How do you troubleshoot SPS Placement?

[WetWhistle]

One of the best ways that is often overlooked to get a base line for coral placement is to learn the different growth forms. Each growth form has adapted to specific environments and will give you a good start as to placement. For instance take branching form for SPS. They are typically in high abundance in shallow, flat reef zones. So you know lots of light and good flow but not to heavy. Versus something like Laminar that grow in areas with low wave action and clean water. Between growth forms and reef zonation you have all the information you need for coral placement and husbandry needs. Once you have a placement you can fine tune for each corals needs. I have been basing my placement for my corals like this since I got into this hobby. The faster you can get the coral into its final position the better the coral will do.

http://www.newheavendiveschool.com/...ailand/learning-resources/coral-growth-forms/

Another important thing to learn is reef zonation and the different types of reefs. Below is a good basic example I googled to give you a good break down of reef zones.

Reef zonation

Reefs affect their surrounding habitat. As a consequence, they cause an environmental zonation in their vicinity controlled by wave energy and light availability.


A simplified zonation scheme

-fore-reef - from about 70 m depth on; little live coral, but lots of debris from higher in the reef. Often lots of sand.

-reef front - zone of most vigorous growth and highest diversity of coral. Colony shape shifts from encrusting to massive/domal, to branching and platy as wave energy and light decrease

-reef flats - high energy , rubble zone (storm debris, encrusting organisms)

- back reef/lagoon - quiet, sheltered water, sparse corals