thinking about diving into SPS (1 Viewer)

[peters313]

So after being completely afraid of SPS corals since I set up my first tank 8 years ago and after researching books, online sites, and forums i've decided i may want to take the plunge. I am in the process of accumulating the equipment for the 180 gallon I'm going to set up which will eventually replace my current 90 gallon. I wanted to test my skills in my current tank to see if I actually have a handle on it in an established tank before trying it on a newly set up tank. What would people say would be a good SPS coral to try this with? I'm not looking for the cheapest (if there is such a thing :biglaugh2 but just more of a "beginner" SPS. i was thinking Birdsnest but wanted to get others opinions who current house SPS right now. Thanks for any help, and if there are additional recommendations for where to find a good source to learn from please feel free to suggest that as well.

 

[montiporalova]

Green slimmer
Monti cap.
Birds nest like you had mentioned.

 

[mapierce7]

I have generally found digis to be pretty hardy as well (then again they are also a monti)

 

[Reefreak]

pocillopora is another hardy one

 

[David Grigor]

Test and monitoring your water quality, CA, ALK, Magnesium, Nitrate, Phosphate, stable temps is best place to start. Track it closely for a month or so be sure you able to keep near undetectable nitrate and phosphate. If you can't you likely will need to invest in equipment upgrades, additional equipment, make filtration configurations or even change filtration methodology completely to get to the next level. Really depends on what you have and what you do no to know if you can get there from where your at or major changes required.

as far as corals, porites, pavona, hydnophora, poccilipora, birdsnests, monit caps and digitata are probably a good place to start.

 

[curlyq]

I always found my green slimer to be the most hardy SPS I had. It's also quite cheap. As long as you don't get all green corals, I actually really liked it. Bright, easy, and grew fast.

I also second DG's comments above.

 

[Fragtastic Reef]

Pocci, Birds, Slimer, Stags, Monti's are all generally fairly easy. Keeping and maintaining your levels to be constant is a must with SPS to get the best results.

 

[DjScRiBbLe]

I've been thinking sps too. Softies seem fine in my tank and I have been using tap water for years. Very low tds actually, but recently wanted to start getting lps/sps and had my water tested. Guess that tap was giving me crazy high alk. So my rodi from BRS is up and running now so slowly making the switch. I have a chalice from DD that's pissed either from the alk or my lights? Can t tell but once my stuff is corrected I'm thinking some monti to start...

Sent from my SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2

 

[montiporalova]

I have some poccy frags you can have to get you started.

 

[DjScRiBbLe]

That directed to me or op?

 

[montiporalova]

Sorry it was for peters313 since it's his thread.

 

[DjScRiBbLe]

That's what I figured just trying to clarify not saying I'm not open to frag donations tho hehehe.

Sent from my SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2