Good beginner SPS?

CodyRVA · Sep 12, 2017

scchase said:
Pavona or Psammacora, I have had both survive cycles and tank wipeouts

+1

jda · Sep 12, 2017

Big E said:
Like jda mentioned, I'd steer clear of digitatas, birdnest, poccilliporas, stylos.......they aren't really a test and will grow in any system and become weeds due to fast growth. People seldom listen to me on this and within a year or less when they need room for nicer acros they have to give or throw away these corals.

Not only this, but people get a false sense of their ability with these corals. If you start with MBP&S, then you are just delaying your litmus test until later, which is cool if that is what you are wanting, but be aware that the requirements are not even close to the same. There is no way to measure this, but it seems like half, or more, of the advice online about keeping SPS come from folks who only ever have been able to succeed with MBP&S - while this is OK for a lot of people, I might suggest that you mention the types of corals that you want to keep by name instead of just saying SPS. You will get better advice that way, regardless of what you want to keep. For example, if you are only interested in Montis, then you won't have to suffer me since I only allow Leng Sy in my tank and I will stay out of it for the most part. If you only want to keep acropora, then say so and you will get different advice on any topic.

I cannot believe that people struggle with red dragon. My fish make frags sometimes when they run into it and the broken pieces just start growing new branches out of the sand or rocks where they fall. I get about 2" of new growth a month on my larger colonies and 1" on the frags. This is one of the easiest corals that I have ever had. To be fair, I do have OG CITR Red Dragon which will encrust...I have heard (no personal experience) that the AQ pieces are not as hardy, will not encrust very much (if any) and are not as deep red. This is in weed status in my tank, but I don't ban it.

Wazzel · Sep 12, 2017

I have a few of the "weed corals" in my tank and I like them. Well, except the porcapilla, due to the way they spread and pop up all over. They are different in growth and colors than the acros I keep. Yes I have to trim them a bit more than other things, but no big deal. They are good for store credit at the LFS and to help people just starting out. I also find that the "weed corals" tend to loose the turf wars that pop up when I neglect to trim as needed.

The most important thing is that YOU like what you are keeping in your tank and that you set yourself up for success. If YOU are happy and successful you will take care of your tank and it will look nice no matter what you specifically keep.

happyhourhero · Sep 12, 2017

I agree with what Big E said but I like to keep some of the more colorful and rare digis and I like their growth structure. When I first got into sps I loved my birdsnests but agree they inevitably will be removed to free up spots for more acros.

Ranjib · Sep 12, 2017

Start with birdnest or some montipora, while you learn more about alk, ca, mg balance. Setup dosing regiment etc, once they thrive move on to some beginner acro , stylo etc. You can always trim or remove birdnest or any other sps you don't like.
There are many threads/folks here who have failed to even keep birdnest. Soi won't worry too much about them becoming weed, use then as practice corals,

Reefbuds · Sep 12, 2017

Dom said:
I find Zoas and Hammers to be forgiving to downturns in water quality. And as a beginner, you might find yourself in such a position from time to time.

Sorry man I forgot to mention I've got a 17 month old mixed LPS Softie right now, just looking to get into keeping a couple easy SPS to get my feet wet. Sounds like easy acros or some Monti sound good, I was thinking Monti before but I really like bird nest :O

Reefbuds · Sep 12, 2017

So the end game here is to have a couple different types. I want just a couple acro, birdnest and Monti plates at the top of my mixed reef. 1 or 2 easy acros, at least 1 birdnest and 1 plating Monti would be completely fine with me

Saltdaddy · Sep 12, 2017

Am sorry I am new to SPS. Have my tank with softies and some LPS. Can you all add some pictures please? That would help out this SPS newbie lot. Thanks. Want to try too after about 10 years of being in the hobby.

BoomCorals · Sep 12, 2017

Cliff's Acro

Reefbuds · Sep 13, 2017

Nice acros, I'm really looking for a yellow and green or red acro, easy to care for tho. Thoughts on a species?
All of my rock is completely purple so I'm looking for something that will stand out.
Orange too, pretty much anything that's not purple.

Big E · Sep 13, 2017

As I mentioned above easy to care for acros........you can pick up a Pink Lemonade & Red Planet for $15-20 a frag.
Orange Digi or Bali Green Slimer-- $10-15 a frag
These are very common at our local swaps as they are widely kept or a local reefer should have these.
All are hardy and fast growers.

Yellow------Pink Lemonade

pink lemonade by Big E 52, on Flickr

Red------- Red Planet(on left)

Red Planet and short R 040218 by Big E 52, on Flickr

Bali Green Slimer- not my pic(stock photo)

green bali slimer by Big E 52, on Flickr

Orange---- Orange Digitata-- not an acro but gives you the orange you want.

Orange digi by Big E 52, on Flickr

Saltdaddy · Sep 13, 2017

All off those are really great thank you for the pictures. Do you have to dose in order to keep SPS?

Wazzel · Sep 13, 2017

Saltdaddy said:
All off those are really great thank you for the pictures. Do you have to dose in order to keep SPS?

You might not at first depending on how many, size, etc and how big your water changes. Sooner rather than later, you will need to come up with another method of keeping the Ca and Alk up. Dosing or a calcium reactor is what people use. Both methods work well. Dosing seems to be better for smaller tanks while a CARx is better for large tanks. Both require you to keep track of Ca and Alk on at least a weekly basis to make small adjustments.

BoomCorals · Sep 13, 2017

You can also use kalk in your topoff or a kalk reactor fed by your topoff. That's what I use and it's able to keep up with alk and ca demand for my 4 tanks.

Reefbuds · Sep 13, 2017

Thanks Big E that is exactly what I'm after. I will absolutely look into those.

Falcon53 · Sep 13, 2017

RussiReef said:
I would say Green Slimer

I'd second this. Grows fast and seems impossible to kill.

Reefbuds · Sep 13, 2017

So I've been browsing a bit on these strains. Any suggestions on vendors for these at a decent price but quality product? I don't want anything inferior.

BoomCorals · Sep 13, 2017

wallace said:
So I've been browsing a bit on these strains. Any suggestions on vendors for these at a decent price but quality product? I don't want anything inferior.

I have red planet and green slimer, good sized frags. I also have forest fire digi frags but they need another week to heal if you don't mind waiting. I also have a 2 week guarantee.