SPS and flow...need help.

[Mik_101]

Will my acropora get better color under more flow? Right now I have about 395 gph in 46 gallon tank. I am installing a Tunze nano stream 6055 shotly witch will knok up my flow to 1055 gph nd after that a Koralia 3or4. With the 3 my flow will be around 1905gph and with the 4 it will be 2255 gph.
Witch Koralia would you guy suggest for my tank? and will the flow help my sps corals get their color.
For lighting I have 2x 175 watt MH and 2x 40 watt actinics.
My water params. are
SG-1.024
Ammoni-0.25
No3-0
No2-0
temp-80
Mg-1026(I think I got my water tsted for Mg and Dkh at OA(ocean aquatins))
Dkh-10.6
pH.8.8(bit to high. How can I lower it to aroun 8.2 or so?)
Cal.-425

[sphelps]

SPS color is effected by so many things, mostly lighting, water quality, and flow. While increasing flow may be good thing more importantly is an alternating flow pattern which will promote proper growth and result in better color, but other than that I wouldn't expect any crazy results from increasing your flow. The most important factor in color that I have found is Stability of proper water parameters which include very low nutrients, constant Cal + Alk, constant temp and salinity and so on. A calcium reactor can be a huge advantage, it will keep the cal+alk constant and keeps the growth rate high, I find the higher the growth rate the better the color, especially the growth tips.

[Skimmerking]

what kills SPS is nitrates and phoshates, and little flow along with low alk and cal levels

[Mik_101]

Originally Posted by sphelps

SPS color is effected by so many things, mostly lighting, water quality, and flow. While increasing flow may be good thing more importantly is an alternating flow pattern which will promote proper growth and result in better color, but other than that I wouldn't expect any crazy results from increasing your flow. The most important factor in color that I have found is Stability of proper water parameters which include very low nutrients, constant Cal + Alk, constant temp and salinity and so on. A calcium reactor can be a huge advantage, it will keep the cal+alk constant and keeps the growth rate high, I find the higher the growth rate the better the color, especially the growth tips.

I don't think I'm ready to blow 200+ on cal reactor plus I'm only 14.

[sphelps]

But you can "blow" $200 on the nano stream?? Plus the other pump???

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by sphelps

But you can "blow" $200 on the nano stream?? Plus the other pump???

Also your levels are out a bit

Ammonia is too high, should read zero, but likely this is just your test kit
Mg is too low, should be around 1200-1300
Alk is too high should be closer to about 8dkh dropping this will likely lower your pH
Cal is pretty good, but could be higher 440 is what I like

[Aquattro]

175w will limit the color, as will nutrients. Higher alk would be my goal, I ran about 11+. Ca at anything above 380 is fine. Flow won't affect color really to any noticeable degree if everything else isn't right. Make sure you do routine water changes, and don't over feed.

[Skimmerking]

Originally Posted by sphelps

Also your levels are out a bit

Ammonia is too high, should read zero, but likely this is just your test kit
Mg is too low, should be around 1200-1300
Alk is too high should be closer to about 8dkh dropping this will likely lower your pH
Cal is pretty good, but could be higher 440 is what I like

I disagree his Alk is good for not having a Reactor , A reactor is kicking out around 10-11 DKH at a constant rate when dialed in along with that the Calcium running at 400

[Mik_101]

Originally Posted by asmodeus

I disagree his Alk is good for not having a Reactor , A reactor is kicking out around 10-11 DKH at a constant rate when dialed in along with that the Calcium running at 400

I totally agree. My tank is too small for calcium reactor and I don't want calciums levels over 440.

[Mik_101]

Ok I fed my corals and he got quite a bit of color. Thanks for the help though.