First SPS; which ones and when?

[carb850]

I expect to have my 120G running in a couple of weeks. My rock has been cooking for many months now. I don't think the rock will need to cycle as it should have a lot of bacteria on it already. I just need to add fish slowly to keep things in balance. Sound reasonable?

So, how long should I wait before adding the first SPS? Also, what SPS should I add first? I really don't want to go out and buy a bunch or cheap corals that I really don't want to begin which I would only send up selling later. I would rather start off with some nice coral that I will want to keep, I just don't know how good of an idea that is. Maybe Encrusting Montipora and Stylopora?

 

[Altpers0na]

i have (others also i bet) have orange and also green w/ purple rim plates i can donate.

i bet i can round up a purple monti piece.. the monti isnt really mine anymore but the owner is around here somewhere...

 

[phljess]

It is better to start off with lower cost coral that you dont mind losing. There are many people on this forum who have "tried" SPS and lost most of them when they first began. It is a learning curve and takes a while to get the tank exactly where it needs to be. This is just my opinion.

 

[package]

Most people who are on this forum now will not be 2-3 years from now. Many of these people quit due to not having the time or wanting to make the time to keep up with their systems. Adding SPS adds to the time/attention big.

With SPS you become a slave to your tank, without you can be a bit more relaxed.

The introduction of SPS is many times the beginning of the end for a reefer.

With that being said, I would suggest some type of montipora cap.

 

[MattG]

I would suggest some nice monti cap types. If you want to do a branching coral a green slimer is typically a nice hardy piece.

I would give it 2 months if you want to be safe before adding the SPS. Do regular water changes and your corals will most likely thrive. You definitely have the right equipment for the job!

 

[carb850]

Sounds like I will be waiting a few months, I'm cool with that. I don't plan on adding a $50+ per 1" frag as my first corals in the tank. I will try to move into the easier species the more in demand stuff before long.

So, if I get a cap or two that seem to be happy and doing well, what could I add next What about Montipora Undata? I love that neon polyp purple rim stuff. Also, how difficult it the Rainbow or Superman Montipora's to keep? At the moment, I'm not a big fan of the green slimer. I don't know why.

Altpersona,
I appreciate the offer. I might be sending you a PM in a couple of months.

 

[Reefman79]

SPS

SPS

Get some purple tip diggi frags its easy to take care of at the begining.

:mixed:

 

[coralreefer]

I second what Matt said.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14588557#post14588557 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by carb850
At the moment, I'm not a big fan of the green slimer. I don't know why

Some usless reef trivia at one time the hottest most desirable "rare" SPS around were orange caps and green slimers. :lol:

 

[MattG]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14589282#post14589282 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by coralreefer
Some usless reef trivia at one time the hottest most desirable "rare" SPS around were orange caps and green slimers. :lol:

They are still two of my favorites

 

[coralreefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14589318#post14589318 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by MattG
They are still two of my favorites

Mine too. Sigh now I may have to find an orange cap frag for the 20.
I remember Jim, even with all the Killer SPS he can get, being like a kid at Christmas when he ended up with you slimer colony..."man I ALWAYS wanted one of these". :lol:
BTW it's still at the shop and huge. :eek2:

 

[Altpers0na]

from what iv seen the plates that i have, are survivors... (i havent killed them yet..) they are real resource hogs as well, they cant get enough additives..

 

[MattG]

Wait a minute....he has my old orange cap too!

I am glad to hear they are alive and well.

 

[carb850]

So now that my tank is running in part capacity I'm back to this thread.

I'm trying to take my time and stragecially add my corals. People keep saying that a tank will fill up faster than you think so I want to be choosy but at the same time add the easier species first. Also, it seems that the majority of SPS are either green/purple/blue. Those are all nice but I hope to add other colors where I can.

CAPS
I picked up an Orange Cap this past weekend and it isn't dead yet, so this is a good sign. I'm thinking about one more cap eventaully. Maybe the ORA Brett's Purple Rim cap. Anyone seen it in person?

STAGHORN
These are generally easier to keep SPS, right? I'm looking at the Turquoise or Green Slimer (you guys are bad influences).

DIGITATA
I haven't ran across a Digitata that I liked yet. Anyone have a recommendation for a nice looking one?

STYLOPHORA
Should I hold off on these or are the also in line with some of these other easy species? I really like the ORA Pink Stylo. I once saw a small frag of rainbow Stylo but I haven't see how the colors look once it grows out.

ENCRUSTING MONTIPORA
Should these wait?

 

[carb850]

Anyone?

 

[Orr2003]

If you are willing to do regular water changes with ZERO TDS RO/DI water, have the right lighting and flow, and keep water chemistry stable and within the correct parameters, most SPS are actually rather easy to keep and grow. Of course you will need a few different pieces of equipement to accomplish this.



I recently eradicated my tank of red bugs and flatworms which required chemical additives. The toxins from the dead flatworms was absolutely enormous and all my sps survived. Every one of my SPS lost color immediately and were extremely stress out but I didnt loose ANY. This goes to show just how hardy these corals really are.

Just like any pet one may want to keep (dog, cat, fish, birds, snakes, etc.) you should first know what it takes to properly care for these pets. So with the right care SPS are not actually difficult to keep IMO.