What are some of the easier SPS corals for beginners?

John Hartford · 04/22/2006, 11:23 PM

I want to try some SPS corals and do a lot of shopping with liveaquaria.com, I was wondering what are some of the better SPS corals that you recommend for beginners?

Here is the link to the SPS website of corals that are offered through them: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/s...cfm?pCatId=322

Fuegofish777 · 04/22/2006, 11:30 PM

if you can find montipora capricornis or montipora digita, those are good starters. other types of montiporas are not necesarily as easy to keep so stick with these two for a little while. if you want a little more challenge millipora sp? are pretty good too. its a type of acropora. HTH you should check out their cultured sps too

toonces · 04/23/2006, 06:54 AM

i am NOT an sps expert. i have a 110 gal. under 2x150 mh and 2x150? actinics.

i've managed to keep the following for about a year:
1 favia sp. coral (maybe not sps)
1 millepora fire coral
1 montipora capricornis

i haven't had a lot of growth, but i don't supplement calcium very often.
i'm a fairly sloppy aquarium keeper, but these guys have all lived, and grown over the last year, and they were my first corals.

Sk8r · 04/23/2006, 08:24 AM

Water tests: test often for alkalinity, magnesium, and calcium. Your alk reading should be 8-10, your mg around 1200 and your calcium around 400, not below. Corals absorb these things: think of it as coral food; it depletes more rapidly as you get more corals. Lighting: at least mh 250 or equivalent. Salinity around 1.025. Temperature 79-81. Start stony coral on the tank bottom and move them higher as they acclimate to your lights: they can sunburn if inappropriately lighted. If you can keep things steady around those points, you'll do great, and should be able to keep most things on that page. Start with montipora leafing coral---the encrusting is hard to 'aim' when you're starting. You don't say what you have in your tank: certain fish are not coral-friendly. Leathers and stony corals have issues. Xenia, no problem. Lps and sps get along fine, within limits: lps have sweeper tentacles. Common pests: red bug, flatworm: both spread fast. Do a little research on that topic to protect your investment. Hope that helps some.

04/22/2006, 11:23 PM	#1
John Hartford Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 256	What are some of the easier SPS corals for beginners? I want to try some SPS corals and do a lot of shopping with liveaquaria.com, I was wondering what are some of the better SPS corals that you recommend for beginners? Here is the link to the SPS website of corals that are offered through them: http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/s...cfm?pCatId=322

04/23/2006, 08:24 AM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Water tests: test often for alkalinity, magnesium, and calcium. Your alk reading should be 8-10, your mg around 1200 and your calcium around 400, not below. Corals absorb these things: think of it as coral food; it depletes more rapidly as you get more corals. Lighting: at least mh 250 or equivalent. Salinity around 1.025. Temperature 79-81. Start stony coral on the tank bottom and move them higher as they acclimate to your lights: they can sunburn if inappropriately lighted. If you can keep things steady around those points, you'll do great, and should be able to keep most things on that page. Start with montipora leafing coral---the encrusting is hard to 'aim' when you're starting. You don't say what you have in your tank: certain fish are not coral-friendly. Leathers and stony corals have issues. Xenia, no problem. Lps and sps get along fine, within limits: lps have sweeper tentacles. Common pests: red bug, flatworm: both spread fast. Do a little research on that topic to protect your investment. Hope that helps some. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

04/22/2006, 11:30 PM	#2
Fuegofish777 Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: S. California Posts: 1,191	if you can find montipora capricornis or montipora digita, those are good starters. other types of montiporas are not necesarily as easy to keep so stick with these two for a little while. if you want a little more challenge millipora sp? are pretty good too. its a type of acropora. HTH you should check out their cultured sps too

04/23/2006, 06:54 AM	#3
toonces Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Norfolk, Virginia, USA Posts: 1,131	i am NOT an sps expert. i have a 110 gal. under 2x150 mh and 2x150? actinics. i've managed to keep the following for about a year: 1 favia sp. coral (maybe not sps) 1 millepora fire coral 1 montipora capricornis i haven't had a lot of growth, but i don't supplement calcium very often. i'm a fairly sloppy aquarium keeper, but these guys have all lived, and grown over the last year, and they were my first corals.