Who really likes fast growing SPS?

[AcroporAddict]

When I was new to SPS, I really liked fast growing SPS, as I took it as a sign I was doing things right. But now, with some experience behind me, I find fast growing corals a pain to deal with, since they start to dominate and limit growth of other SPS around them. As a result, over the last couple years, I have eliminated most monti caps from my system, along with some encrusting montis as well, like Tyree sunset. That stuff will tale over an entire section of reef if you let it. I still have some slow growing montis, like rainbow, mystic sunset, forest fire, and setosa, as they seem the slow growers in my system.

Nice tabling acros can be a pain to deal with as well, as they really start shading the real estate in a reef after they start growing.

I just don't like fast growing stuff any more. I suppose if I were a big time fragger and supported my reef habit that way it would not be as much of an issue. But give me tank of colorful, slower growing acroporas any day.

I have started really liking stags lately, because they do not seem to interfere with other acropora growth as much as the other types, and they do not seem to be fast growers either.

Edit: I wanted to add that this thread is not in response to the other thread in this from from cugly, asking about tanks with fast growing SPS in it. I just saw his thread after posting this one.

 

[dahenley]

I understand... I have cropped my caps.
I feel that some SPS are like zoas, like them at first, then you come home and find them growing on your acros killing them and aggregating you.

I frag large pieces for new guys wanting to join the hard coral guys in our local club.. So that keeps the tables under control.

But I understand your opinion.

Also, the more experience you get, the more you want to keep your hands out of the tank and just enjoy the tank.

 

[cugly]

When I was new to SPS, I really liked fast growing SPS, as I took it as a sign I was doing things right. But now, with some experience behind me, I find fast growing corals a pain to deal with, since they start to dominate and limit growth of other SPS around them. As a result, over the last couple years, I have eliminated most monti caps from my system, along with some encrusting montis as well, like Tyree sunset. That stuff will tale over an entire section of reef if you let it. I still have some slow growing montis, like rainbow, mystic sunset, forest fire, and setosa, as they seem the slow growers in my system.

Nice tabling acros can be a pain to deal with as well, as they really start shading the real estate in a reef after they start growing.

I just don't like fast growing stuff any more. I suppose if I were a big time fragger and supported my reef habit that way it would not be as much of an issue. But give me tank of colorful, slower growing acroporas any day.

I have started really liking stags lately, because they do not seem to interfere with other acropora growth as much as the other types, and they do not seem to be fast growers either.

Edit: I wanted to add that this thread is not in response to the other thread in this from from cugly, asking about tanks with fast growing SPS in it. I just saw his thread after posting this one.

its all good..I wasnt aking for the easier ones to keep more of the acroporas..montis are easy they will grow even in the dark lol..I wanna see some pics of your tank love seeing well stablished reefs

 

[Crackem]

I agree with OP, my montis are out of control, as well as my green birds nest and my bird of paradise looks like its about to become a pain. The ones I want to grow barely encrust, like ssc, red planet, and my purple monster. I recently started breaking my red monti apart because it was shadowing a whole section of my tank. While we're at it, my next tank will not have mushrooms either, and Zoa's will probably be isolated.

 

[afishionado]

Crackem. More flow ...

 

[Crackem]

Crackem. More flow ...

I have 2 tunze 6105's for flow and my external pump is 790gph.
I dialed my tunze's down throught the day because I have some ****ed off lps corals but I recently changed the direction of the powerheads. The lps are much happier now. Like I said only a few have shown very little growth. They just happen to be my favorites.

 

[AcroporAddict]

I agree with OP, my montis are out of control, as well as my green birds nest and my bird of paradise looks like its about to become a pain. The ones I want to grow barely encrust, like ssc, red planet, and my purple monster. I recently started breaking my red monti apart because it was shadowing a whole section of my tank. While we're at it, my next tank will not have mushrooms either, and Zoa's will probably be isolated.

I slowly eliminated nuisance crème de menthe palys, green/red shrooms, mojanos and aptasia from my system. I nuke them with what I call Reef Napalm, which is a lye based solution of pure sodium hydroxide and RODI water. Kills whatever it touches. After it works, it dissolves into KH building hydroxide. Same ingredient used in SeaChem's Aquavitro Balance, but a lot stronger. I am to the point where I may see a pest 'nem every few weeks. Probably killed several hundred pest palys as well.

Few pics of my 465 gallon. Light from 400 watt Radiums and VHO Super Actinic. Six Vortech MP60s provide in-tank flow.

Here is the conglomeration of equipment that keeps it going. Located directly behind the tank in an unfinished area of the basement. Just for size reference, the UV is an Emperor Aquatics 150 watt Smart HO UV Sterilizer and is almost 6 foot long. Sump is a custom MRC sump and is 60"x30"x20", 155 gallon capacity.

 

[egis]

Amazing tank

 

[cugly]

Looks great...

 

[sahin]

Your tank looks amazing.

I dislike fast growing SPS. In my tank I have around 45 SPS corals...almost all Acropora species.

No Montis (other an a Forest Fire Digitata, which makes me money via frags...). No Seriatopora etc.

 

[Big E]

Speaking for myself--

The longer you keep Sps the more you value, aquascaping and grown out colonies that aren't weeds. Duplicationg colors can take away from show stopper corals and growth forms also become important.

Real estate in a tank is of prime importance.

 

[AcroporAddict]

Thanks for your kind words guys. I am still on the fence about the BB look, but I like being able to full throttle the VorTechs without moving sand everywhere. The tank has a hybrid bottom, 1/2" dark gray PVC on the top and 1/2" glass on the bottom, and I think the less reflective gray PVC is a bit more aesthetically pleasing than glass in a BB setup. Tank stays clean all the time like that, except for the occasional accidental frag from a fish hitting a coral or knocking a frag off its mount.

I clean the sump in this tank, instead of cleaning the tank bottom.

 

[sahin]

Thanks for your kind words guys. I am still on the fence about the BB look, but I like being able to full throttle the VorTechs without moving sand everywhere. The tank has a hybrid bottom, 1/2" dark gray PVC on the top and 1/2" glass on the bottom, and I think the less reflective gray PVC is a bit more aesthetically pleasing than glass in a BB setup. Tank stays clean all the time like that, except for the occasional accidental frag from a fish hitting a coral or knocking a frag off its mount.

I clean the sump in this tank, instead of cleaning the tank bottom.

I run my two MP10's at around 80% throttle CONSTANTLY. Coralline algae has covered around 40% of the bottom glass and doesnt look as bad as it once did.

Your tank reminds me of WWC's 300G:
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[Wills612]

I too am coming to the realization that fast growers are for the birds. The pocillopora and BN that I place in the center of my rock work is a great example.:worried:. Also, I have a Sunset Monti that is taking up prime real estate. How are you guys going about completely removing these fast growers? For the pieces that are heavily encrusted, do you frag what you can and puddy the rest?

Beautiful tank AcropoAddict.

 

[dowtish]

Your username is quite fitting to say the least.

Amazing system from choice of livestock, scape, and equipment. Congratz!