SPS Experts, I'd Appreciate your Feedback

[MoshJosh]

Again I'm no expert on hardiness, but per Tidal Gardens website (They are experts ahah) their strawberry shortcake acro is " A hardy Acropora with rapid growth "?

 

[Kasrift]

P

There are a ton of millis available in all colors! I thought the green one might be a slimer but regardless I thought it was a good sign that it has encrusted over the base so much. There are also speciosa for cheap and some beautiful other pieces but I was trying to go for species that would be easy to see polyp extension to Guage how happy and healthy they are.

Speciosa are super temperamental. I have two right now, failed on two others. I'd avoid them for a 5g since they will inevitably die and it'd just be a waste of money and time. Longest one I've had is since July and it's happy, other one since August I think.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Again I'm no expert on hardiness, but per Tidal Gardens website (They are experts ahah) their strawberry shortcake acro is " A hardy Acropora with rapid growth "?

Well, I might go ahead and get the corals but not have them delivered for a week or so until the tank is ammonia free and nitrates are where they should be. I'll be testing alk daily for any instability as well.

 

[Kasrift]

Again I'm no expert on hardiness, but per Tidal Gardens website (They are experts ahah) their strawberry shortcake acro is " A hardy Acropora with rapid growth "?

I have one, it grows fast. I just think they need a ton of par for that species.

If you can find an acropora Diswaldii, they seem rarer over here but require lower par and less flow. Mine seem super hardy.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I have one, it grows fast. I just think they need a ton of par for that species.

If you can find an acropora Diswaldii, they seem rarer over here but require lower par and less flow. Mine seem super hardy.

The light I have is far more than overkill! Light won't be an issue...here are some of the milli options that are inexpensive and a Bali shortcake that's really cheap as well...

 

[Kasrift]

The light I have is far more than overkill! Light won't be an issue...here are some of the milli options that are inexpensive and a Bali shortcake that's really cheap as well...

I'd go with a milli with red and yellow coloration. Greens are easier to find on other acro species.

If you want something different that is fun, grab a spath.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I'd go with a milli with red and yellow coloration. Greens are easier to find on other acro species.

If you want something different that is fun, grab a spath.

There are some for sale which have grown well over the plug but they're a little more expensive considering I have no idea if they'll do well. Not very expensive...like $22

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Ok, so a shop I've bought from in the past offered to sell me any 5 of these pieces for 2,000 baht (~$55). Or 500 baht (~$14) per piece. Here's the selection I have to choose from.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

There are bonsais, plenty of millis, maybe a Spath or two, tenuis, etc...

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

@Kasrift thoughts?

 

[Kasrift]

@Kasrift thoughts?

I'd do these. The tenuis look nice, but will be more difficult than a milli, bonsai, smooth skin. The first one is a tenuis just to try one out of the five.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I'd do these. The tenuis look nice, but will be more difficult than a milli, bonsai, smooth skin. The first one is a tenuis just to try one out of the five.

Those were going to be my choices! I would've probably picked a pink/red piece as well though for contrast.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Btw, the guy's house....I mean SHOP is nearby and he said I can come take a look at them in person

 

[Kasrift]

Those were going to be my choices! I would've probably picked a pink/red piece as well though for contrast.

The red bubble gum digitata is cheap and easy to grow too, but not an acro. I guess it is an SPS though.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

The red bubble gum digitata is cheap and easy to grow too, but not an acro. I guess it is an SPS though.

I've grown digis before easily and want to focus on Acros...what do you think of the red milli at the top of the middle picture or the Bali Shortcake at the top of the bottom picture?

 

[Kasrift]

I've grown digis before easily and want to focus on Acros...what do you think of the red milli at the top of the middle picture or the Bali Shortcake at the top of the bottom picture?

The red milli might be the same acro as the one I circled, just fragged from the same colony and on a different plug. It has it's polyps pulled in so it might have the same green polyps. This is a milli I have called a MattV Red Dana and it's hard to tell it is red:

When the polyps are fully out, you can only really see the green encrusting base.


You can also see in that shot my shortcake. They are beautiful corals, just need more flow and light. The flow would be the hardest to do in a 5g, you mentioned you have a good light. Blasting flow through a smaller tank is difficult to dial in and not overflow, blow sand everywhere or not suck up small fish friends.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

The red milli might be the same acro as the one I circled, just fragged from the same colony and on a different plug. It has it's polyps pulled in so it might have the same green polyps. This is a milli I have called a MattV Red Dana and it's hard to tell it is red:

When the polyps are fully out, you can only really see the green encrusting base.


You can also see in that shot my shortcake. They are beautiful corals, just need more flow and light. The flow would be the hardest to do in a 5g, you mentioned you have a good light. Blasting flow through a smaller tank is difficult to dial in and not overflow, blow sand everywhere or not suck up small fish friends.

I mean the Bali shortcake and Strawberry Shortcake are different. He's not offering a Strawberry Shortcake in the deal he offered. Only a Bali Shortcake which are also beautiful. The deal he's offering is any 5 pieces of those for 2,000 baht which is about $55 or $14/piece so if you divide if I get all 5 it would equal out to be about $11 for each of those frags. Good Deal?

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

@Kasrift This is the piece I was referring to...

 

[Kasrift]

I mean the Bali shortcake and Strawberry Shortcake are different. He's not offering a Strawberry Shortcake in the deal he offered. Only a Bali Shortcake which are also beautiful. The deal he's offering is any 5 pieces of those for 2,000 baht which is about $55 or $14/piece so if you divide if I get all 5 it would equal out to be about $11 for each of those frags. Good Deal?

Great deal. You always have access to crazy coral. I was jealous of your thread on button scolies awhile ago. Bali shortcake looks nice too.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Great deal. You always have access to crazy coral. I was jealous of your thread on button scolies awhile ago. Bali shortcake looks nice too.

Which piece would you pick it instead of?