Recommend Beginner SPS

[FSOL]

What kind of SPS corals would you guys recommend I start off w/. I have good lighting (3x250W Hamilton 10K's soon to be replaced by Ushio 14K's + 2x165W VHO actinics).

Mag = 1350
Cal = 460
Alk = 10-11dkh

no ammonia, nitrites, nitrates.
0.1ppm phosphate (working on it)

I love the variety of acroporas. Is that something I can start off w/.. How about Hydnoporas, oxyporas?


Thanks much

 

[steveo32]

IMO I think montipora's are an easier way to go. Acro's in my experience are harder and they tend to do bad w/ minor fluxtuations.

 

[nemofish2217]

hydnoporas sound good..... montipora digitatas also come to mind.... those are good starters....

 

[artful-dodger]

Montipora digitata is very hardy and great to start with. It will grow with far less light than yours. There are several color variations available.

 

[FSOL]

First of all I want to say you guys are a great help. I post something and less than 5 mins later there's so much help. I appreciate all the advice and help.

I have one monti cup in my tank, it's color is brown. I'd like to try something different than a monti.

What would be the #1 cause for a SPS to go bad? Would it be more of a light issue or water cleanliness or stability of minerals?

 

[Amphiprion]

Pavona species, Montipora, some Acropora species, Porites, Hydnophora, Pocillopora, Seriatopora, and Stylophora are some hardy genera (at least IME) that come to mind.

 

[steveo32]

I think the acro milipora is fairly good. I know you mentioned you have a monti cap but have you looked into the digi's ? There pretty cool I got two frags for 20 each and they were like a dull brown but after 2 weeks or so in my tank one turned purple and the other brown w/ green ployps. It's pretty cool looking.

 

[xtrstangx]

A lot of people will tell you Montipora digitata is a good beginner's choice. THat was my first piece and it ended up dying. I tried a few other pieces and they all do fine. I ended up getting some more monti digi and it died too. For some reason, I can keep almost any other SPS but monti digis.

Moral of the story: If your first SPS coral dies, don't get down. Try something else and see if it helps. It looks like you have a good setup so you should be able to keep them.

 

[FSOL]

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll get more comfortable once my first few SPS types are doing good.

What's the best indication that they are not too happy in the tank?

 

[xtrstangx]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6804901#post6804901 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by FSOL
Thanks for the advice guys. I'll get more comfortable once my first few SPS types are doing good.

What's the best indication that they are not too happy in the tank?

They can turn very pale, not extend their polyps, or start to RTN. If you have a white skeleton in your tank, chances are it wasn't too happy.

See if your LFS gets ORA aquacultured SPS in. They are in little white frag plugs that look like screws.. these are very hardy and usually the price isn't too bad.

You can also try getting frags from local reefers. Try to see if they have colonies that came from aquacultured frags.. these corals are used to being in captivity and are much easier than wild corals.

 

[FSOL]

Will definitely check into that.

Thanks

 

[atzak]

pocillopora damnicornis is very hardy and fast growing IME, I agree with the monti caps and digitada also

 

[FSOL]

I couldn't find any monti digitatas on sale online and only found a few Caps.

Do you guys mostly buy your SPS at LFS or online. Most LFS in my area don't carry SPS.

 

[xtrstangx]

My LFS has a 180-280g display tank devoted to SPS (theres an equal-sized one that is LPS only)... I get most of my pieces from him or from local reefers. I've also used http://reefermadness.us in a group order.. they have some nice aquacultured frags for about $10-15 each if you get a big enough group together.

But your best bet is to get a few free frags from a local reefer.

 

[cyan0069]

I would agree with the suggestions of the Monti digitata and capricornis, and would like to throw in Stylophora sp., Seriatopora sp., and Pocillopora (damicornis or eyedouxi).

Like xtrstangx said above, reefermadness.us is a great place to get frags if you can get a group order together.

Good luck with the SPS venture!

 

[FSOL]

man, I don't know any local folks in the SoCal area . blahhhh.