Favorite SPS/ best starter SPS

[tyler22]

Hi everybody, I have a 60 gallon shallow rimless reef lit by two radions, a tunze skimmer and refugium for filtration, and flow provided by a jebao wp40 and jebao rw-4. I have a few lps corals and a monti cap thats doing great, and an ORA bird of paradise birdsnest thats doing great. My question is, whats a good starter SPS thats a little more challenging such as an acro (I really like ORA red planet acro but not sure if im ready yet)? And also, what's your favorite sps coral to keep, and why is it your favorite? (trying to get ideas for the future) Thanks for your input and any advice you may have!

 

[tyler22]

Ammonia:0
Nitrite:0
Nitrate:0
PH:8.1
I'll test calcium, alkalinity, and phosphates tommorow.

 

[Jettareefer]

Any of Ora's stuff should be fine I would wait for the more delicate stuff though. A red plant would be pretty hardy or a joe the coral. If you can find one I would try a green planet i think I have pic of mine I'll post it if I can find one they're super hardy. let's see my two favorite acros are my tyree red dragon and bubblegum millepora I love the mixture of pink and blue they both have as well growth structures.

 

[Oldude]

In my opinion Red Planet is a very hardy coral so in theory it should be fine.

 

[Reefer07]

Red planet is fine.....IMO birds nest,pocillpora and stylos are hardy an will grow in anything.
Any of the montis are extremely hardy and grow under anything as well. Especially digitata if you like things that branch.

 

[HiImSean]

My Green Slimer has been pretty hardy, a fast grower too.

 

[tyler22]

I might just have to pull the trigger on the red planet if you guys think it's really hardy. My only concern is with a relatively new system it might be unstable which makes me nervous with SPS. You bring up a good point with the ORA corals doing well. I think I'm definitely going to try one of the planet acros and some of the ORA monti caps next.

 

[neuro]

in all of my years, a green slimer is by far the most hardy and fastest growing i've encountered--provided that it's mounted on it's side.

the color is super neon under actnics and will always remain my favorite beginner coral

 

[Jettareefer]

With a new system color may be cumbersome to maintain at first but given time you'll get it, you have to be super patient my red planet just start to grow bright pink branches after encrusting 3-4 inches for a year lol.

 

[Crna]

I've been wanting a red planet too. A bonsai was my first Acro, and a green Slimer came soon after. Both are doing great at one year, but the Slimer is definitely a hardy, fast grower. I love mine!

 

[tyler22]

in all of my years, a green slimer is by far the most hardy and fastest growing i've encountered--provided that it's mounted on it's side.

the color is super neon under actnics and will always remain my favorite beginner coral

Any reason why you mount it on it's side?

After hearing everyones good word on the green slimer I am going to try and give that a try, they look pretty sweet based on google images!

 

[rfgonzo]

^^^^^ same question, could you please elaborate on the side mount method? ( reason, advantages, theories and success) Thanks,