Beginner SPS?

[hypertech]

I'm having good success with a Larry Jackson in my tank and I'd like to try another. I have an orange cap and orange digi that both seem to be doing OK (though the digi is still pretty new).

Are milliaporas easy or hard SPS?

Do you have suggestions for other SPS that are relatively easy to care for?

[David Grigor]

Pocillipora ( either green or pink ) & Birdsnest are good ones to start with as well. Pavona, hydnophora, stylophora ( would need more light to sustain a hot pink ), turbinaria also do well in a wide variety of light requirements. As you mention most montipora ( digitata, caps, and encrusting types). With the montiporas if light isn't intense enough, you may just get color at the types the rest may turn more brownish.

Also worth a try would be some acropora milleporas come in a variety of color combinations ( purple, blue, green, pink/rose some the coralites portion will be a different color when viewed from the top ). How well they do will be totally dependant on placement, spectrum, and intensity.

Other more hardy acropora is the more staghorn types. Like mentioned earilier in lower lighting may only get color near the tips with the rest mostly brown.

Be real careful. You get the bug of acros/sps and you will have to rip your all in one hood off and put a halide pendant on there. ;)

Low nutrients ( nitrates/phosphates primarily ) will also help keep colors and especially important when light intensity is lacking, maintaining your ALK/CA/MG also become more critical. Should be both monitored/tested and supplemented.

[mtfatwork]

Milleporas are good. If your LJ is doing fine I would venture to say that you are ready for most acropora as long as you are aware of the risk of pests, and the treatment of them.

[Goldpony75]

I have a couple of orange/peach pocci frags that are growing out nicely. They might possible be ORA but I'm not positive. I'll try and get a couple pics of them.

[spsick]

you also need to know that alot of acros need more light than that lj, just dont add too fast, or too many for that matter, you only have a 29 with not that many fish, and no that much light. it will be tough for more than a couple acros to get what they need. sripps green stag i've found to be the hardiest acro yet, not very colorful though. that's the hard part, the more colorful, the more light they usually need. Be patient, that lj will grow fast and it'll need all the room it can get.

[mtfatwork]

very true ben. The LJ will take off and fill up space quick :)

[David Grigor]

Yep, forgot to mention the green slimer stag ( which I believe is the same as the one you mention ) very disease resistant which makes it the perfect 1st acro.

[hypertech]

Thanks all. I'll go look those up. I was thinking one maybe 2 more and I'm done.

FWIW - I can put a MH inside that hood :) But, I'd rather work on my instrument rating so I'm just looking for a couple more to fill up the tank.

[YiNYaNg]

Thanks all. I'll go look those up. I was thinking one maybe 2 more and I'm done.

FWIW - I can put a MH inside that hood :) But, I'd rather work on my instrument rating so I'm just looking for a couple more to fill up the tank.

Woot woot to another fly boy.... I soloed back when I was 16 yrs old and I stopped since it got too costly for me but I plan to continue again soon.

[mattb]

Lighting is like a tertiary factor in colorization....nutrient levels and flow are more important, especially nutrient levels. For many sps photoinhabition is happening, so more light won't get you anything often.

All the ORA stuff is really hardy too, they do actually do better in higher nutrients than at nsw levels

[spsick]

well yeah, but this is pc were talking about :)

[spsick]

I've seen some of the best growth and color out of 175w MH on a 180, like you said , that's just part of the equation, but power compact...

[mattb]

D'oh! Totally forgot that was the nano we jus saw!

[hypertech]

yep. That's why I'm not looking for fancy rare super colored mortgage the house to care for corals.

Just looking for plain old boring everybody has em might surprise me and live like the LJ.

[YiNYaNg]

Try adding these

http://www.commodityaxis.com/ProductData.aspx?id=68

[mattb]

Btw, after seeing your nano (and jvb's), I've been thinking nano...

Have you tested your PAR, just curious...

[hypertech]

no, but if you know someone with a meter, I'd be happy to do so.

[mattb]

I'm thinking of getting one, but no I don't know anyone that does...

[David Grigor]

Fritz and Li have a par meter.

[Gearuser]

"Lighting is like a tertiary factor in colorization....nutrient levels and flow are more important, especially nutrient levels. For many sps photoinhabition is happening, so more light won't get you anything often."


I would have to agree with this statement. Though minimal lighting requirements are a factor, it has been my experience that water quality is of paramount importance. For example, in the past, when I was religious about water changes, growth and coloration of my SPS was amazing. On the other hand, when I would become lazy about my water quality, growth, health, and good coloration of my SPS came to an abrupt halt. If you want to keep SPS in your tank it is imperative to have excellent water quality.

[mattb]

I agree you can't get by on regular florescents! Nice avatar!