Staghorn Acropora suggestions

[diabolical_clownfish]

I'm looking to venture into SPS and specifically looking at Staghorn Acropora due to its shape and how it fits in my aquascape.

A few things that I'm not clear about:

- Are staghorns hardy? I'm reading conflicting accounts online where some say it's a nice beginner SPS, but it's also an Acropora, which is known to be difficult. Are stags the single subcategory of acros that are somehow easy?
- Do they do well in a mix reef? I have a mostly LPS dominated tank with nitrate at 5-10 ppm, phosphate at 0.1 ppm, alk at 9 dKH and calcium at 420. I'd like my SPS pieces to do well in this environment. The elevated nitrate and phosphate in particular worry me.
- Do different varieties of staghorns all have roughly the same requirements, or are the "designer" ones more finicky? My experience with LPS (hammers / torches) for example, is that the indo varieties tend to be easier than the assusies. Do these kind of distinctions exist for stags?

Would definitely appreciate suggestions of what staghorns to get, as well as alternative SPS (specifically looking for pieces that can grow tall towards the water surface to fill out some empty space in the tank and stags seem to fit this description but I'm open to alternatives).

Thanks!

 

[Chrisv.]

You should start with a green slimer. It's a beautiful stag that's bright green and grows like a weed.

 

[diabolical_clownfish]

You should start with a green slimer. It's a beautiful stag that's bright green and grows like a weed.

I'm trying to avoid adding more green stuff to the tank (I know I know, vanity and perhaps conflicting requirements). I do see people frequently mention slimers as very hardy. Are there other colors?

 

[Rick5]

Look for photos posted by @ycnibrc

If memory serves, he has numerous stags.

Stags seem to be what you’re looking for in terms of structure and being hardy.

 

[Chrisv.]

I'm trying to avoid adding more green stuff to the tank (I know I know, vanity and perhaps conflicting requirements). I do see people frequently mention slimers as very hardy. Are there other colors?

You could go with PC rainbow. It's a nice one. Not quite as fast of a grower as slimer.

 

[ycnibrc]

I'm trying to avoid adding more green stuff to the tank (I know I know, vanity and perhaps conflicting requirements). I do see people frequently mention slimers as very hardy. Are there other colors?

Blue, purple and red

 

[GarrettT]

Blue, purple and red

Wow.. that purple stag is incredible.

 

[ycnibrc]

Wow.. that purple stag is incredible.

 

[ycnibrc]

I'm trying to avoid adding more green stuff to the tank (I know I know, vanity and perhaps conflicting requirements). I do see people frequently mention slimers as very hardy. Are there other colors?

U can watch this video

 

[lumpadelic]

I have a purple stag that I can’t kill. I’ve tried many times. Grows like a weed. Doesn’t look like the stock photo in a previous post though.

 

[reefnfun]

I have a cops cali cali stag. It is blue and turquoise. It is easy and a very fast grower. Look it up online and see if you like it.