Easy(er) SPS

theguy67 · Jun 20, 2013

I have a 55 gallon tank with 4xT5 lamp, and (about) 10 gallon sump with protein skimmer and occasionally filter socks. I have tried Acros a few times including Green Slimer, as well as a few birdsnests. ALL but the first one( a small birdsnest) suffered from R/STN, and all died, so I have officially given up on Acros (for now). I ordered a new Alkalinity and Magnesium test kit as it seems this is a common issue and I was doubtful of my chart.

On the other hand, I have some soft coral, LPS, and Monti caps that are doing well. I started with a Green cap in my 20 gallon, and I have abused that coral resulting in bleaching on several occasions. It is doing great now that I am more experienced as well as 2 others I have acquired ( purple and orange).

Seeing how hardy these are first hand, I assume there are other hardy SPS corals. Would it be safe to assume other Montiporas would survive in my tank? such as Digitata. Any other hardy sps such as the monti cap out there that I am unaware of? I'm currently leaning towards a softy tank with montiporas mixed in.

mainereefer · Jun 20, 2013

the problem you are going to have is softies and sps dont do well together! sps like cleaner water softies like dirtier water not to mention if one of the softies gets mad it will nuke most of the sps

montipora comes in every shape size and color another is pavona cactus it will grow in a puddle

Mrfresh · Jun 20, 2013

Try looking at
Meteor shower
Jedi mind trick
Green plating montis
Superman montis
Reverse superman.
These are all monti's and they will give u an idea if u can keep sps in ur system.Encrusting montis are pretty hardie.

Mainereefer is right tho. U have to decide what u like more.
A fellow reefer in sd has an all softie tank and does 20% water changes every six monthsI have an all sps system and do 20% water changes weekly along with a ton more equipment then him....

Ian · Jun 20, 2013

mainereefer said:
the problem you are going to have is softies and sps dont do well together! sps like cleaner water softies like dirtier water not to mention if one of the softies gets mad it will nuke most of the sps

are you sure about this? Is this your experience or something you read?

Mr. D · Jun 20, 2013

Ian said:
are you sure about this? Is this your experience or something you read?

I can attest to this being a case by case issue. I have and know people who run mixed reef set ups. The only softy that causes noticeable problems with sps in xenia, which can release a chemical into the water that annoys sps. The important thing in mixed reefs is the use of carbon for absorbing anything "softies" may release into the water column.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

Badfish83 · Jun 20, 2013

Who wants Xenia anyways : )

Zack · Jun 20, 2013

badfish83 said:
who wants xenia anyways : )

lol!

bct15 · Jun 20, 2013

I always thought (think I read this somewhere) that when leather corals shed they release some toxin that inhibits the growth of stony corals.

Sent Via the R2R Forum APP

nova65ss · Jun 20, 2013

bct15 said:
I always thought (think I read this somewhere) that when leather corals shed they release some toxin that inhibits the growth of stony corals.

Sent Via the R2R Forum APP

I have a 12 inch or so leather in my 34g that rubs my acros it also shed for about a month recently and never bothered anything.

theguy67 · Jun 20, 2013

thanks for the replies!!

I'd prefer softies as they are easier to care for and I am still a beginner. I'm also sick of losing SPS (specifically acros) to RTN. Now, the reason I ask about Montiporas (other species) is because my Caps have been doing so well despite the less than promising conditions.

I also only 4 fish. 2 ocellaris clowns, 1 goby, and mandarin ( I supplement the tank with pods), so the water isn't extremely dirty. I do 25% monthly changes. I'm primarily looking at the Digitata as I like the branching.

theguy67 · Jun 20, 2013

Mrfresh said:
Try looking at
Meteor shower
Jedi mind trick
Green plating montis
Superman montis
Reverse superman.
These are all monti's and they will give u an idea if u can keep sps in ur system.Encrusting montis are pretty hardie.

Mainereefer is right tho. U have to decide what u like more.
A fellow reefer in sd has an all softie tank and does 20% water changes every six monthsI have an all sps system and do 20% water changes weekly along with a ton more equipment then him....

What exactly is "encrusting"? I've heard so many uses, and definitions of this term. I notice the ones you have listed are NOT capricornus. I thought the "Green plating montis" was of the capricornus species ( as in the one I own). If so, that is the one that is doing well as well as a purple frag and orange. I can nearly watch them grow.

bjledbetter · Jun 20, 2013

From my experience when a cap gets accilmated to a tank its hard to kill and mine grows almost as fast as xenia

Badfish83 · Jun 20, 2013

Starburst monti cap!

theguy67 · Jun 20, 2013

Believe me, now that I have discovered the many types of caps I will be collecting more, but I am also interested in their cousins, such as the branching species. I have found these guys for a very reasonable price (compared to most online coral) so I might as well try a few different montiporas and see how they do compared to the caps.