"Easy SPS" ?

vcam · 04/15/2016, 09:07 PM

Hey guys,

I'm currently looking for some "easy" SPS corals to try out in the tank.

I asked my LFS the same question and they recommended a Birdsnest coral to start. So far it has kept its colour and has grown a little aswell. This is over the span of about 3 weeks since introduction.

From the reading I've been doing, it seems Birdsnest and Montipora seem to be the hardiest of SPS.

Anyone have any recommendations for a type? I was thinking 1 plating and 2 branching with maybe another Birdsnest thrown in. Problem is, I don't know which ?Types? would be best for what I'm looking for.

JohnnyHildo · 04/15/2016, 09:18 PM

yes montipora are supposedly one of the more tolerant sps. i also have a hydnophora that is similar in hardiness.
none the less, corals in general work well with stability. if you can give them that then you can probably grow anything.

vcam · 04/15/2016, 10:05 PM

That's very encouraging to hear,

Are there any specific Montipora that plate nicely or that branch?
specific names would be a huge help so I know what I'm looking for!
ex: montipora "green rush" (made up, but like the name is what I'm looking for)

Marinenthusiast · 04/15/2016, 10:06 PM

I just got a confusa montipora 2 days ago which is my first sps and love the way it looks! Its both plating and branching

Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk

vikinglord13 · 04/16/2016, 01:03 AM

I saw a video that said pocillopra is an easier SPS. I can't confirm that with experience though

pyithar · 04/16/2016, 01:45 AM

imo, most sps are not very hard to keep/grow if the parameters are stable and you could avoid the pests. for plating montipora, capricornis, as for branching, montipora digitata (forest fire, bubblegum, etc), seriatopora guttatus (screaming green birdsnest), seriatopora hystrix(birdsnest), pocillopora, stylophora, millepora (many colors. rainbow mille is nice), some acropora like acropora valida(tri color valida is nice), acropora tenuis, acropora yongei (green slimer is a fast grower), they all are not hard to keep and they grow well ime.

Reef Frog · 04/16/2016, 02:01 AM

Acropia are what give SPS corals the reputation of being hard to keep. Improper lighting & flow, various parasites & STN/RTN are all real challenges.

The other SPS mentioned above are all fairly hardy as long as you can keep temperature, salinity, Ca, Ali & mg stable.

Ou8me2 · 04/16/2016, 02:07 AM

SPS selection, care, & placement | 52 Weeks of Reefing #BRS160

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htMPSs3Z6Qc

is a great video to watch on SPS, they also have a series on LPS and Soft Corals.

JammyBirch · 04/16/2016, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vikinglord13

I saw a video that said pocillopra is an easier SPS. I can't confirm that with experience though

Yes...this one can be bad also it spreads easily. Montipora Capricornis is a plating easy SPS. Like previously mentioned SPS are not hard to keep, they just require parameters to be in check and stability. The corals know what they are doing we are managing the water not the coral.

fishpureluck · 04/16/2016, 05:43 AM

If you set your tank up properly, any coral is easy to keep.

vcam · 04/16/2016, 07:08 AM

Thank you everyone this is all super helpful !

especially pyithar for all the suggestions, and I'll be sure to watch that video !!

smeesh726 · 04/16/2016, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyHildo

yes montipora are supposedly one of the more tolerant sps. i also have a hydnophora that is similar in hardiness.
none the less, corals in general work well with stability. if you can give them that then you can probably grow anything.

+1 on the hydnophora. Spongodes. Red or green monti caps. Purple haze monti.
Be cautious with montis though, I've had multiple new corals come with monti eating nudis... Not fun and can be very frustrating if you don't know how to get rid of them.

bmitchell138 · 04/16/2016, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vcam

Hey guys,

I'm currently looking for some "easy" SPS corals to try out in the tank.

I asked my LFS the same question and they recommended a Birdsnest coral to start. So far it has kept its colour and has grown a little aswell. This is over the span of about 3 weeks since introduction.

From the reading I've been doing, it seems Birdsnest and Montipora seem to be the hardiest of SPS.

Anyone have any recommendations for a type? I was thinking 1 plating and 2 branching with maybe another Birdsnest thrown in. Problem is, I don't know which ?Types? would be best for what I'm looking for.

Bird's nest and plating Montis are the two I started with and they have done very well in my young tank. I also have a Stylophora (cat's paw). On that note I have been very diligent with keeping the water in good condition, good flow and good lighting.

Grkgod36 · 04/17/2016, 12:10 AM

Stay away from poccilopora or how ever you spell they will start spawning all over your tank

dendrite · 04/17/2016, 07:41 AM

montipora stellata, a beautiful branching monti that grows like a weed, and montipora setosa if you want a combo of branching and plating along with a nice orange color

Bent · 04/17/2016, 08:57 AM

I tried both montis and birdsnest.

Both died.

04/15/2016, 09:07 PM	#1
vcam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Montreal Posts: 97	"Easy SPS" ? Hey guys, I'm currently looking for some "easy" SPS corals to try out in the tank. I asked my LFS the same question and they recommended a Birdsnest coral to start. So far it has kept its colour and has grown a little aswell. This is over the span of about 3 weeks since introduction. From the reading I've been doing, it seems Birdsnest and Montipora seem to be the hardiest of SPS. Anyone have any recommendations for a type? I was thinking 1 plating and 2 branching with maybe another Birdsnest thrown in. Problem is, I don't know which ?Types? would be best for what I'm looking for. __________________ 50g lps dominated reef, 2os clowns, Solaris and Pintail wrasse, Springers damsel, no sump. Current Tank Info: 50gal tank, 60 pounds dry rock--- started 2/2016

04/15/2016, 09:18 PM	#2
JohnnyHildo Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 669	yes montipora are supposedly one of the more tolerant sps. i also have a hydnophora that is similar in hardiness. none the less, corals in general work well with stability. if you can give them that then you can probably grow anything. __________________ 120G Standard - 40G Sump. Apex - DOS - ATI Current Tank Info: Acros - Zoas - Palys

04/15/2016, 10:05 PM	#3
vcam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Montreal Posts: 97	That's very encouraging to hear, Are there any specific Montipora that plate nicely or that branch? specific names would be a huge help so I know what I'm looking for! ex: montipora "green rush" (made up, but like the name is what I'm looking for) __________________ 50g lps dominated reef, 2os clowns, Solaris and Pintail wrasse, Springers damsel, no sump. Current Tank Info: 50gal tank, 60 pounds dry rock--- started 2/2016

04/16/2016, 01:45 AM	#6
pyithar Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: yangon,burma(myanmar) Posts: 1,786	imo, most sps are not very hard to keep/grow if the parameters are stable and you could avoid the pests. for plating montipora, capricornis, as for branching, montipora digitata (forest fire, bubblegum, etc), seriatopora guttatus (screaming green birdsnest), seriatopora hystrix(birdsnest), pocillopora, stylophora, millepora (many colors. rainbow mille is nice), some acropora like acropora valida(tri color valida is nice), acropora tenuis, acropora yongei (green slimer is a fast grower), they all are not hard to keep and they grow well ime. __________________ take it easy, pyithar Current Tank Info: 150G display, 50G sump, mixed reef

04/16/2016, 05:43 AM	#10
fishpureluck Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Jensen Beach, FL Posts: 219	If you set your tank up properly, any coral is easy to keep. __________________ 300 gallon 8ft FOWLR peninsula room divider 120 gallon SPS/LPS

04/15/2016, 10:06 PM	#4
Marinenthusiast Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 30	I just got a confusa montipora 2 days ago which is my first sps and love the way it looks! Its both plating and branching Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk

04/16/2016, 01:03 AM	#5
vikinglord13 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Naperville, IL Posts: 484	I saw a video that said pocillopra is an easier SPS. I can't confirm that with experience though

04/16/2016, 02:01 AM	#7
Reef Frog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,121	Acropia are what give SPS corals the reputation of being hard to keep. Improper lighting & flow, various parasites & STN/RTN are all real challenges. The other SPS mentioned above are all fairly hardy as long as you can keep temperature, salinity, Ca, Ali & mg stable.

04/16/2016, 02:07 AM	#8
Ou8me2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 743	SPS selection, care, & placement \| 52 Weeks of Reefing #BRS160 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htMPSs3Z6Qc is a great video to watch on SPS, they also have a series on LPS and Soft Corals.

04/16/2016, 07:08 AM	#11
vcam Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Montreal Posts: 97	Thank you everyone this is all super helpful ! especially pyithar for all the suggestions, and I'll be sure to watch that video !! __________________ 50g lps dominated reef, 2os clowns, Solaris and Pintail wrasse, Springers damsel, no sump. Current Tank Info: 50gal tank, 60 pounds dry rock--- started 2/2016

04/17/2016, 12:10 AM	#14
Grkgod36 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 375	Stay away from poccilopora or how ever you spell they will start spawning all over your tank

04/17/2016, 07:41 AM	#15
dendrite Registered Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: denver Posts: 493	montipora stellata, a beautiful branching monti that grows like a weed, and montipora setosa if you want a combo of branching and plating along with a nice orange color

04/17/2016, 08:57 AM	#16
Bent I got nothin' Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: The anals Posts: 6,420	I tried both montis and birdsnest. Both died. __________________ Quitters never lose. [QUOTE=CStrickland]Who gets mad at a starfish?[/QUOTE] Current Tank Info: 75g DT, 30G refugium, 10g chaeto tank, 50g stock tank basement sump