Starter SPS?

[XMagmaX]

Been in the hobby about 3 years but have never really tried SPS due to lack of lighting mostly. I think I am ready now with my larger tank and LED lighting to try SPS...only question is what is the best one to start with?

I know birdsnest are suppose to be really easy to start and grow but what else?

Im not a fan of plate corals like Montipora Capricornis or cup coral. I want something that will branch out nicely but is easier to keep as I don't know that I will even enjoy SPS that much.

any suggestions please?

 

[Dexters Reef]

Dont start with Birdsnest. Extremely finicky from my experience, and I too started with a birdsnest and it has been a never ending battle for almost 1.5 years to get it to color up. Some people have luck, many just cant keep it happy.

I would recommend a Green Slimer. Fast grower, very hearty, nice colors, and branching as you want.

Photo 1 - Purchase size, 10/14/12
Photo 2 - 1/3/13
Photo 3 - 5/21/13

 

[animalkingdom]

montipora digitata is about as easy as it gets for branching sps

 

[jda]

Most of the ORA stuff is pretty easy. Go to a local frag swap and check out the $5 and $10 SPS - they are $5-10 because they are easy to grow.

 

[epicurus84]

Any acropora is kinda hard.

imho monties are the easiest of SPS.

And for low light tanks: Seriatopora caliendrum (low for sps)

After monties i would say Hystrix is pretty easy. Combined with the Acropora formosa.

 

[LoJack]

I've had weird experiences. The corals that should be easy are brutal for me.

Birsdnest and Plating Monti's never do well for me.

I find my Pocillipora is easily the most hardy coral I've had, grows very fast and always looks great.

 

[XMagmaX]

And for low light tanks: Seriatopora caliendrum (low for sps)

I actually really enjoy the look of those. Seems to be what im looking for.

 

[BigKahuna]

Even if you don't love monti caps you might want to dip your toe in the SPS pool with a cap as a test. If they do well you can move onto more demanding ones. In my own personal experience they are extremely resilient for SPS. I had power out for a week after Sandy. The tank was using a battery powered air pump and a single MP40 on Ecotech battery backup that had to be taken elsewhere to be charged every third day (so no water movement for a day) and temps even dipped into the low 60's at one point before I figured out how to use an old 5 gallon water jug with boiled water inside as a ghetto heat transfer apparatus and my giant orange monti cap was fine a few weeks later