Best SPS for beginners

[kiwis]

Hey - so I new to marine and have so many questions...

I've read a bit on the different coral types however from a another reefer what's the 'best' SPS coral to start with? when I say best I mean easiest to keep, best effect in an aquarium etc

Any particular types to look out for or avoid?

Any comments are welcome?

I've posted something similar in the soft coral thread also

 

[Zeal]

birdsnest!

 

[Ranjib]

My recommended order will be (starting with the easiest one): montipora capricornis, montipora digitata, birdnest, green slimer

 

[Triggreef]

Birdsnest many will say and it is generally easy but not for everyone and each type can be touchy in its own way. For example I have ponape and bird of paradise many colonies of each grown from a single branch. But I cannot keep green birdsnest (either type of green) happy very long and Hyacinth used to do great for me but all my hyacinth went away.

Poccilopora I would say is the easiest sps by far. And it will readily reproduce in a close system by polyp bail out, yet easily removable.

Most monti are pretty forgiving as well. Acro are not hard to keep but wait until you figure out how to keep your alk and ca steady. Which will be the demise of everything coral anyway.

 

[OriginalUserName]

As a newer sps guy I seem to have the easiest time with stylophora.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Monticaps or stylophora, birdsnests can be very reactive towards parameter variation and are more susceptible to rapid tissue necrosis than other "beginner" SPS in my experience.

 

[jason aung]

Try green cap montipora and birdnest

 

[jda]

MBP&S - montipora (plating and branching), birdsnest, pocilipora and stylophora.

There are some easy acropora, but they are still harder than these. A. Yongei (slimer) is one of them. Most stags are pretty easy (for acropora).