easiest SPS to keep

[wolff809]

i am still pretty new to the hobby so i was wondering what is the easiest SPS to keep?

Thanks, Randy

 

[reefnrod]

you should post a little bit more info on your tank, params and your husbandry. there is no EASY sps. if your tank is maintained well and you have good lighting i would chose a digi of some sort. they seem to grow like crazy for me.

 

[wolff809]

well all my params are stable but i know my nitrates are a little high at 20 i am thinking of adding a small fuge to help lower it. i do 3 gallon water change every week which is about 10% of the total volume right now. i just keep some zoas and some lps which are growing great for me so far and my tank is about 6 months old. its a 30 gallon cube 20x20x20 with a 15 ish gallon sump, with a urchin c skimmer

 

[smtank]

Montipora, Pocillopora and Birdsnest.

 

[Alex T.]

well...a few things. Like others have said already your best bets are pocillopora, seriatopora hystrix (Birdsnest), and Montipora Digitata of some sort. With nitrates at 20 that really isn't optimal. Below 10 would be better and less than five ideal. WIth nitrates at 20, I don't foresee your phosphate being at an acceptable level. Get a good test from a Hanna Meter so you can maybe run some gfo to clean that up before starting. There's nothing worse than getting into SPS and then having a steep learning curve. You may need to up your water changes and work on a more sps friendly and stable environment before you give them a shot.

 

[Reef Bass]

Montipora digitata, Montipora capricornus.

IME, birdsnest can be easy to grow but are the first to go if water quality issues develop. It can break your heart to see your gorgeous softball size birdsnest that you grew from a tiny "Y" branch RTN in 24 hours.

 

[Whisperer]

Most SPS are hard to keep if parameters are not met. That said, some SPS are especially challenging even if you have a stable parameters. I find that abrotanoides and gemmifera very elusive.

 

[chuckreef]

This may be subjective, but easy for me has alwyas been orange montipora digitata, grows like a weed and you end up culling it out and throwing it in the trash.
As for a good fist sps, I'd say any turbinaria. They are forgiving of mistakes, but don't take over the tank. (I realize some may say that's not an sps, but I think of it as the beginning of sps.)

 

[wolff809]

Thanks to all
Yea I figured it would be hard with nitrates at 20 that's why I'm thinking of upgrading to a bigger tank and sump so I can add a fuge or maby even a turf alge screen. I have read alot of good things about them. So a birdsnest would be a good place to start?

 

[SPSEMPIRE]

Montipora Capricornis

 

[reefnrod]

Thanks to all
Yea I figured it would be hard with nitrates at 20 that's why I'm thinking of upgrading to a bigger tank and sump so I can add a fuge or maby even a turf alge screen. I have read alot of good things about them. So a birdsnest would be a good place to start?

if your going to upgrade i would not be thinking about sps. you need stability to maintain sps first. i would get a montipora capricornis or a montipora digata. i think you would get good results if you get your nitrates down and dont do an upgrade. you could have a very nice tank of any size with good husbandry.

 

[Breakbeats2334]

agree with all these statements nitrates way to high for a sps dominated tank which from the sounds of it is what your lookin todo

 

[reeftivo]

monti's (caps or digitata) grow anywhere and don't need tons of light.

Get your perams in check first though. High NO3 can be controlled easily. Good skimming, WC's, baste rock regularly, good flow, minimize feedings etc.