SPS -- how much do you move them/mess with them

[Amstar]

As my tank continues to grow out (Mixed reef 150 gallon tank) -- and I am starting to get more SPS and I place them. So respond right away, some take some time to response (Color up, PE extension, etc). How long do you give an SPS before you move it and try another spot in your tank? Or do you give it months? not days/weeks?

 

[Amstar]

Some pics of the tank with the white lights turned on and not just the blues

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

If the coral is not degrading, I will leave it about 5-6 months to see if it acclimates to that spot.

 

[JonoH]

Agree with the above, unless its slowly going pale, I will leave them to acclimate to the spot.

There are certain types that I have found prefer the lower light (Rosaria for example) - so if you know the type and can place to suit its better.

They can take 6 months to settle, but you'll know when they are as they will encrust their spot.

 

[CHSUB]

99% of the time it is place with glue and live with the outcome.

 

[Matt L]

As my tank continues to grow out (Mixed reef 150 gallon tank) -- and I am starting to get more SPS and I place them. So respond right away, some take some time to response (Color up, PE extension, etc). How long do you give an SPS before you move it and try another spot in your tank? Or do you give it months? not days/weeks?

As mentioned above, I also leave them alone as long as they don’t show signs of degradation or stress. I have some acro frags that are stunted and over a year old with no growth, but healthy. I know as long as the polyps open and they look healthy, they will wake up when they want to. Then others grow like weeds and require lots of trimming. Eventually they will settle in if given a good environment, but are more sensitive to changing conditions than other coral.

 

[Amstar]

sounds good --- I just know that with SPS its hard to see "instant" growth as you see with some other corals (Softies, LPS etc )

Makes sense that if you are still seeing good color and PE extension let them be and just keep the tank stable

 

[Perry]

As my tank continues to grow out (Mixed reef 150 gallon tank) -- and I am starting to get more SPS and I place them. So respond right away, some take some time to response (Color up, PE extension, etc). How long do you give an SPS before you move it and try another spot in your tank? Or do you give it months? not days/weeks?

The cool thing is most are quite adaptable, they usually and eventually either die, or find a way to live, despite less than ideal scenarios. Saying that, I personally feel that they can express differently in growth pattern, color, and vigor based on placement. So, treat it like a garden, observe, and eventually, intuition will guide the process. Enjoy, these are not things to worry over, it is your garden after all.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

While I never had SPS in my tank, I would pick and spot for it and leave it there. Unless it got knocked off the aquascape or it wasn't doing good, I would not move it.

 

[Tonycass12]

Unless i have something thats stressed or needs to be trimmed i try to keep my hands out of the tank as much as possible. Finding the right spot for sps should only take a couple tries if you are putting an even blanket of light over the tank.

 

[Reeferbadness]

i am in the 99% glue and leave camp.... unless there is a clear issue with flow or overcrowding, i leave them to do their thing.

 

[Troylee]

A couple months.. every time you move one it resets the clock and you gotta start over.. most acclimate to their surroundings and take off.

 

[skey44]

Pick a spot and stay. I try to research the needs of each acro I buy and move accordingly, eg. I have bill murray and red planet really close to direct flow off my mp. Some corals can’t handle that and I looked for ones that could. I do move for encroachment, aquascape/overall flow/ system improvements. have a bleached acro in a hot spot I really need to move down, it’s encrusting so I might just clip the og frag off and place it lower and see what happens. Crust in too much light vs single stick a little lower.

 

[Amstar]

thanks everyone for the advice -- I need to do better remembering what SPS I buy (got a few recently at the same time and I get them mixed up with each other --so hard to remember what does better where - before I place in the tank)

I have not been buying corals for "specific" spots - more of buying to start my SPS collection

I do have constant flow (random based on wave makers) and my lighting is pretty much the same across the tank based on each 2 foot section having its own light and tank parameters are very steady

I will just give them time and only move if there are issues -- or when some of my bigger fish knock them off their glued spot

 

[skey44]

I started to use the method the late Miami Reef taught me. It’s really solid. Ball of kneaded 2 part Plummer type epoxy,I use instant ocean it mixes white and readily available at Petco, then super glue gel the epoxy ball to top of frag plug, squish a little then spray set with activator. Then super glue gel where the ball meets the reef and smush it firmly in place. Hold until glue sets to aquascape. Haven’t had a frag fall since then. Careful you’ll need to leave skimmer cup off for 24 hours and monitor closely for overflow on resumption of use. TY Miami

 

[Amstar]

is there any correlation to light/flow if the SPS is encrusting the rock vs growing branches? I have some that are encrusting (acros's and milles's ), then I have some that encrust the rock then start to grow branches --some that just branch --

or as with anything it just depends