Classic SPS and Colonies show off thread and stocking advice

[Softhammer]

It’s been great, relatively speaking. It gets and gives swipes from the others but otherwise eats pellets and is fat. Its gang includes a purple tang, hippo tang and a black fox face, they beat on each other but not enough to worry about and only when feeding. This is my third one and my only caution would be, if it looks even a little bit thin at the shop walk away. Fortunately my LFS routinely has amazingly healthy fish, they directly trans ship so they are healthier than anywhere I have ever seen. If they don’t immediately eat, they waste away. They need energy reserves to handle the initial aggression. Having said that, I don’t quarantine so if you can fatten it up that way you’re probably better off.

 

[Michael White]

It’s been great, relatively speaking. It gets and gives swipes from the others but otherwise eats pellets and is fat. Its gang includes a purple tang, hippo tang and a black fox face, they beat on each other but not enough to worry about and only when feeding. This is my third one and my only caution would be, if it looks even a little bit thin at the shop walk away. Fortunately my LFS routinely has amazingly healthy fish, they directly trans ship so they are healthier than anywhere I have ever seen. If they don’t immediately eat, they waste away. They need energy reserves to handle the initial aggression. Having said that, I don’t quarantine so if you can fatten it up that way you’re probably better off.

Thanks for the advice, you’re keeping one of my dreamfish on my list!

 

[Dal-Reef]

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.

Well done Sir.. I am like you to let them grow

 

[Michael White]

So.. must have colonies? If you could only choose 5 acro/montipora for growing into large colonies, which would you choose? So many it’s hard to choose!

 

[driftin]

If for definition of "classic" I think back to what was big 10-15 years ago, I would say Oregon Tort, Tyree Pink Lemonade, Garf Bonsai, ORA Hawkins, and... I don't know, I'll throw in ATL Strawberry Fields. Good mix of colors and growth patterns, and each is pretty stunning in its own right. I remember ATL had a lot of beautiful and popular pieces that I could never afford, that's the first one that jumped into my head.

 

[Dal-Reef]

I’m a fan of the classics also
Bonsai

red planet

strawberry shortcake

pink lemonade

Amazing collection brother..

 

[TexasTodd]

I need to learn how to post pics. I have a PPT that is about 14" across and would be bigger if not running into others. If I had to pick just five? OBT, RMF Diablo, JF Solar Flare, JF Fox Flame, Pink Panther. But who can do that?!
Tyree True Undata is a really pretty piece too.

 

[DivingTheWorld]

For 5 favorite grown out classics in my tank, I'd go with:

PC Superman

Palmer's Blue Milli

ASD Rainbow Milli

Walt Disney

ATL Raspberry Limeade

 

[rusgum]

Classic coral and looks on any spectrum, this is Pearlberry. Nice to be Pink Floyd, Millepora Sunset

 

[rusgum]

Fox Flame looks good in the big picture.

 

[jda]

You are going to have to research this yourself is you want see a lot of colonies. They exist and in some large numbers, but their owners don't usually have time to argue with the noobies and frontrunners and don't post much. Scan through the tank threads and even the for-sale forum. When you are done with this, head to ReefCentral and look for Copps threads.

There are more people with mature tanks than it seems when you just browse the forums.

 

[Bizzie]

And now in blue

Stunning

 

[craigbuss]

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

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.

How are you trying to kill back the rainbow monti? I have a massive Superman monti colony that I need to have stop growing. Is there a way to frag encrusting corals without cutting the live rock up it’s growing on?

 

[thermoJoe]

Hawkins

 

[fishlover1478]

And now in blue

what is this?

 

[jdiefenbaugh]

When someone says old school, but it still has a "name," it makes me laugh a bit. But when you say old school colonies, these are old school colonies. Under MH + VHO, for the full effect.

 

[Smarkow]

When someone says old school, but it still has a "name," it makes me laugh a bit. But when you say old school colonies, these are old school colonies. Under MH + VHO, for the full effect.

This makes me want to put halides over my next tank. Are these 14k? Any FTS?? That third photo looks like wildflowers at the foothill of the rocky mountains. How deep is your tank and what kind of wattage/reflectors do you use?

It does seem like the “old school” SPS are tough to talk about without also mentioning metal halides, but for somebody like me who’s only been in this hobby for 5-6 years, I lack the historical reference

Sometimes it can make me feel nostalgic for a thing that I have no right to feel nostalgic about hahahah!!

 

[Reefahholic]

When someone says old school, but it still has a "name," it makes me laugh a bit. But when you say old school colonies, these are old school colonies. Under MH + VHO, for the full effect.

Is that a Red Planet? That thing is massive!!!

Any FTS?

 

[Reefahholic]

Hawkins

That is one beautiful Hawkins! Thanks for sharing!

 

[jdiefenbaugh]

This makes me want to put halides over my next tank. Are these 14k? Any FTS?? That third photo looks like wildflowers at the foothill of the rocky mountains. How deep is your tank and what kind of wattage/reflectors do you use?

These are actually old 6500K sun master bulbs , with stadium reflectors (Hubbell?), mix of 1000W and 400W, 6' deep tank.