Newbie to SPS

[msujohn]

I'm looking to add a few SPS corals to my tank. I have a 90 gallon (5 months old) with a few zoa's and LPS (torch, frog, acan, and favia). I also have 5 fish (2 clowns, midas blenny, Kole Tang, Orchid Dotty). I am manually dosing Alk & Cal to keep in line. Currently my Alk is 8.0, cal 450, Mag 1450.

I'd like to get some different color and easier corals to start. I was thinking of adding the following:

Birds of Paradise Birdsnest
Montipora Digitata - Forest Fire
Montipora Digitata - Pink
Rainbow Stylophora
Purple Stylophora
Hyacinth - Pink Birdsnest Frag

Are there any issues with these corals for a beginner? Any others you would suggest for me?

 

[ReefWreak]

You pretty much nailed the trifecta of more tolerant SPS corals.

Montiporas of most types are tolerant, so you could always do an encrusting M. Danae (superman, etc), plating M. Capricornis, and there are a few other (setosa is a beautiful montipora that is hot right now and pretty easy to come by, looks nice too and easy to take care of IME).

You didn't mention any pocillopora. They're also pretty tolerant SPS as well, and I've had them spawn in my tank before (for better or worse).

The ones you put should be good. Just make sure you have pretty good flow, and decent lighting. If you're keeping euphilia corals alive (torch, frogspawn, etc) then you should be okay on lighting.

Also, watch out for those dottybacks. They get very aggressive with other fishes at least in a 90 they shouldn't be too bad.

 

[msujohn]

I'm looking to add a few SPS corals to my tank. I have a 90 gallon (5 months old) with a few zoa's and LPS (torch, frog, acan, and favia). I also have 5 fish (2 clowns, midas blenny, Kole Tang, Orchid Dotty). I am manually dosing Alk & Cal to keep in line. Currently my Alk is 8.0, cal 450, Mag 1450.

I'd like to get some different color and easier corals to start. I was thinking of adding the following:

Birds of Paradise Birdsnest
Montipora Digitata - Forest Fire
Montipora Digitata - Pink
Rainbow Stylophora
Purple Stylophora
Hyacinth - Pink Birdsnest Frag

Are there any issues with these corals for a beginner? Any others you would suggest for me?

Would all these SPS need high flow and high light? I just want to make sure that I place them correctly in the tank. I'm using Reef Radiance DM 165P+ LED lights

 

[ReefWreak]

They all need medium flow and medium light. You'll definitely get enough light from your fixture for those corals. Flow might be the only concern. The birdsnest and stylo both particularly like flow. Digitatas can go either way.

It's pretty easy to keep any of these corals alive, but you may have a hard time getting them to color up depending on your nutrient load. As long as you keep your nitrates and phosphates low, and alk and calc high, you'll get nice coloration from those corals.

 

[msujohn]

They all need medium flow and medium light. You'll definitely get enough light from your fixture for those corals. Flow might be the only concern. The birdsnest and stylo both particularly like flow. Digitatas can go either way.

It's pretty easy to keep any of these corals alive, but you may have a hard time getting them to color up depending on your nutrient load. As long as you keep your nitrates and phosphates low, and alk and calc high, you'll get nice coloration from those corals.

For flow I have a Jeabo RW-8 and Koralia 1500. I think that should be plenty of flow. Is that correct? Can you explain your comment about my nutrient load? Are you worried about it being to low or too high?