Classic SPS and Colonies show off thread and stocking advice

[Michael White]

Alright! Who here loves frags but misses those great colony shots of old school SPS corals? I’m talking Paletta Pink tip colonies, pink lemonade colonies, big red scrolling montis, etc. I like how the frag culture has made so many corals more available, but I think we miss out on the shapes of mature or semi-mature colonies and are focusinf too much on the macro shots of exotic colored acro tenuis and others which just look washed out, and some even brown when more than a few feet from the tank. So what are your favorites? Planning the stocking list for my 210 reef and would love to see people’s colony photos. Looking for sps which look nice from a distance, but have some nice details that pop when viewed up close. Basically going to let the community pick my stock list, since I like almost all coral and just want a variety if colors, textures, and growth forms.

 

[stephj03]

This is kind of a weird question to me. There's nothing stopping you from growing out colonies from frags of the newer/hotter pieces. I actually think some of the tenuis like HW and SCOP look great in colony form even under MH/T5 dominant lighting. I do agree that there are a lot of non-tenuis that should be strongly considered for any tank.


Potential list:
Oregon Tort
OG Purple Monster
OG Pink Panther
Tyree pink polyp cap
Tyree Flower petal cap
RR Firecracker
RR pink cadillac
$500/GC ultimate Efflo
Beach bum monti
Rainbow monti
UC Strawberry shortcake
Tanzanite Terror
Fox Flame
Hawkins Echinata
PC Rainbow
PC Superman

 

[Michael White]

This is kind of a weird question to me. There's nothing stopping you from growing out colonies from frags of the newer/hotter pieces. I actually think some of the tenuis like HW and SCOP look great in colony form even under MH/T5 dominant lighting. I do agree that there are a lot of non-tenuis that should be strongly considered for any tank.


Potential list:
Oregon Tort
OG Purple Monster
OG Pink Panther
Tyree pink polyp cap
Tyree Flower petal cap
RR Firecracker
RR pink cadillac
$500/GC ultimate Efflo
Beach bum monti
Rainbow monti
UC Strawberry shortcake
Tanzanite Terror
Fox Flame
Hawkins Echinata
PC Rainbow
PC Superman

Thanks for getting this started! I totally agree, no reason you can’t grow out the current tenuis types currently popular. I should clarify, that I meant some colonies as a frag may not be the most show stopping, but as a colony are jaw droppers. I feel that way about the Paletta pink tip acro. As a frag, kind of so-so, but stunning as a colony from what I have seen.

 

[Ike]

 

[Dal-Reef]

This is what I think a tank should look like full grown out colonies. How old are some these?

Thanks for posting.

 

[Michael White]

This is what I’m talking about!, you just don’t get this kind of shape and color from a frag collection tank or tank full of mini-colonies

 

[X-37B]

Here is a 1 year grow out purple digi.
I just took the second pic.

 

[scchase]

 

[scchase]

And now in blue

 

[Ike]

This is what I think a tank should look like full grown out colonies. How old are some these?

Thanks for posting.

4-5 years at that stage. I'll post some better pics that are edited... These were just on a memory card I came across.

 

[Michael White]

4-5 years at that stage. I'll post some better pics that are edited... These were just on a memory card I came across.

Wow, those are incredible!

 

[boxed_reef]

I’m a fan of the classics also
Bonsai

red planet

strawberry shortcake

pink lemonade

 

[Softhammer]

Rainbow Monti. Been trying to kill it back. This thing seriously spreads like lava. Pink caddy is about 6-7” and plating. Plus various stags All are over a foot tall with the addition of a 10” red dragon colony. Also have a PC rainbow that was fragged down by about 75% backdropped by a tricolor stag and 14” Spongodes.

 

[Pkunk35]

Wow these colonies are so SICK

 

[Michael White]

Rainbow Monti. Been trying to kill it back. This thing seriously spreads like lava. Pink caddy is about 6-7” and plating. Plus various stags All are over a foot tall with the addition of a 10” red dragon colony. Also have a PC rainbow that was fragged down by about 75% backdropped by a tricolor stag and 14” Spongodes.

Not to get off topic, but is that a clown tang in your second photo?

 

[Softhammer]

Yes it is. The fish kept photo bombing thinking I was feeding.

 

[ScottB]

Another classic: Tricolor Valida

 

[shred5]

Alright! Who here loves frags but misses those great colony shots of old school SPS corals? I’m talking Paletta Pink tip colonies, pink lemonade colonies, big red scrolling montis, etc. I like how the frag culture has made so many corals more available, but I think we miss out on the shapes of mature or semi-mature colonies and are focusinf too much on the macro shots of exotic colored acro tenuis and others which just look washed out, and some even brown when more than a few feet from the tank. So what are your favorites? Planning the stocking list for my 210 reef and would love to see people’s colony photos. Looking for sps which look nice from a distance, but have some nice details that pop when viewed up close. Basically going to let the community pick my stock list, since I like almost all coral and just want a variety if colors, textures, and growth forms.

Same here. I am looking at doing my 120 with mostly classic corals. I want corals that actually have color under whiter light and I can actually see my tank without orange glasses and see the real colors of my fish.

Some them I want probably are not around anymore like the Larry Jackson purple monster. This is one of the first classics if not the first.

 

[Michael White]

Same here. I am looking at doing my 120 with mostly classic corals. I want corals that actually have color under whiter light and I can actually see my tank without orange glasses and see the real colors of my fish.

Some them I want probably are not around anymore like the Larry Jackson purple monster. This is one of the first classics if not the first.

I agree that too much blue can be overwhelming for extended viewing. I prefer my lighting a little whiter than the standard sps ab+ that is popular now, but still a little blue-ish with a short blue cycle “sunrise” and “sunset”. Just more appealing to my eyes.

 

[Michael White]

Yes it is. The fish kept photo bombing thinking I was feeding.

How is the clown tang aggression wise? I’ve heard they can be a terror. I want to keep 3 or 4 tangs in my 210 so the most aggressive ones probably aren’t a great idea.