Sps ?? Too soon ?

[Hilltopreef90]

Are these hard to keep and what should I be aware of as far as placement and growth
I’m considering getting a bubblegum Digi and a pocillapora coral
My tank is only 4 months old, is it too young to add either coral

 

[RGoltz]

Yes, they are more difficult than soft corals and LPS. Have you kept coral successfully in this tank - although 4 months is not really success, IMO - or in a previous tank?

What is your setup and what are your parameters? Then we can provide some advise.

As far as “easy” SPS I would say: Pavona, Birdsnest, Poccillapora.

 

[Hilltopreef90]

Nitrates been high 36.7 last check, phosphates 0.15, alkalinity 7.8, calcium 447
Other corals soft and lps are all doing well.
I measured par as well and can provide enough light

 

[Lineatus]

There isnt really such a thing as too early when it comes to adding coral. If your having nothing but success with other corals and are keeping the parameters very stable you could potentially add sps, id say it’s your call. The sps you listed aren’t more difficult to keep than most lps.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I say why not? They are relatively inexpensive corals, you can get some small frags for cheap just to try. After all, you can't know if you don't try. They are also relatively hardy corals, if you do regular water changes and take proper care of your tank, it should be fine. Acros are the ones to stay away from.

 

[i_am_mclovin]

Nitrate at 36ppm is too high for most sps in my experience. People tend to buy sps far too early in their tank life, particularly those that started with dry rock. Did you start your tank with live rock or dry? That’s not to say it will never work, but it’s an uphill battle especially if you haven’t kept sps successfully in the past.

 

[ScottB]

Are these hard to keep and what should I be aware of as far as placement and growth
I’m considering getting a bubblegum Digi and a pocillapora coral
My tank is only 4 months old, is it too young to add either coral

I am not a fan of Pocillapora personally. It has the potential to spread around the tank. I'd lean more toward stylopora. Neither will break the bank if it doesn't take in your system.

I would work the nitrates down a little bit with some water changes. Your odds of early success are greatly improved if you started with live rock.

 

[jda]

Wait until your anoxic bacteria starts to develop and the tank starts to lower no3 on it's own. It will turn no3 into N gas thus completing the full nitrogen cycle instead of just some of it. This could take a while for a tank started with dead/dry rock. I hate to be that guy, but in a 4 months old tank, you really have not had it set up long enough to know if stuff is doing well, or not.

Have you had your ugly dino and algae phase? If so, have you come out of it without chemicals and stuff? Once you are past these and have some coralline going, then your chances of success are very good.

Poci is easy. Bubblegum is a harder digi, but not the worst.

 

[RGoltz]

Nitrates been high 36.7 last check, phosphates 0.15, alkalinity 7.8, calcium 447
Other corals soft and lps are all doing well.
I measured par as well and can provide enough light

If the system is stable - and assuming that the lighting is lower to pair with the high nutrients - I would not worry about the NO3 with any of [Pavona, Seriatopora, Stylophora]. My main advice would be stability. The PO4 is a little high but that is another conversation.

I would recommend starting with the three corals above. If the system is stable then the odds are good that you will have some degree of success. This is the only way that you will know for certain whether the system is “ready”. Plus you will learn a lot of things about your system this way.

 

[Hilltopreef90]

Nitrate at 36ppm is too high for most sps in my experience. People tend to buy sps far too early in their tank life, particularly those that started with dry rock. Did you start your tank with live rock or dry? That’s not to say it will never work, but it’s an uphill battle especially if you haven’t kept sps successfully in the past.

It was once live rock but I had bleached it then soaked with prime and rinsed several times before drying them finally adding to my tank several months after cleaning. I’m assuming they’d be more along dry rock since I bleached all the life off them

 

[chipchipbro]

Well, I personally added SPS like after 1 month... I have to say I did not buy them, a reefer in my area did just quit the hobby and had nobody buying the little frags.
I have to say my parameters were pretty good and I also started with dry rock.

Its only a 20g tank and I do ike 20% WC every week.
But I wouldnt add any SPS with NO3 34 - do some water changes and try to lower NO3 to 10-15 and check PO4

You can check my build thread if you wanna see how the corals develop.

Maybe I was just lucky and my SPS are doing good in such a new tank. But if you are battling an ugly phase it is just much much much more easy without glued SPS in it... So if you have the time and patience, just wait a bit and give the tank some time. BUT it can work out fine if you add SPS now.

Pocillos are kinda easy for me tbh.

PS: My SPS are looking great so far, BUT this is not success for me that early.

 

[Hilltopreef90]

Well, I personally added SPS like after 1 month... I have to say I did not buy them, a reefer in my area did just quit the hobby and had nobody buying the little frags.
I have to say my parameters were pretty good and I also started with dry rock.

Its only a 20g tank and I do ike 20% WC every week.
But I wouldnt add any SPS with NO3 34 - do some water changes and try to lower NO3 to 10-15 and check PO4

You can check my build thread if you wanna see how the corals develop.

Maybe I was just lucky and my SPS are doing good in such a new tank. But if you are battling an ugly phase it is just much much much more easy without glued SPS in it... So if you have the time and patience, just wait a bit and give the tank some time. BUT it can work out fine if you add SPS now.

Pocillos are kinda easy for me tbh.

PS: My SPS are looking great so far, BUT this is not success for me that early.

Thanks
The coral was sold out by the time I decided to buy it, so it’s probably for the best. I’ll wait until my tank is more established and the parameters stable

 

[chipchipbro]

Thanks
The coral was sold out by the time I decided to buy it, so it’s probably for the best. I’ll wait until my tank is more established and the parameters stable

you def. cant go wrong with that decision. Thumps up!
Like I had to understand - nothing goes happens fast in this hobby.

I wish I had more patience sometimes.. Because patience and observaton is key in reefing imo.

 

[FMF0331]

I am not a fan of Pocillapora personally. It has the potential to spread around the tank. I'd lean more toward stylopora.

I would work the nitrates down a little bit with some water changes.

Agree with Scott B
Poci will spread like crazy and will become a pain to remove, Stylo is a much better choice