Who thinks SPS are kinda ugly?

[2crazyreefers]

I enjoy my wifes 75 mixed tank better than my 180 sps tank now. The challeng of acros is something of its own. We started with softies years ago and moved to sps & lps. But her 75 with T5 (aquactinic 5 bulb) and Tunze nano streams/skimmer make for her perfect mixed reef including atleast 25 sps (mostly small ORA) Shes got a purple monster - micros - 5 blastos - 2 chalice - hammer / frogspawn / torch / lobo / acan / duncan and many many more including nice softies lobophytom / green nemphia / purple pashion / and of course blue mushrooms - green & orange rics and many clams. Topped off with 3 mini carpet anemones. IMO this tank is as colorfull and beautiful as they get. If I could find how to post pics I would.

 

[davidryder]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10196359#post10196359 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by 2crazyreefers
I enjoy my wifes 75 mixed tank better than my 180 sps tank now. The challeng of acros is something of its own. We started with softies years ago and moved to sps & lps. But her 75 with T5 (aquactinic 5 bulb) and Tunze nano streams/skimmer make for her perfect mixed reef including atleast 25 sps (mostly small ORA) Shes got a purple monster - micros - 5 blastos - 2 chalice - hammer / frogspawn / torch / lobo / acan / duncan and many many more including nice softies lobophytom / green nemphia / purple pashion / and of course blue mushrooms - green & orange rics and many clams. Topped off with 3 mini carpet anemones. IMO this tank is as colorfull and beautiful as they get. If I could find how to post pics I would.

You can use photobucket, your own server, or on the reefcentral main page, there is an image gallery link on the left. Once you get here, click on the IMG button above the reply textbox and type in the url of your image

 

[Aquabucket]

LPS, rics, and zoos come in a more variety of neon-like colors. Rarely can you find a bright red, yellow, orange or pink glowing SPS (encrusting montis being an exception). SPS ~ particularly acros are nice if you like blues, greens and purples, Pink SPS like birds nest, etc, do not glow much under actinics. I really dig corals that glow intensely so now I favor LPS and soft corals. My favorite corals are red, orange or pink colored. I like the way they contrast with green corals and the blueness of my tank.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10196207#post10196207 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HBtank
I think a tank should have them all.

At a minimum SPS provides structure and 3 dimensions that LPS and softies can't... Monties and some sticks are a must have.

Its nice to have some SPS but you can have a nice tank with plenty of structure with-out them.

 

[TriniStylez]

Me!...well i dont hate them or think they are ugly but I prefer softies and LPS for looks. Its just a preference though.

 

[davidryder]

AquaBucket, your tank is astounding! I saw it a few months back but it looks really awesome now!

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10196156#post10196156 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by leeweber85
I used to be into all the zoas and stuff...but they just don't add much shape to a tank.

Agreed. Other corals stick close to the aquascape. SPS grow out into the wter column, use up more tank space, and truly make a whole new layer of the reef.

 

[pledosophy]

I have SPS, LPS, and softies. I use branch rock in my softie tanks to create dimension.

I never got SPS until I saw the display at Upscales in the portland Oregon area (you've all heard of Oregon tort), that is easily the nicest tank I have ever seen with my own eyes.

I think there is room for everything and one day I'll have an all SPS tank> i tried mixing them with LPS but had to sacrafice flow to much and, well not good results thus far.

 

[HBtank]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10196447#post10196447 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Aquabucket
LPS, rics, and zoos come in a more variety of neon-like colors. Rarely can you find a bright red, yellow, orange or pink glowing SPS (encrusting montis being an exception). SPS ~ particularly acros are nice if you like blues, greens and purples, Pink SPS like birds nest, etc, do not glow much under actinics. I really dig corals that glow intensely so now I favor LPS and soft corals. My favorite corals are red, orange or pink colored. I like the way they contrast with green corals and the blueness of my tank.



Its nice to have some SPS but you can have a nice tank with plenty of structure with-out them.

Yeh. But no matter what plating and branching corals add an element that is lacking for me without SPS.

Just me.

That tank is awesome...

And it is hard for me to say that because I hate softies, they are just boring and brown to me, I have only seen a couple that even remotely interested me.... but that's just my preference.....

Everyone is different.. Your tank proves it. It is freaking awesome to look at, yet I might have been interested in only a couple corals in it if I had seen them in the store...

I personally like a tank with select SPS and LPS and loaded with zoos and shrooms beteen it all, just my thing. I have almost no tans or browns...

 

[Aquabucket]

Thanks for the comments on my tank guys! The camera I used made the tank look a little on the yellow side. It looks much better under actinics though as most of my corals glow nicely. I stocked it with this in mind.

The great thing about SPS is you can layer them more and place them much closer together. The down fall is you can lose an entire tank full literally overnight like I did when my power surged and tripped my AC. All my softies and LPS made it through with no problems.

I really respect those who can keep an SPS tank thriving for years at a time. Then again keeping many types of LPS for long periods can be challenging as well.

Its a shame that some of the most beautiful of all branching corals ~ the non-photosynthetic soft corals ~ are next to impossible to keep in captivity.

Here is a shot of it under actinics taken back in April:

 

[pledosophy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10197260#post10197260 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Aquabucket


Its a shame that some of the most beautiful of all branching corals ~ the non-photosynthetic soft corals ~ are next to impossible to keep in captivity.

See I got those ones down but that damm blue oregon tort is killing me. Blue is my favorite color, I want some in my tank.

Your tank is stunning as always Aquabucket. Don't let these guys see your projector or they will never leave you alone. I tried to convince my wife we should do that, she said no. I'll keep at her though.

 

[2crazyreefers]

Awsome Tank Aquabucket. Reef tanks are like everything else, to each its own and not 2 of the same. IMO we all create our own little paridise.

 

[plyle02]

Regardless of anyones preference, I think it is our responsibility to create the best conditions possible for our inhabitants to thrive. They are confined to a glass box, so we should at least do our best to mimic their natural conditions. Personally, I have a sps dominated reef, and find this hobby to be endless. I will soon plumb an additional frag tank in and hopefully trade frags with the local lfs for dry goods. It is funny when non-reefers see my tank they always comment about the clams or the ricordeas 1st..... LOL.... I am thinking, what about the 2" A. Gomezi I just spent $85 on. Again, in the eye of the beholder....

 

[DouglasTiede]

[/B][/QUOTE]


Your picture is worh a thousand words as to why sps is just colored sticks.

You have a true coral tank there my friend! Wow!! Very Nice!

 

[SDguy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10197952#post10197952 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by pledosophy
See I got those ones down

I think aquabucket is referring to these, which unfortunately virtually no one has been able to keep:

 

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10200594#post10200594 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DouglasTiede

Your picture is worh a thousand words as to why sps is just colored sticks.

You have a true coral tank there my friend! Wow!! Very Nice! [/B][/QUOTE]

Another example of to each their own as I would have found that tank to be nicer a couple years ago, but now not so much. I don't see the color and formations I enjoy in my and others sps reefs. Once again to each their own.
It's all about enjoying your own reef!
Happy Reefing!

 

[Aquabucket]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10201138#post10201138 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by E-A-G-L-E-S
Another example of to each their own as I would have found that tank to be nicer a couple years ago, but now not so much. I don't see the color and formations I enjoy in my and others sps reefs. Once again to each their own.
It's all about enjoying your own reef!
Happy Reefing!

That's kind of ironic you mentioned that because a couple of years ago my tank looked like this:

Personally I like SPS corals but they are not as adaptive as other corals like LPS and softies. When I lost most of my acros (after they had grown considerably more than in the pic above) from a power surge I decided that it may happen again so I stopped stocking them. I also had 6 T5s on the 30G shown and now I have 4 on a 40G. To do SPS again I would need a chiller, a skimmer, and a calcium reactor. I am not an equipment junkie like many others and like to keep things simple so I can enjoy the hobby more.

I help run a coral dept. for an LFS and I could have loads of SPS again if I wanted. The tank I have now is much easier to maintain and I like that about it.

I think any tank that is stocked with healthy and thriving corals is beautiful.

 

[pledosophy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10200994#post10200994 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SDguy
I think aquabucket is referring to these, which unfortunately virtually no one has been able to keep:

Like I said, I got those ones downs. Carnations, Neospongodes, some gorgonia's all grow well. Unfortunatley the needs for SPS are far different.

 

[mile sq. reefer]

pledosophy, How do you do it? Can you please give tank specifics, feeding schedules, types of food and pics. Please share the knowledge of your success with one of the most difficult, if not impossible to keep, captive corals. How old is the longest lived colony?

 

[easye123]

ya please share wed all love to know

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10203060#post10203060 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mile sq. reefer
pledosophy, How do you do it? Can you please give tank specifics, feeding schedules, types of food and pics. Please share the knowledge of your success with one of the most difficult, if not impossible to keep, captive corals. How old is the longest lived colony?

 

[rkcca]

Softies and LPS vs SPS is like compairing roses to orchids.

Both are nice to look at, however one is a big PITA to get good results and color.

I am now trying to empty my bank account to get good color out of my PITA corals.