheaper. I am loaded with Coraline algae and my LPS corals are growing well, in fact too much.

[jhanover]

dumb question... what is a 'dobie'?

[gtriever]

I had to ask the same thing a while back. It's one of those all plastic pot scrubbing pads...