easy well EASIER sps?

[Joe0813]

Hello everyone my tank is only 4 months young and i was just wondering what would be a good sps to start out with when my tank is ready. i know my tank is not so stable right now which is why im still waiting for the SPS. i have a 75 reef ready with a mp40 and a mp10. 6 bulb aquatic life t5. Thanks everyone

 

[NatureNerd]

I think that birdnest corals, stylo's, green slimers, pocci's, digitata, and most monti's are pretty forgiving. You really should look at what you want to have in your tank next year and the year after, not what you can put in there now. Patience is important in the SPS game. Figure out what you want long term and then figure out what would be the first one of those corals to start with. I made a mistake or two by getting something easy and then had to figure out what to do with it as it grew to dominate a large part of my tank. Tank real-estate becomes precious over time. Only put corals that you really want in your tank. That is my experience anyway.

 

[NatureNerd]

You may be able to start adding corals sooner than you think. As soon as water parameters are really stable, you should be able to start with the hardiest of your coral wish list. You have provided sufficient light and flow based on your equipment choices.

 

[Joe0813]

ya i get you on the tank rel-estate. if the easier corals get to big couldnt i always frag them and trade or sell the frags? I need to get my calc, alk and mag stable. Im good doing my weekly water changes but i want to start practicing dosing to get my levels perfect before i put harder corals in my tank.

 

[ange062]

I think that birdnest corals, stylo's, green slimers, pocci's, digitata, and most monti's are pretty forgiving. You really should look at what you want to have in your tank next year and the year after, not what you can put in there now. Patience is important in the SPS game. Figure out what you want long term and then figure out what would be the first one of those corals to start with. I made a mistake or two by getting something easy and then had to figure out what to do with it as it grew to dominate a large part of my tank. Tank real-estate becomes precious over time. Only put corals that you really want in your tank. That is my experience anyway.

very well put, I agree

 

[JSeymour]

I think that birdnest corals, stylo's, green slimers, pocci's, digitata, and most monti's are pretty forgiving. You really should look at what you want to have in your tank next year and the year after, not what you can put in there now. Patience is important in the SPS game. Figure out what you want long term and then figure out what would be the first one of those corals to start with. I made a mistake or two by getting something easy and then had to figure out what to do with it as it grew to dominate a large part of my tank. Tank real-estate becomes precious over time. Only put corals that you really want in your tank. That is my experience anyway.

I'll second that. Any idea what your over all theme will be, Acros, mixed SPS, mixed reef?

Start dosing kalk to help stabilize your calcium and alkalinity levels. Once they are stable, magnesium will be easier to stabilize. As soon as they are all on par, start adding.I would caution you from introducing random Pocillopora or plating Montipora. They have a tendency to become weeds and over take your tank. Do not add birdsnests until your alkalinity is very stable, they seem to be the most sensitive to fluctuations.

If your looking for some very hardy Acropora, tricolor valida, red planet, true green slimer, and green tenuis are all very hardy and forgiving Acros. The valida will brown out until everything is "perfect" though. A Montipora that is always fun, valuable, hardy and definitely won't take over(although many wish it would) is setosa. Green Pavona is another good one. Actually, green SPS in general are very hardy.

Like it was said before, hold out for what you actually want, don't burden yourself with corals you won't want in the future.

 

[Joe0813]

I'll second that. Any idea what your over all theme will be, Acros, mixed SPS, mixed reef?

Start dosing kalk to help stabilize your calcium and alkalinity levels. Once they are stable, magnesium will be easier to stabilize. As soon as they are all on par, start adding.I would caution you from introducing random Pocillopora or plating Montipora. They have a tendency to become weeds and over take your tank. Do not add birdsnests until your alkalinity is very stable, they seem to be the most sensitive to fluctuations.

If your looking for some very hardy Acropora, tricolor valida, red planet, true green slimer, and green tenuis are all very hardy and forgiving Acros. The valida will brown out until everything is "perfect" though. A Montipora that is always fun, valuable, hardy and definitely won't take over(although many wish it would) is setosa. Green Pavona is another good one. Actually, green SPS in general are very hardy.

Like it was said before, hold out for what you actually want, don't burden yourself with corals you won't want in the future.

I definitely want a mixed reef. Even though i love the looks of SPS i really like some corals that "sway" in the current. and some soft corals that go on the sand. im waiting to put in any harder corals until the tank is more stabilized... im off on tuesday and will go to my LFS and get some KALK to start dosing. well trying to hone in on how much to dose.

 

[chessmanmark]

Soft corals stunt the growth of SPS IME. I ran a mixed reef for a few years. I rebuilt without the softies and the growth difference was incredible.

Start with anything tank raised, like the ORA pieces on Saltwaterfish. Propagated corals are much more forgiving. One of the fastest growing corals IME which is really nice and colorful is the Tyree Sunset Monti.

 

[Joe0813]

Soft corals stunt the growth of SPS IME. I ran a mixed reef for a few years. I rebuilt without the softies and the growth difference was incredible.

Start with anything tank raised, like the ORA pieces on Saltwaterfish. Propagated corals are much more forgiving. One of the fastest growing corals IME which is really nice and colorful is the Tyree Sunset Monti.

i was looking at all the ORA corals on saltwaterfish they have some really nice ones on there. ill have to look up that sunset monti.... thanks for the info