SPS dominant lower coral selection

[The River]

What corals do best in SPS tanks on the lower end of the system (lower depth on the sand)?

I am getting my system ready to be SPS dominant. Recently, re-scaped the rock to allow grow out space, have dosing system planned and almost ready to go and have been keeping a maintainable low nutrient stable environment in the system.

I am currently locking down the rocks placement on the sand-bed to allow some corals to be placed down there and grow out while keeping them separated.

I would like to stay away from zoas and palys or anything that is know to be on the toxic side.

 

[HairyGary]

What corals do best in SPS tanks on the lower end of the system (lower depth on the sand)?

I am getting my system ready to be SPS dominant. Recently, re-scaped the rock to allow grow out space, have dosing system planned and almost ready to go and have been keeping a maintainable low nutrient stable environment in the system.

I am currently locking down the rocks placement on the sand-bed to allow some corals to be placed down there and grow out while keeping them separated.

I would like to stay away from zoas and palys or anything that is know to be on the toxic side.

Do you mean what corals do better at the bottom of the tank? Any LPS like lobos, euphylias, and scolys would works at lower par levels. Depending on strength of light and depth of tank you could house some smooth skin SPS (carolinias- deep water acros) toward the bottom but beware of shading issues when the highlighters grow out.

 

[The River]

Yes, I was looking for feedback on what corals have worked well in SPS dominant tanks on the lower depth positions.

 

[HairyGary]

Yes, I was looking for feedback on what corals have worked well in SPS dominant tanks on the lower depth positions.

OK. Yeah you could go with those I mentioned. I also have a large Aussie duncan colony that I started in my SPS dominant 20 gallon a couple years ago. It did and now does with with all my SPS in my 93 cube.

 

[29bonsaireef]

What type of lighting do you have over the tank? Birdsnest and all types of Montipora will do fine lower in the tank. I'd think you could grow acros just about anywhere on your rock work. It's the deeper tanks that don't get enough lighting towards the bottom for some SPS.

 

[The River]

I have a Radion xr30w Gen3
Its allot of power somewhere about 7w per gallon in the display of my Biocube 29g

I like acros but never had any in the past and have read something of them being territorial.
I was also interested in a smaller clam like Crocea, but wanted to let the tank get further established before buying one.

 

[VTBig053]

I have a shallow SPS dominant tank so it is a challenge to find LPS and softies that tolerate the high PAR on the sand bed. All the Acans i've tried either begin to bleach or just turn red. However, the two micromussa I have seem to be more tolerant of the higher light and have done well. I also have a hammer x frogspawn that doesn't seem to be bothered by the high light on the sand bed either. I have some Sunny D's that also seem to do well in the high light.

Lower light demand SPS might be your best option depending on just how intense the light really is on the sand bed. Branching and encrusting montis are always a good option. My forest fire digi and apple berry both do very well. I did have a nice piece of mystic sunset monti that faded a bit under the high light.

I have two RFAs that are also doing well on the sandbed. I did start these in shaded areas but they have since moved themselves out and about the tank into higher light areas and don't seem to be bothered by it.

If your sand bed is getting a ton of PAR you could always put a clam down there also

 

[29bonsaireef]

I dont run LEDs as main lighting, so I'm not sure on the spread and how much par they put out. I have a 29 biocube with T5s and I can grow acros in any corner of the tank. If you don't have a par meter all you can really do is place some corals around in the tank and see how they do. I look more into growth patterns for placement in a small tank rather than lighting.

I would start off with some Birdsnest or Montis first, see how they do. Your tank looks new, and may need some time before it can grow Acropora.

 

[ctpeasy]

What corals do best in SPS tanks on the lower end of the system (lower depth on the sand)?

I am getting my system ready to be SPS dominant. Recently, re-scaped the rock to allow grow out space, have dosing system planned and almost ready to go and have been keeping a maintainable low nutrient stable environment in the system.

I am currently locking down the rocks placement on the sand-bed to allow some corals to be placed down there and grow out while keeping them separated.

I would like to stay away from zoas and palys or anything that is know to be on the toxic side.

Many birdsnest will change color vividly in lower light. For SPS, I have two chalices, sunset monti and Mr. Pac-Man acro close to the bottom of my tank. All are growing very well.

Deep water acros can tolerate lower par without losing color.

 

[Highgrade]

What corals do best in SPS tanks on the lower end of the system (lower depth on the sand)?

I am getting my system ready to be SPS dominant. Recently, re-scaped the rock to allow grow out space, have dosing system planned and almost ready to go and have been keeping a maintainable low nutrient stable environment in the system.

I am currently locking down the rocks placement on the sand-bed to allow some corals to be placed down there and grow out while keeping them separated.

I would like to stay away from zoas and palys or anything that is know to be on the toxic side.

Porites, Styloconellia, most monti's especially Palawanensis, Cyphastrea, Pavona, psammacora and almost any deepwater/smooth skin acros.

 

[BantyRooster97]

How old is your tank / rock etc?

 

[pjdiddy]

Depending how deep your tank is, you could maybe grow montipora cap on the bottom. If it is too deep, maybe some zoanthids or leathers.