Good beginner SPS?

[Reefbuds]

I'm looking to add my first SPS pretty soon and am looking for some of the easier beginner ones. I've never kept an SPS before. What are some beginner SPS you would recommend?

 

[webbl19]

I dunno what the best is. I watched a video on youtube though. Good top 5 beginner sps coral.

Anyway, for me, everyone always says birdsnest is a good one. Birdsnest dies in my tank within a week. Not really sure why. Ive had some bonsai acro in my tank for a long time though. So to me, IME i would say some bonsai acro.

 

[Denisk]

Go with a ora or WWC neon birdsnest. Mine can live through anything haha. That or a monti cap

 

[BoomCorals]

ORA green birdsnest. Or cliffs acropora.

 

[scchase]

Pavona or Psammacora, I have had both survive cycles and tank wipeouts

 

[jda]

Anything ORA is going to be decently easy.

Most people start with Monti, Birdsnest and Poci, but those end up being pests to some. To me:
Poci = Clove Polyps of SPS... when going well, will spawn and take over your tank
Birdsnest = Green Button Polyps... cool when they are not encroaching on other stuff that you like better
Monits = Mushrooms... most of them get old after a while, but there are some REALLY cool ones that you might want to keep around as long as you keep them separated from everything else.

For acros that you might want to keep long-term, ORA Ant Insigns is great, Tyree Ultimate Stag (any stag really) and TriColor Valida are great places to start. ...maybe a Red Dragon if your parameters are solid.

I would avoid any Millepora, Tables, Lokani, Loripes, Granulosa and other deepwaters until your tank is really stable.

 

[BoomCorals]

Red dragon is definitely not a beginner sps. :/

 

[TMB]

I would say to stick to something cheap. There are several reasons for this thinking:
1. If it's cheap it's probably hardy and grows fast.
2. If it dies you can try again sooner without crying;).
3. Most of the time cheap coral frags are being traded in by someone that grew it in their tank. This = hardy (most of the time).
There are a couple other things to look for and some to avoid.
look for frags that are fully encrusted onto the plug. All the way down the sides is better!
Avoid colonies, anything maricultured, or wild colonies are going to be finicky (for the most part - yes there are exceptions, but you'll learn them later).
Avoid anything recently fragged, meaning there is no growth on the frag plug.
Avoid anything named, or expensive, at all costs. No matter how bad you want it, because it will most likely die!

Go slow, and have fun!! SPS are great! (and addicting!). Good Luck:)

One more thing, post pics of your first SPS and tell us so. We love seeing other people's new SPS frags!

 

[TMB]

Poci = Clove Polyps of SPS... when going well, will spawn and take over your tank
Birdsnest = Green Button Polyps... cool when they are not encroaching on other stuff that you like better
Monits = Mushrooms... most of them get old after a while, but there are some REALLY cool ones that you might want to keep around as long as you keep them separated from everything else.

@jda. Dude seriously man, I think you may have forgotten more than most of us know about SPS.:D Your thoughts on pests are priceless, and WAYYYY down the road for most! Funny though!

Especially the Red Dragon. LOL

 

[Donavon]

If you can find ora scripps green tip stag, it is bullet proof and grows fast, you can probably find someone willing to give you some cheap

 

[OREGONIC]

I have not been successful with the 2 arcos i have tried but my monti cap, stylo, and hollywood stunner have all done great. Going to give acro another chance i have heard green slimer acro is pretty easy.

 

[BoomCorals]

If you can find ora scripps green tip stag, it is bullet proof and grows fast, you can probably find someone willing to give you some cheap

I actually have frags of this exact coral healing in my frag tank right now. :)

 

[Reefbuds]

I actually have frags of this exact coral healing in my frag tank right now. :)

O.o

 

[Donovan Joannes]

POCILLOPORA... if you really want to try out SPS. This stony never failed on me, it even survived fresh water dip for 5 minutes. I returned mine to the sea when they start popping up everywhere.

 

[Reefbuds]

All sound great, what else?

 

[RussiReef]

I would say Green Slimer

 

[teller]

Start with montipora types like digitatas and others with different colors so you can watch for growth and color.
Once you succeed (after lighting, flow, nutrients adjustments) than add first acros.

 

[Big E]

Like jda mentioned, I'd steer clear of digitatas, birdnest, poccilliporas, stylos.......they aren't really a test and will grow in any system and become weeds due to fast growth. People seldom listen to me on this and within a year or less when they need room for nicer acros they have to give or throw away these corals.

Focus on easy acroporas as they will give you a better idea of your system's capabilities.

Green slimer, Tri colors( valida, secale, garf bonsai types) Red Planet, Pink lemonade. These can grow fast but are worth keeping due to the intense/unique colors and can be had locally at modest prices.

 

[Dom]

I'm looking to add my first SPS pretty soon and am looking for some of the easier beginner ones. I've never kept an SPS before. What are some beginner SPS you would recommend?

I find Zoas and Hammers to be forgiving to downturns in water quality. And as a beginner, you might find yourself in such a position from time to time.

 

[Wazzel]

I'm looking to add my first SPS pretty soon and am looking for some of the easier beginner ones. I've never kept an SPS before. What are some beginner SPS you would recommend?

Any of the monti. Both the M Cap (plating) and the M. Digi (branching) are hardy, fast growing and colorful.
Any of the birds nest variants. Again hardy, fast growing and colorful
Stylos are hardy and have a neat growth pattern.
Green slimmer. It is a staghorn coral and quite hardy. It will make big thick branches with lots of flow.