Best Beginner SPS

[debincalif]

I recently bought a nano system from a fellow reefer (tank/rock/sand/corals is over a year old), and I'm thinking of trying some SPS. This is my third tank, but I've never had any SPS.

First of all, I want to ensure that my lighting is adequate. From my research, it seems to be.

24g JBJ nano cube, footprint is approx. 20"x20" and 18" high. Lighting is a Rapid LED retrofit kit which includes 12 cool white CREE LEDs and 12 royal blue CREE LEDs (these are about 5 watts each).

My water params aren't quite where I want them to be yet, but the tank is going through some instability being moved from one home to another and being broken down & set up again. Of course I'll wait to add new corals until the parameters are good. And how important is it to check levels for calcium, magnesium, and levels of alkalinity? I'm doing weekly water changes of about 5-10% and will scale back to bi-weekly 10% changes once the parameters are stable.

So, with all of that being said, what are some good beginner SPS that will add some diversity and color to the tank, and where should they be placed?

 

[Ratpack]

IMO one of the absolute easiest SPS corals to keep is the Montipora Caps. Through any issues I have had with my tank in the past, the caps seem to survive them all. They do not require the real intense light and can handle some instability better than most other SPS.

 

[debincalif]

IMO one of the absolute easiest SPS corals to keep is the Montipora Caps. Through any issues I have had with my tank in the past, the caps seem to survive them all. They do not require the real intense light and can handle some instability better than most other SPS.

Thanks!

And here's a montipora question. I'm confused about the different varieties. How do you know if a montipora sp is encrusting or plating? And does setosa have the same requirements?

 

[Quiverfull]

Birdsnest. The only issue is if you have good parameters it will grow like a weed. Poccillopora is also a good starter. Good luck. Once you have success, you will get hooked.

 

[Bpb]

By far the easiest corals to get great colors and super fast growth out of are montipora capricornis. And they look cool to boot. That's why most people keep them even when they develop a more refined sps palate and expensive taste. Big spiraling caps just look awesome. Mine has survived eveththing and has been the easiest coral of any kind including softies. Birdsnest are also easy though I've found it challenging to get quality colors. Montipora digitata has been fool proof. A lot of Staghorn acropora are fairly easy as well. Hope that helps.

 

[Bigcefa]

Monti caps, monti digis, and birdsnest should be your starting point.

 

[Ckyuv]

X5 on Montipora cap. If you can't keep that your not ready for sps!

 

[SteveZZR]

I've read up interested in trying SPS, and Poccilopora, Guttatus, and Hysterix are apparently a good three to try - hysterix apparently starts sulking before most others so gives you a warning that something is off

 

[Guygettnby]

The easiest and most hardy SPS I have ever had would be my montipora digitata. Grows like a weed. I never had luck with any type of birdsnest.

 

[acabgd]

And how important is it to check levels for calcium, magnesium, and levels of alkalinity?

These are probably the only things you will test for once your tank is stable. Stability is the most important thing for SPS coral and yes, these three are very important.

 

[markalot]

I disagree with every post so far because I've killed every coral mentioned while my very first SPS, a purple stylophora, lived on.

Dec 2012 in my old 40 gallon while everything else was dying.

Today

I would place it midway up or near the top. Growth is slow at first while it encrusts, then rapid.

It's easily the biggest coral in my tank now, though the green slimer is catching up. For acros a green slimer would be my recommendation for easy acros, again because I haven't killed one yet.

 

[bluecoyote79]

Plus a million to birdsnest. I've got a green birdsnest that is like aptasia in my tank. If a piece breaks off it takes root in the LR, but it is pretty.

 

[debincalif]

Thanks so much for all of the responses - much appreciated!

I take it my lighting is sufficient then?

And how do you know the difference between "encrusting" and "plating" montis? There are so many beautiful colors (I'm drooling over a couple Jason Fox varieties at the moment)!

 

[Fire_supremacy]

Birdnest is the fastest and easiest sps for me