Dipping my toe in the SPS pool...

TheEngineer · Jan 12, 2017

My cube is zoa dominant with just a couple of other LPS corals in there. There are a few spots on my rock where the light is too intense for zoas. I was thinking about putting some SPS corals up there to see if I like the look.

I'd like something chunky and brightly colored, but I have no idea what any SPS corals are called. They've never been my thing. I found this picture and really like the corals shown here. They have thick, tight branches and bright colors.

Any advice on what to shoot for? I'm fine with common stuff, just want something colorful

Reef2zach · Jan 12, 2017

Maybe start with a birds nest. Not the most flashy of sps but hearty and grows quickly. My buddy had one go from a 1 inch stick to almost the size of my head in a year.

Highgrade · Jan 12, 2017

What type of lighting do you have? High light and higher flow along with parameter stability to keep SPS is key. As for beginner SPS- Stylophora,Monti's, Stags,Valida are pretty easy to keep and can tolerate parameter swings. Any color SPS you would like to keep?

happyhourhero · Jan 12, 2017

Some hardy staples that have nice growth patterns and good color are : Red Planet, Bonsai, ORA Frogskin (look for colony pics on google images), Milleporas, most torts, etc.

Hawkins has a beautiful growth pattern but may not be considered hardy.

TheEngineer · Jan 12, 2017

Reef2zach said:
Maybe start with a birds nest. Not the most flashy of sps but hearty and grows quickly. My buddy had one go from a 1 inch stick to almost the size of my head in a year.

Thanks for the suggestion. Birdsnests that I've seen before are fairly spindly, if I recall. Is that right? I prefer something with thick branches.

Highgrade said:
What type of lighting do you have? High light and higher flow along with parameter stability to keep SPS is key. As for beginner SPS- Stylophora,Monti's, Stags,Valida are pretty easy to keep and can tolerate parameter swings. Any color SPS you would like to keep?

I run a Kessil A360WE. The spot I want to put the SPS is just under the fixture, so high light and I have pretty decent flow in there already by zoa tank standards

I'd prefer blue, pink, yellow or green colors.

happyhourhero said:
Some hardy staples that have nice growth patterns and good color are : Red Planet, Bonsai, ORA Frogskin (look for colony pics on google images), Milleporas, most torts, etc.

Hawkins has a beautiful growth pattern but may not be considered hardy.

Awesome, I'll look them up!

Highgrade · Jan 12, 2017

TheEngineer said:
Thanks for the suggestion. Birdsnests that I've seen before are fairly spindly, if I recall. Is that right? I prefer something with thick branches.

I run a Kessil A360WE. The spot I want to put the SPS is just under the fixture, so high light and I have pretty decent flow in there already by zoa tank standards I'd prefer blue, pink, yellow or green colors.

Awesome, I'll look them up!

I found Stylophora- Purple, Pink or Green stylos do well under Kessils. Bali green slimmer does well. Blue stagehorn acros as well. Just about any monti does well under Kessils as well. Bonsai, Echinata, lokani or deeper water acros such as WWC needle in a haystack acro do well under Kessils. The problem with Kessils and SPS is shadowing on the underside of branches or the branches obstructed by other branches. Don't get me wrong kessils will grow Acros but the dense growth patterns on some acros such as Hawkins or any tabling Acro the underside will be neglected of proper lighting and the colors on underside or shaded branches will not be a vibrant as the top of the coral.

TheEngineer · Jan 12, 2017

Highgrade said:
I found Stylophora- Purple, Pink or Green stylos do well under Kessils. Bali green slimmer does well. Blue stagehorn acros as well. Just about any monti does well under Kessils as well. Bonsai, Echinata, lokani or deeper water acros such as WWC needle in a haystack acro do well under Kessils. The problem with Kessils and SPS is shadowing on the underside of branches or the branches obstructed by other branches. Don't get me wrong kessils will grow Acros but the dense growth patterns on some acros such as Hawkins or any tabling Acro the underside will be neglected of proper lighting and the colors on underside or shaded branches will not be a vibrant as the top of the coral.

Lots of great info! Thanks!

saltyfilmfolks · Jan 12, 2017

Look at a frog skin. Very hardy. Gets thick and chunky.

ifarmer · Jan 12, 2017

Green slimer is a good sps for new starter. it's color is nice and dirt cheap. often times, you can get these low end corals from some local hobbyst for free.

Ubans13 · Jan 12, 2017

@TheEngineer been wanting to go the sps route as well. Nice info here.

Daniel@R2R · Jan 13, 2017

My first suggestion is green slimer. Also most digis are easy, and many of them come in multiple colors (i.e. forest fire digi, bubble gum digi). I've never tried a frog skin. I'll have to get one.