Easy to keep SPS that are colorful?

[Hellion179]

I am setting up a mixed reef aquarium, but I really want to stay away from anything ridiculously sensitive in the SPS department. I really really like monti digitata, but I'm not sure what colors they come in, I'd like to collect them all but I need a good place to look.

I feel that, aside from the montis, a lot of the easier SPS are all kind of a yellow-dingy brown type color.

I also have some birdsnest and an ORA purple stylophora in my tank. I love the looks of a mixed reef tank, but I want to enjoy the benefits of some SPS. I like the look of milles, but am afraid I'll have trouble keeping them. I really want simplicity but a variety of color is important.

Is the rule for higher = better colors true for all SPS?

Lighting is by a Hamilton cebu sun, 3x 250 electronic ballast 10k bulbs and actinics by T5. I have approximatley 400# of live rock in the tank.

 

[ormet]

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Is the rule for higher = better colors true for all SPS?

nope!

There are some acros that are very demanding regarding light and flow where the rule higher = better might apply.

I dont know what kind of easy SPS you talk about that are yellow brown. Green and brown is usually the easiest color to keep. Alot of ppl take pride in turning brown acropora into colorful sexy sticks.

I would not say that monti and birds nests are that much easier then anything else ... but they grow so much faster then acro and are more forgiving with fluctuating parameters.

Also, check out poccilliopora, i think they grow into very nice looking colonies and is pretty unassuming, there are some very colorful varieties.

 

[Reef Bass]

Montipora digitata is available in a number of bright colors and is one of the easiest sps to grow.

When you have success with that, try Acropora formosa (green slimmer). One of the hardiest acros IMHO. Very green and very furry (lots of polyp extension) when happy.

 

[LoJack]

I find that pink pocillipora damicornis is the hardiest I've ever kept.

It survives anything you can throw at it, its very colorful under good lighting, and it grows quickly while easy to frag.

 

[Hellion179]

Thank you for the suggestions on the Pocillopora, I hadnt come across that coral yet(still very new to SPS). I like things with more polyp extension. I got several acro frags in a pack I ordered, and while their colors are awesome, i think I like the stylophora the most in my tank because it has more movement.

With that in mind, any other options similiar to those corals with large(for and SpS) polyphs?

 

[ormet]

If you like fuzzy there's nothing like Acropora millepora :-D

/sent from phone

 

[Hellion179]

If you like fuzzy there's nothing like Acropora millepora :-D

/sent from phone

I really like the look of milles. But are there any easy ones that'll do ok with a few fluctuating parameters? Not saying I'm experiencing that, but in the event it did occur...

 

[leveldrummer]

I really like the look of milles. But are there any easy ones that'll do ok with a few fluctuating parameters? Not saying I'm experiencing that, but in the event it did occur...

in my experience, corals that are wild collected colonies are usually much harder to keep and keep colorful then corals that have been in captivity for a long time and have been fragged and those frags traded and grown out etc.

find some common milliporas in your area from local reef keepers and get a few frags and give them a shot, they would be your best bet at keeping them happy.

the milli's ive had in the past werent any harder or easier then any other common acropora you find, so if your tank is keeping acros happy, the milli should be jsut fine too.

 

[listen2bob]

The Millies that have been in captivity for a long period of time are very hardy and hold their color well. I have a blue millie that has been through some pretty dramatic crashes with little effect.

 

[Dexters Reef]

I agree with the milliepora suggestions...they are my toughest sps and are all very fuzzy and colorful. Fast growers too!

 

[Constrictor6090]

The ORA Red Planet is my easiest sps to keep, very fast at changing color and can keep it under low or high light. The Green planet is also a very nice coral. I cut the top coralite off of a 1" frag a month ago and it has already encrusted half the plug.

 

[dvanacker]

Millepora are pretty hardy in terms of water parameters but they do like lots of light and flow to bring out the best colors.