SPS tank with Viparspectra

[Currierfarms14]

Hello R2R,

Recently bought 2 165W Viparspectra for my 65G bowfront tank. I will be a newcomer to the SPS game, and want to stabilize my levels a little more before jumping into SPS. My thought was to get a green slimer to start with as ive heard these are very hardy. I know Birdsnest are in that same category, but I personally cant stand the sight of them . I would love to see some pictures of tanks using Viparspectras growing SPS for some extra motivation . Also if you have any other beginner SPS that you would like to share , that would be appreciated as well!

Happy Reefing,

Taylor

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

I'm getting good growth under my 300W unit. It's the same as the 165W, just double the size for larger tanks. I'm bad at documenting coral growth with pictures, but I have some good examples of one coral that was on death's doorstep and is making a great recovery.

For a little background, I got this coral as part of a 10 for $99 SPS pack on Ebay. It arrived brown and drab and slowly declined over the course of 2+ years. I was living in an apartment and didn't have much time or space to improve water quality. Eventually it was down to probably six actual polyps still living. I almost wrote it off as a lost cause and tossed it in my sump, but I'm really glad I didn't. After I moved last year and got the water quality better, the thing started growing and encrusting its dead skeleton. A few months ago I transplanted it to a frag tile and it's been growing great ever since. It's developing some really nice blue/purple coloration around the tips. All growth under Viparspectra lights. I can't wait to see how this thing looks when it's grown out.

Here it is on 6/11/2020 right after I glued it to a 3" tile. I cut what living tissue was trying to grow off the mostly dead skeleton. It broke during the cutting process.

Here it is about two months later on 7/29/2020:

Here it is again a month after that on 9/11/2020:

 

[fishguy242]

@Susan Edwards

 

[Currierfarms14]

Beautiful. "dont call it a comeback".... Sorry im a 90s kid I cant help myself lol. Whats the name of this piece? The color also looks great under those lights!! I was worried that these lights wash out with how much blue they have.

 

[92Miata]

There was just a big "What coral can't you get to survive" thread on here - and birdsnest was one of the more common answers. I've found it much more difficult than most acros.


Do you have any cyphastrea? Its a really easy sps/lps coral. Most montiporas are pretty easy.

For acros - Slimer is one - ORA tricolor valida is another easy one.

 

[Currierfarms14]

Ive had a little experience with the meteor shower Cyphastrea. They remind me of chalices (which I really like) so I could certainly give them a try. I love the branching of the SPS... The tricolor valida is being added to my list of corals to buy... The color is fantastic on that. I love the blue oregon Tort... I know its a classic, but any idea of difficulty on that one?

 

[Gernader]

I use Mars Aqua 165W for mine. It’s similar to viparspectra. I just got into SPS a couple of months ago and they are growing fast under my lights!

Here are some of mine:

Greg Hiller's Aqua Delight

TSA Dan Akroyd

CC Voodoo Majick

Walt Disney

 

[fishguy242]

hollywood stunner easy ,but fast grower,what size is your tank?

 

[Currierfarms14]

I use Mars Aqua 165W for mine. It’s similar to viparspectra. I just got into SPS a couple of months ago and they are growing fast under my lights!

Here are some of mine:

Awesome!!! Is that the Walt Disney? Names would be greatly appreciated. Making a buy list

 

[Currierfarms14]

hollywood stunner easy ,but fast grower,what size is you tank?

I have this in my tank. Great Classic piece to have!! wasnt growing very well under my 2 LED system.. It wasnt bleaching/dying just slow growth. Im expecting this to take off with the Viparspectras

 

[Gernader]

Yep, chalices are very easy to grow. Here’s my hollywood stunner:

 

[Currierfarms14]

Yep, chalices are very easy to grow. Here’s my hollywood stunner:

Now thats a colony lol. Love the rock nems in the backround.. they are stealing the spotlight from that stunner!! LOL

 

[fishguy242]

I use Mars Aqua 165W for mine. It’s similar to viparspectra. I just got into SPS a couple of months ago and they are growing fast under my lights!

Here are some of mine:

can you share you light cycle hrs ,settings,how high off tank,what size tank,that would be awesome

 

[Gernader]

Awesome!!! Is that the Walt Disney? Names would be greatly appreciated. Making a buy list

Yes, that’s a WD! I edited my post and added the names, so check them out

 

[Gernader]

Now thats a colony lol. Love the rock nems in the backround.. they are stealing the spotlight from that stunner!! LOL

Haha! I love my rock flowers

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

Beautiful. "dont call it a comeback".... Sorry im a 90s kid I cant help myself lol. Whats the name of this piece? The color also looks great under those lights!! I was worried that these lights wash out with how much blue they have.

I don't know what it's called. It was labeled as "Wildberry," but it doesn't look like any Wildberry pics I can find these days. I'm suspecting this was a mariculture coral that the previous owner couldn't get to grow and included as a "freebie" in the pack. It looked like this when I got it in 2016:

Regarding the whites/blues, there's definitely plenty of white and blue. I think my tank looks more white than most, but there's still plenty of blue while bringing out the colors you can really only get with whites.

 

[Currierfarms14]

I don't know what it's called. It was labeled as "Wildberry," but it doesn't look like any Wildberry pics I can find these days. I'm suspecting this was a mariculture coral that the previous owner couldn't get to grow and included as a "freebie" in the pack. It looked like this when I got it in 2016:

Regarding the whites/blues, there's definitely plenty of white and blue. I think my tank looks more white than most, but there's still plenty of blue while bringing out the colors you can really only get with whites.

Would love to see the pic today if this pic is from 2016.

 

[Gernader]

can you share you light cycle hrs ,settings,how high off tank,what size tank,that would be awesome

Sure! I run my lights at 100% blues and 10% whites for 10 hours per day. They are mounted 12” above my 75g tank! I get around 350-450 par for SPS.

Here’s a quick shot:

Blues Only

Blues with Whites

 

[92Miata]

Stunner is definitely an easy one.

I have no direct experience with the Oregon tort - my understanding is its a little on the tougher side. They were really pricey in my last go around in reefing ( like 2005). The Cali tort is cheap and easy though.

There are a lot of pretty easy millepora. Stay away from anything labeled deep water or smooth skin. The more open growth acros (Staghorns, slimers, etc) tend to be easier than the denser ones

 

[Currierfarms14]

Stunner is definitely an easy one.

I have no direct experience with the Oregon tort - my understanding is its a little on the tougher side. They were really pricey in my last go around in reefing ( like 2005). The Cali tort is cheap and easy though.

There are a lot of pretty easy millepora. Stay away from anything labeled deep water or smooth skin. The more open growth acros (Staghorns, slimers, etc) tend to be easier than the denser ones

Happy to hear that. I am a HUGE fan of the hairy milleoporas. Not to sink into the rabbit hole of beginner ones.....