Why do YOU like SPS?

[ninjamyst]

SPS frags don't look like much but SPS colonies are one of a kind. LPS usually look the same as they grow, just bigger. Acros create their own living scape with colors not available in LPS.

 

[Nigel35]

They look so good duh? Sunburst milli

 

[Charlie’s Frags]

What levels do you keep your phosphates and alk? I really want to know because I’m so inspired by you! What salt mix do you use?

Alk today is 9
I’ve used tropic marin pro for years but there are recent issues with some batches from their plant in Turkey. So I dont know what salt I’ll switch to bc all the available tm pro I’ve found is from the plant in Turkey.

Pretty stable huh?? Haha

 

[Eagle_Steve]

Alk today is 9
I’ve used tropic marin pro for years but there are recent issues with some batches from their plant in Turkey. So I dont know what salt I’ll switch to bc all the available tm pro I’ve found is from the plant in Turkey.

Pretty stable huh?? Haha

Thank goodness I am not alone in this in my mostly SPS tank lol.

Just call it tide change and shifting currents. That is what I do. Makes it make more sense. Current changes bring in more nutrients or remove nutrients and same goes for the tide lol.

 

[happyhourhero]

I like the challenge, the shapes and the colors. Love that there are so many different types.

 

[ScottB]

What are the types of fish you keep in your frag and display? Specifically?

I’m turning a FOWLR into an SPS tank and I need to know which fish are reoccurring SPS pickers from people that has experience with them!

Most fish are utility fish, and in the Display, all are mature, med/large fish. I feed 3-4 times per day.

Display:
Coral beauty angel (accused, but no witnesses)
Yellow tang
Yellow eye Kole tang
Powder blue tang
marine betta
Kleins butterfly
melanurus wrasse
one spot foxface

The frag tanks (3) have some mix of

Kole tangs
Orange shoulder tangs
One spot foxface
springeri damsels
clownfish

 

[Scotts210g]

when I first started out in the hobby I would take anything. LPS are so easy to keep. But for me they’re boring. Yeah they sway but they also make massive chemical warfare and they grow all over the place. RBTA and green star polyps will never again be in any of my tanks. Leathers are fine but they get so big.
im all sps now and not just any sps, I go for the high end acros. They all grow like weeds in my tank as well but don’t crawl around. They grow and create shadows, but just cut them and sell them or give them away.
so yes, SPS all the way for me.

 

[frizzayyyyreef]

Lps over sps all day!! Wish I could mix them but lps has such better types of coral

 

[LPS Bum]

I don’t. Never understood the attraction to the fuzzy sticks. LPS and softies all the way.

 

[rtparty]

To stick to the topic...I like SPS because they are difficult to keep. They are the pinnacle of this hobby. Softies and LPS are easy. I've got a 50g LPS tank that I have neglected for almost a year during our remodel. Nothing even cares. All growing and happy but the tank is ultra boring for me. It's being sold off.

My 120 on the other hand is mix of LPS and SPS. Seeing the SPS color and grow is far more rewarding. They are also so easy to frag to keep under control. Every coral becomes a pest in time. I want the easiest pests to remove

 

[ClownSchool]

sps totally add movement,
esp if you’re a magician
with a magical touch
bringing out wicked polyp extension!

I would like to learn that trick, please.

 

[shandoee]

Don’t start doing SPS IMO. It’s just bad for your health… err I mean wallet. You’ll get hooked and strive for more lol

but staying on topic, I like SPS because whenever I see pictures or videos of the tropical reefs, it’s always SPS that are there. Yes, there are some softies and lps. But you usually see the tabling and stag horn acros.

 

[ClownSchool]

It’s like any other hobby. Surfing/ skateboarding starts out where you’re just happy to get up on the board while it’s moving. But, eventually with practice, it leads you to explore more challenging aspects.
For me, it started with a Kenya Tree to see if I could keep the water parameters balanced. Then, zoas to learn about my light quality and add a little color. Now, I’m dosing, fragging, researching species for compatibility and learning to identify by sight. Once I invest in a nice system with some automation, I’d like to try my hand at farming/propagating. But, I know I still have A LOT to learn. This March will be my first year in the hobby.

 

[Jw258]

For me, it's the form and challenge. The colours are brilliant to but it's more the continual challenge to manage growth in confined space, to manage flow tonget a natural shape and to manage conditions to ensure growth.