Starting on SPS

[Luke Schnabel]

Hey everyone! My 120 gallon mixed reef tank has been running for 6 months now and everything is doing great! I Really want to dab into some SPS for my mixed reef.
My paramaters have been a steady Alk..7.9-8.1 Cal...390-410 Mg...1380-1400
Ph 8.4-8.5 (minor adjustment between dosing) Nitrate 0 Phos 0 temp 77.5-78

My flow is by two Mp40 going half streagth opposite each other. My lighting is two AI Hydra 26 running about 50%. (Par will be checked after Christmas)

I'm looking to get two Montipora playing frags and another SPS frag this weekend. I'm not 100% sure what I should get for beginning out on SPS? Any help would be great!

Thanks

 

[droth335]

Congrats! Your tank parameters and lighting will certainly support SPS. Montipora would be a good choice for your first 2 frags. You might also consider poccilipora, stylophora or even a green slimer it you want to try a very forgiving acro. Good luck with your tank!

 

[jraker]

montipora setosa is a really cool coral to start off with. otherwise all birdsnest, pocilipora, and stylophora will do. easy acropora (when i say easy, i mean easy for acropora. acropora itself is challenging to keep) would be the green slimer or acropora milleapora

 

[Luke Schnabel]

Quick correct... I have THREE AI Hydras running not two.. Like I said I'll be testing PAR after Christmas.

I would assume like most corals I'll be taking an educated guess on first placement, but I really want my the plating Montipora to be in two key spots. How forgiving are they? If you look at the picture one drag will be on the right overhang, then one drag on the middle left side. The flow is moderate to high and both are almost directly under light.

Birdsnest is what I've been told, don't know much about the others but I'll do some searching before I buy. I'm getting all my frags from Tidal Gardens seeing as how I live 30 min from him.

 

[Reefaholic1978]

Have all those sps jraker mentioned and with your parameters and the strongest random flow you can offer, you will achieve thick happy corals in about a year.