beginner to sps

[pugmommie]

We have lots of lps, and 2 clams, plus fish. 4xt5 2x250w mh. 120 gal.
We have tried to keep sps before, but they die within a week. They were little frags. Don't know what kind. there were 2 of them.
ph 8.4
temp 78
sg 1.025
mag 1275
alk 8
cal 420
nitrate 20

The only thing I can come up with is that we currently do not have alternating water current, so we are going to change. Is there anything else we should do?
What is a good beginner sps? Is it better to start with a medium sized sps instead of a little frag? I was thinking the little ones might not be as hardy.

 

[velvetelvis]

I'm new to SPS myself, but I can tell you that so far, both Montipora digitata and Bali green slimer (Acropora yongei) have done very well for me. My Bali slimer in particular has been through the mill--endured a 5-day blackout while my light was being repaired, fell over and broke off a tiny branch--but it takes a licking and keeps on ticking without a pause. The latest mishap was less than a week ago, and already new polyps are emerging where the branchlet broke off.

My tank is a 34G Solana. I'm running MH lighting (150W/14K) and 2 Vortech MP10s at 3/4 speed on the "lagoon" setting. I also run carbon, dose calcium and buffer religiously, add small amounts of phytoplankton daily, feed oyster eggs every couple of days (I have three photosynthetic Stereonephthya and a couple of featherdusters that benefit from feeding), and try to do a 15% water change every week. Seems to be working so far, but I know I have a lot to learn yet. It's definitely a learning experience and a work in progress.

One thing I would definitely advise you to do is get aquacultured frags--already adapted to captive conditions and less chance of flatworms or other parasites. As far as size is concerned, I'm not sure. My orange digitata is a nice-size colony, about 3" across, but my green slimer started out as a tiny 1" frag a month or so ago and is still tiny (although growing quickly). Both have proven equally hardy in my system.

 

[elijaher]

Your cal should be at least 440. Nitrate no higher then 5. Did you test your phosphate?

 

[pugmommie]

thanks guys!

 

[commonstranger]

Pretty much from the start all I have ever kept for the most part is SPS. I would keep my Cal between 430-480 Alk between 8-10(on salifert test kit) Nitrate I want at 0 or as close as I can get it. No phosphates either. You need a realy good flow in your tank for SPS if you dont see there polyps moving around a little or even alot on some if they have long polyps you dont hae enough flow. Your water parameters are huge so try and stay on top of them. The more stable you can keep your tank the better off you will be. Your sainity is fine at 1.025 thats where I keep mine. If you dont have some chatoe in your tank get some and throw it in the sump. Pieces I would start out with would be green or pink birdsnest, green or purplw slimer, ORA Cali Tort, stylophora and pocillapora's. Shoot me a PM if I can help anymore and I wish you the best.

 

[commonstranger]

Also invest in a good skimmer so you can get waste out of your water SPS like really clean water.

 

[gthorpe2]

The best beginner sps coral, in my opinion would be digi, and monti caps.

 

[offroadodge]

I agree, digis and montis are fairly easy, some millis to.

 

[twiggyb]

My monti cap did awesome in 20 nitrates. The green slimer I had not so much. My nitrates are down now since I do 15g a week on water changes, but my ph is dropping. I also currently have a cyano problem growing on me and I think it's because of my overfeeding and no skimmer. I don't keep any sps however except for two monti caps.