Adding SPS frags
- Thread starter clownchic
- Start date
sinder255248
New member
Personally I added within a month of the 0 reading. I'd add a couple of acro's and see how they go. As long as you can keep your perameters stable there shouldn't really be a problem.
MiddletonMark
Premium Member
I have a couple:
When coralline has grown to quarter size on the back glass/etc.
After cycling - then after two months of steady Ca/Alk levels have been maintained. Once adding the frags, you'll need these skills -part of the tank being ready IMO is you being ready
I added all captive frags during my first year of SPS-keeping, think some of my good success came from getting advised on hardy choices. I will also say that after about a year or so of the tank's life - all my SPS `took off' in color/growth. Some of that `wait a long time' is good advice, as there's a few untestables involved IME.
That said, these corals are about little more than patience - color and growth both take a month or more to start to fufill their potential, and I buy most of mine for a year to a couple down the road, when they're grown out. Waiting a few months, on that scale, is worth it IMO.
When coralline has grown to quarter size on the back glass/etc.
After cycling - then after two months of steady Ca/Alk levels have been maintained. Once adding the frags, you'll need these skills -part of the tank being ready IMO is you being ready
I added all captive frags during my first year of SPS-keeping, think some of my good success came from getting advised on hardy choices. I will also say that after about a year or so of the tank's life - all my SPS `took off' in color/growth. Some of that `wait a long time' is good advice, as there's a few untestables involved IME.
That said, these corals are about little more than patience - color and growth both take a month or more to start to fufill their potential, and I buy most of mine for a year to a couple down the road, when they're grown out. Waiting a few months, on that scale, is worth it IMO.
clownchic
New member
Thanks everyone. I've never had SPS so this information is valuable to me. I purchased several Salifert tests so I will start measuring more than just the nitrite/nitrate, pH and ammonia levels. I don't mind waiting, watching and measuring. What are some of the hardier acros and SPS?
LOL I can't believe someone just recommended acro's as a good starter coral. Forget the acro's for the time being. Especially if you are planning on buying your corals retail as opposed to frags from local reefers. Your wallet will thank you.
Honestly, if you have no corals yet, why not get a nice LPS like a frogspawn or a candy cane? Every good tank needs some nice LPS. And zoa's are always nice. Get those and wait until they are happy. Once things are stable, maybe try a nice Monitpora Digitata as your first SPS. They are a very hardy branching SPS and you can find some very nice colors.
Honestly, if you have no corals yet, why not get a nice LPS like a frogspawn or a candy cane? Every good tank needs some nice LPS. And zoa's are always nice. Get those and wait until they are happy. Once things are stable, maybe try a nice Monitpora Digitata as your first SPS. They are a very hardy branching SPS and you can find some very nice colors.
Ewan
Premium Member
Ditto on the coraline. You guys beat me to it.
Here's a thread with some excellent links if you're interested in trying SPS.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=421812
Here's a thread with some excellent links if you're interested in trying SPS.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=421812
You should consider testing your calc and alk before adding SPS and make sure it's stable and close to NSW conditions. A good starter SPS would be a digi, but I agree that it's probably too soon. The flip side, however, is following the softie path to the detriment of your tank. Nothing worse than scraping green star polyps off your rock, only to see them return. Same with Xenia.
clownchic
New member
Agree, I really don't mind waiting and I don't really want softies in this tank. I have a tank with those (which I like) but would like this 90 gallon to be mainly SPS and maybe a few LPS. I have Salifert tests for calcium and alk (as well as most everything else). I love the plating montipora and many of the other SPS. I would like to have some frogspawn - would that be a good first coral to put in?
MiddletonMark
Premium Member
IMO, any stony coral needs the same water quality - whether frogspawn or Montipora, they all need stable Ca/Alk levels, good water quality.
So often people like to split these corals into easier/harder, when IMO they have very similar demands. In my book, a stony coral is a stony coral, independent of polyp size they all require similar demands of water quality and stability.
A very good read on the topic of cycling/maturity is this thread:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=1828375#post1828375
[and the ones Ewan posted, the `lets talk about' threads are vital reading IMO]
So often people like to split these corals into easier/harder, when IMO they have very similar demands. In my book, a stony coral is a stony coral, independent of polyp size they all require similar demands of water quality and stability.
A very good read on the topic of cycling/maturity is this thread:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=1828375#post1828375
[and the ones Ewan posted, the `lets talk about' threads are vital reading IMO]
