Why do you like SPS?
- Thread starter Terrance
- Start date
liquidcowboy
New member
The colors, and I love how the small colonies look scattered throughout the tank amongst other corals.
this is me
Active member
For me, not so much for the color. LPS has much more exotic colors and color combination. To me, it's the form of the SPS and the growth is up and sideways and not just sideways.
A tiny nub frag can grow into a huge colony is a matter of a year or so is quite rewarding.
A tiny nub frag can grow into a huge colony is a matter of a year or so is quite rewarding.
psykobowler
New member
I like watching corn grow. If I see a new bud from the tips I know all my hard work is paying off.
The mystery of color and growth, but more the growth. No two acros grow exactly the same way. Some branch out and then fill in, some thicken up and then shoot out branches. Some stay bushy, some table, and many vary their growth based on the flow different parts of the colony get. I've seen one that grows branches and then almost plates out from the tips. When I get a frag of an LPS I know what the colony will look like. With SPS you just don't.
franklypre
New member
I like SPS because when the lights come on they look amazing, no deflation, no closing up for a few days for no reason, less chemical warfare. Most will say it's more difficult to keep SPS but I've had an awful lot of zoas and LPS die for no reason. I do like the growth factor as well.
karsseboom
New member
Why do we like Sps? Sps are the foundation for a thriving coral reef. Lps are not. They are harder to keep which makes it an expert area of this hobby. Any joe off the block can keep Lps and softies it takes patience and a keen eye to keep Sps. Sps are truly the pinnacle of this hobby.
You will notice almost all totm are mostly Sps tanks. Ever wonder why?
Terrance
New member
Yes I've always wondered why, which is why this thread is here. I was browsing through TOTM, all of the tanks has some form of SPS, as if SPS are required to win TOTM.
Now that you guys mention the growth factor, it would seem very satisfying seeing the growth.
I think this is a bit derogatory. Keeping a thriving reef aquarium requires skill, dedication, and patience whether it contains SPS, LPS, or softies. Keeping acropora alive isn't terribly difficult. Creating conditions for them to thrive in is more difficult.
By your definition I would consider NPS to be the pinnacle.
Jjtaylor62083
New member
Nps = non photosynthetic
TheCoralFarmer
New member
I personally keep an assortment of sps and lps. Its nice to have a variety as every reef is out in the wild.
karsseboom
New member
There is a big difference between keeping Sps alive and keeping nice colored Sps and that's what I meant. Lets see pictures of how many people on this forum out of the 300k members can keep nice colored Sps. Maybe a couple hundred?
Far more than a few hundred keep colorful SPS. No offense to any TOTM winners, but there are many tanks just as successful that aren't posted online or aren't selected for the award for every winner chosen. I could go back a few pages in this subforum alone and find several dozen people keeping beautiful SPS tanks.
Whatever the ratio is between ugly sticks and beautiful sticks, I guarantee you it is quite similar to the ratio of so-so LPS tanks versus the stunning ones. I don't contend that SPS aren't more difficult, they are, but keeping a well maintained, thriving reef aquarium is an accomplishment regardless of the specimens kept.
That's ridiculous to assume only 1/10 of 1% can keep a thriving SPS tank.
trinity1012
sps addict
+1 lol very true
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