SPS spacing help

[m0nkie]

Hi guys. I'm new to SPS and would like a few tips on how to place these frags. I see nice pictures of mature SPS tanks, but nothing that shows how far to place individual pieces.

I have Milli Acro Digitata Birdnest and Monticaps. Can they be placed together or separated? how far in between?

all tips welcome. thank you

 

[beeker]

monti caps imo should always be placed on their own rock, something to keep them from growing onto everything surrounding it.

typically a 3 inch diameter around each piece is a good start, because all corals grow differently and some faster than others that kind of spacing allows you to move and adjust placement over time, never think of the first time you place a coral as it's final resting place as you will always be moving things around to adjust for growth and layout

 

[m0nkie]

thank you.

but how are you moving them around? are you ripping the encrusted parts off every time? I was planning to remove all the plugs and gluing directly into rockscape.

 

[jayball]

thank you.

but how are you moving them around? are you ripping the encrusted parts off every time? I was planning to remove all the plugs and gluing directly into rockscape.

Many will encrust past the plug anyway. Really it depends on on how modular your rock work is and how often you want to frag stuff in the future. I give more than 3 inches because I do not plan on much moving around.

 

[Reef Bass]

I have Milli Acro Digitata Birdnest and Monticaps.

FYI, Acropora is a large genus containing many species. if I understand you correctly, "Milli" are Acropora millepora. "Digitata" are Montipora digitata. "Monticaps" are Montipora capricornus.

In general, different species of hard corals do not enjoy touching each other. Some people have had some success getting different colors of the same specie to intertwine, such as Monti caps.

 

[ajcanale]

There are so many freakin variebles here. Tank size, aquascaping, flow, varying growth patterns....etc.

I would look at it like this:
How many different varieties do you want?
Would you rather have more color and SPS variety throughout the tank, or would you rather have a more limited number, but with room to grow larger and robust?

The one thing about growing sps frags is that it isn't pretty at first, so a lot of people pack their tanks out with frags, self included at one point. There's nothing wrong with this but given time you will be limited to either small colonies or removal of certain pieces.

If you are simply looking for a ball park figure that applies to most SPS, especially acropora, 5" between frags IMO.

 

[Perth_reefer]

I always use the length of my middle finger as a general rule of thumb. Should work for most people, unless you're 5 years old!!

 

[JB NY]

I try to put SPS frags at least 6 inches apart. You can put them closer but you generally will have to stay on top of the corals more, more fragging etc. Some SPS do well on top of each other but all will do better with a little room to breath. 6 inches might seem like a lot but as son as they start to grow and encrust many time it is not enough room.

 

[m0nkie]

Thanks guys. I have a new 150 gallon. rockscaping is kept at bare minimum. I like collecting different pieces with different colors. So far i have mostly milli acropora now since they have a variety of colors.

Ill keep them about 5-6 inchs. Not a fan of fragging.

 

[m0nkie]

Here is my rockscape. Im leaving the top layer for SPS, mid for LPS, and bottom for zoas

 

[Peter Eichler]

Keep 6" on all sides unless you don't mind removing corals as they grow, even with 6" you're going to be doing a lot of trimming and moving in a year or two. Also, keeping them art various heights on the rock work will help, and be mindful of which corals will grow in a manner that will shade others more heavily.

 

[m0nkie]

Thanks guys. All great info.

Another question. How many people lay their SPS frags sideway for faster growth? ive heard many old school reefers telling me to do this

 

[Peter Eichler]

Thanks guys. All great info.

Another question. How many people lay their SPS frags sideway for faster growth? ive heard many old school reefers telling me to do this

I'm an old school reefer... In my experience it slow growth if anything.

 

[JB NY]

You will get slower growth lying it sideways, it will encrust much better though. So it is probably healthier in the long run.