Beginner friendly Sps?

[Heres_doe_]

I have all LPS in my tank and a few softies. Parameters not stable yet tank about 4 months old. Just wanted to know what would be a good beginner friendly Sps coral that branches. I'm not going to add anything till i can stabilize my tank first. I'm trying to do my homework before i add. Also when i feel like I'm ready I'll use a frag as a test. Not going to buy 10 pieces at once. Is having higher nutrients like 20-25 ppm bad for them.

 

[BroccoliFarmer]

Montipora digitata and pretty easy and look nice

 

[LegendaryCG]

Birdsnest, montipora don’t typically branch but there’s a few that do and are an easy and interesting SPS.

 

[Heres_doe_]

Montipora digitata and pretty easy and look nice

Are they hardier then most will having higher nutes be a problem as i see my lps don't mind higher nutes and look good at about 20 ppm Nitrates

 

[jskoms]

One of my first was a green slimer. It’s the slowest grower in my tank but does look great.

 

[BroccoliFarmer]

Are they hardier then most will having higher nutes be a problem as i see my lps don't mind higher nutes and look good at about 20 ppm Nitrates

I dose nitrates and I sometimes spoke to the 80s and my Montis are still happy

 

[BroccoliFarmer]

Birdsnest, montipora don’t typically branch but there’s a few that do and are an easy and interesting SPS.

I have not been successful with birds nest for some reason. I can keep acros but birds nests befuddle me

 

[eagerreefer]

I have a "rainbow" pocillopora that seems to be happy just about anywhere, grows fast and is spreading via budding too.

 

[James_O]

Birds nests are probably the easiest.

 

[CanuckReefer]

I have a "rainbow" pocillopora that seems to be happy just about anywhere, grows fast and is spreading via budding too.

Yep , looking for Pocil all the time here, hard to find local some reason.... birdsnest Monti would be my next recommendation ....slow grow, hard to kill, even in a softie dominant tank.

 

[terraincognita]

I couldn't kill my birdsnet or Digita Monti for the first 3 months.

I tried dropping them in the sand bed, not dosing or doing WC's. They kept growing somehow....

Those are definitely the go to Stick starters :)

 

[Heres_doe_]

I couldn't kill my birdsnet or Digita Monti for the first 3 months.

I tried dropping them in the sand bed, not dosing or doing WC's. They kept growing somehow....

Those are definitely the go to Stick starters :)

Good to know I'll be looking for some Digi if u couldn't kill it i don't think i can

 

[terraincognita]

Good to know I'll be looking for some Digi if u couldn't kill it i don't think i can

What's that supposed to mean ;-) just kidding yeah for real super hardy.

 

[LegendaryCG]

I have not been successful with birds nest for some reason. I can keep acros but birds nests befuddle me

Might need more nutrients/less light, they are typically considered easier because they lend themselves more to the lower end/beginner tank conditions. Acro dominate tanks tend to be the opposite. I know in my case my softie tank grew birdsnest really fast and while they are growing in my acro tank they are much slower.

 

[PatW]

Montipora are pretty robust as are pocillopora. Birds nests grow fast. But a change in chemistry can kill them when montipora and pocillopara survive. If you want acropora, add the first three corals. Once they are doing well, you can try easy acros.

 

[Hairyteeth]

Vote for pocillopora, I have a blue one that grows like no other, handles any tank, any perimeter swing like no other...I feel like my lps and zoas are more sensitive

 

[Heres_doe_]

Vote for pocillopora, I have a blue one that grows like no other, handles any tank, any perimeter swing like no other...I feel like my lps and zoas are more sensitive

So must be pretty easy then

 

[Heres_doe_]

Vote for pocillopora, I have a blue one that grows like no other, handles any tank, any perimeter swing like no other...I feel like my lps and zoas are more sensitive

What's the growth rate on them as long as they are happy

 

[boacvh]

+1 on pocci.

 

[Hairyteeth]

Super easy went from 2inch frag to 7inch 60 plus branches...now like 30 plus 4 inch frags, cant give them away fast enough