Nano sps?

[Diamond1]

I'm going to a frag swap this weekend and was wondering what would be a good sps coral for a 10 gallon nano that doesn't mind being in a tank without a skimmer (for now) and wont grow out of the tank in 6 months. I was thinking a monti digi or a cap but not sure if I should even have a go at it in this small of a tank. All my parameters are pretty stable except my ph swings a 7.8 to 8.2 from lights off to lights on. I have a 4 bulb t5ho for light so i'm not to worried about not enough light.
SG 1.026
Temp 78-80
Calcium - 420
Mag-1300
Phos-0
Nitrates-0

 

[Pete polyp]

Cap is going to grow really fast and could possibly take over the majority of your tank in six months. A digi will grow fast, but not take up as big of a footprint as the cap. Ime birdnest will also grow to a large size quickly. You could always try an acro. A purple bonsai would be a pretty good starter acro.

 

[DSP]

Cap is going to grow really fast and could possibly take over the majority of your tank in six months. A digi will grow fast, but not take up as big of a footprint as the cap. Ime birdnest will also grow to a large size quickly. You could always try an acro. A purple bonsai would be a pretty good starter acro.

Completely agree with Pete here, I would try and digi and bonsei/tricolor acro seems to be pretty hardy, Really if your parameters are pretty stable you can keep whatever sps you want, It is harder to do it in a 10 gal but it def can be done, But I'd try out a digi, birdnest or bonsai first.

 

[Diamond1]

Thanks for the reply Pete. I was thinking that either of the monties would be a bit much. I like the idea for the purple bonsai. The only thing I'm worried about with acros is that the tank wont stay clean enough for them.

 

[Pete polyp]

Why wouldn't it? Your nutrient levels are low, so it should be plenty clean. You don't have to have a skimmer to keep acro. I have never had a skimmer and I have several acro that are thriving. Here is a picture of my bonsai. One picture is 0 nitrate, the other is 0.5 nitrate. Can you tell me which is which?

 

[Diamond1]

Very nice, I'm guessing the second pic is at .5
I will be looking for one at the swap this weekend.

 

[Pete polyp]

I'm no suggesting you chase numbers and try to get .5 nitrate. Ime acro do much better with a little bit of nutrient in the water. I watched acro that I have had for 8 months turn from pale or brown and no growth to colorful growing acro within weeks of having a little nutrients. Having a low nutrient system was never a goal of mine, it just worked out that way for the first year. I moved the tank at that point and the nutrients showed up. I have found keeping alkalinity within a good range much more important than worrying about nitrate (unless its getting 5+).

 

[Diamond1]

Thanks for all the info. I've had good luck with softies and LPS in the past but never really took the plunge into sps so I'm just a little nervous about it.
So far my alk has been rock solid at 9 so I don't think thats gonna be a problem. I do weekly 25% water changes and don't go crazy with feeding. As of right now the tank has very little bioload. 2 fish, a small cuc and 4 corals-all softies.

 

[Pete polyp]

If you have leathers it could be a problem. They have been considered by some to have chemical warfare with sps.

 

[Diamond1]

No leathers just zoas, mushrooms and some green star polys. Any new softies will be ricordias and zoas with maybe a chalice or plate.

 

[Pete polyp]

Sounds like you will be alright. Make sure to place it in am area if high flow.

 

[Diamond1]

Thanks again Pete I'll update with a picture or two after I get the new stuff in the tank.

 

[jservedio]

I have been keeping Montipora Digitata in my 2g pico at work successfully going on 4 or 5 months now. A piece broke off from my home tank and I figured I would give it a shot. Months later, it is fully encrusted and growing some new branches. I couldn't tell you how stable the parameters are or how high the nutrient levels are because on this tiny tank, I simply don't measure them (except Salinity and Temperature). Montis are incredibly hardy and are basically an order of magnitude easier to keep and keep colored up in small confines than acros.

My 20g nano at home is acro dominated and I spent a good year getting my acros to color up - however, from nearly day one even with all kinds of problems my monti cap has been growing like a weed and has always been super colorful.

 

[jackson6745]

Stylophora are hardy, colorful, and grow bushy rather than toward the water surface. Birdsnest would be a good choice also.

 

[Pete polyp]

Stylophora are hardy, colorful, and grow bushy rather than toward the water surface. Birdsnest would be a good choice also.

I always forget about stylo, and it would be another excellent choice. Pocillipora would also be another good one.

 

[jservedio]

I always forget about stylo, and it would be another excellent choice. Pocillipora would also be another good one.

Stylo and pocci are basically the red-headed stepchildren of the SPS family. Of course Acro is the princess daughter and montipora is her tough brother :)
Oh, and hynophora is basically the drunk uncle that starts fights with everyone...

 

[DSP]

Stylo and pocci are basically the red-headed stepchildren of the SPS family. Of course Acro is the princess daughter and montipora is her tough brother :)
Oh, and hynophora is basically the drunk uncle that starts fights with everyone...

Haha!

 

[Dendro Dude]

+ 1 caps grow fast & up calcium like wildlife :-)

 

[Pete polyp]

Stylo and pocci are basically the red-headed stepchildren of the SPS family. Of course Acro is the princess daughter and montipora is her tough brother :)
Oh, and hynophora is basically the drunk uncle that starts fights with everyone...

That's pretty good stuff... What does this make seriatopora?

 

[Diamond1]

What a great analogy!!! I think I'll pass on the drunk uncle.