Pest Resistant SPS Species

[smatter]

My 8.6g tank is ready to be stocked. I was thinking about a monospecific stand of an SPS species to create a tiny bommie. Lighting is provided by a 20K BML fixture. A Tunze 6040 is creating flow and waves. Water changes are frequent and easy. Two part keeps levels right.

Are there any SPS that anyone could recommend to me for this project?

 

[markalot]

IMO

Various Stylophora and Pocillopora would look nice, are fairly hardy, and pest resistant. These also look good under LED lamps.

google Rainbow Stylophora and Rainbow Pocillopora to get ideas of what is available.

 

[smatter]

Thanks Mark! Wow that Stylophora is tutti frutti :beer:

 

[smatter]

Are there any others? I have heard that longer polyped species like millepora are less prone to pests.

 

[Tweaked]

I heard somewhere porties are a great pest free coral.

 

[rovster]

For that tank, that aquascape, if you could get a green slimmer in there that would be awesome. They are slightly more resistant to pests, but if its just the one sps, you could do weekly dips for a few weeks and should be pretty safe.

If you wanted a non acro, a nice birdsnest, like a bird of paradise or pink birdsnest would be nice.

A spongodes or digitata would be my last choice but when grown out can be pretty impressive.

I would look for something that grows up and out, and stay away from tabling species, hence my above suggestions. Just my opinion of course!

 

[smatter]

I appreciate all of the suggestions. I've been torn on what to put in there. It's empty for so long the family is starting to complain.

 

[ajcanale]

Montipora Setosa maybe?... Have never noticed anyone have issues with m.e.n. on them.

Either way the most hardy, fast growing and resilient SPS I've kept. Also the only SPS I've seen grow in extremely shaded areas.

 

[markalot]

Millis are extremely vulnerable to AEFW, while some acros, especially the slimer, is not. My Setosa was unbothered by MEN (monti eating nudis) but I think they are still susceptible. When you say pest resistant SPS, what is your tolerance?

If we go by my sloppy and pest ridden tank, the oldest corals are the Red Cap, Purple Stylo, and the big green slimer which laughed off AEFW. Next oldest would be the birdsnest on the upper right when I have trimmed back severely a few times. I had a giant green polyp bird as well and is now just a small frag. The poci's scattered about are all about a year old grown from tiny frags.

 

[smatter]

Nice tank Mark! When I say pest resistant I guess I am just looking for something that won't require constant treatment. It just seems like these days tanks are plagued with pests. When I was really active in the industry and hobby in the '80s and '90s pests were a non-issue. So was phosphate for that matter. Soft corals and LPS prevailed. SPS corals were just coming onto the scene and I did successfully keep them in clients tanks as well as my own. They were all wild colonies. We never dipped anything, and why would we? There were too many cool fish and crustaceans living within the branches. Aquaculture facilities must be breeding grounds for these pests. They are allowed to multiply and thrive free from their natural predators on the reef.

 

[markalot]

Nice tank Mark! When I say pest resistant I guess I am just looking for something that won't require constant treatment. It just seems like these days tanks are plagued with pests. When I was really active in the industry and hobby in the '80s and '90s pests were a non-issue. So was phosphate for that matter. Soft corals and LPS prevailed. SPS corals were just coming onto the scene and I did successfully keep them in clients tanks as well as my own. They were all wild colonies. We never dipped anything, and why would we? There were too many cool fish and crustaceans living within the branches. Aquaculture facilities must be breeding grounds for these pests. They are allowed to multiply and thrive free from their natural predators on the reef.

Then I would stick with various birdsnests, stylophora, and pocillopora. No pests that I know of, fast growers, and attractive. If you get an acro try and get a local grown green slimer and avoid one labeled green slimer online. I got mine from my nearby LFS which gets it from a reefer somewhere between here and Lexington KY who brings in gigantic branches about once a year. If anything bothers it, AEFW, nearby aptasia, my hand, it slimes up to the extreme and can stink up the entire basement. Nothing touches it, including all my water chemistry mistakes.

 

[smatter]

Sounds like a plan. Thanks for your input. I think this little tank is going to be sweet. Pics forthcoming.

 

[daaznguy]

Agree with Mark, birdsnest and family are probably your best bet against pests.

 

[Piper27]

I heard somewhere porties are a great pest free coral.

There are species of nudis that eat porites but I have never seen them in person. Seen the goni nudis though so it wouldn't be a sure thing your porites are clean if your getting wilds.

 

[Big E]

Imo, you're being paranoid.........get corals with growth patterns or colors you like.

I would not go with any of the suggestions above because they grow way to fast for such a small tank...........they become "weeds" in short order.

 

[smatter]

Imo, you're being paranoid.........get corals with growth patterns or colors you like.

I would not go with any of the suggestions above because they grow way to fast for such a small tank...........they become "weeds" in short order.

You are probably right. There is just so much doom and gloom on the boards when it comes to SPS.

 

[joshky]

Do keep in mind your tank is 8.6g so eradicating a pest problem is going to be much easier than most, which may never even occur. So I agree with Ed, get what you want and if you run into a problem, dealing with it shouldn't be a headache like bigger tanks.

 

[fessoclown]

Do keep in mind your tank is 8.6g so eradicating a pest problem is going to be much easier than most, which may never even occur. So I agree with Ed, get what you want and if you run into a problem, dealing with it shouldn't be a headache like bigger tanks.

+1
and....

or

 

[eddiereefs]

+1. theres alwys gunna be diseases and parasites. just take the proper precautions so u dont get burned.

 

[eddiereefs]

btw. Stylophora and Pocillopora are prone to pest eating starfish