What Are Basic Tips & Tricks (Hints) for SPS Beginners?

[potatocouch]

What are basic tips to keep SPS?

• High / Super High variable flows (not linear, not constant & not direct at them)?
• ULNS is still better than high No3 and Po4? Chance is you get less coloration in ULNS but SPSs may still survive?
• Proper lighting PAR; cannot be underexposed & cannot be overexposed?
• Always dips new frags in coral dips (i.e. Dettol etc) for flatworms etc?
• Keep up with weekly WC husbandry & you may not need to dose?
• Start with beginner SPS corals such as Green Slimer? any other beginner type SPS?

 

[Jekyl]

Be able to keep every other type of coral before trying.

 

[design.maddie]

Google images of the coral as a full colony. Prepared for the flow issues when it grows.

 

[rizon25]

Stable water chemistry. Particularly alk.

 

[Hugster78]

Google images of the coral as a full colony. Prepared for the flow issues when it grows.

This is a must!!! Learn what the vendor uses. Lights, par, AlK levels etc. Do not expect your frag to look like the pics. If they use extreme black backgrounds be leery. Green slimmer is a great starter. High end does not mean a beautiful piece that will thrive. EX Oregon tort is cheap and an absolute stunner.

 

[HuduVudu]

Stable water chemistry. Particularly alk.

This can not be over emphized.

Light isn't as important, flow is even less important.

If your calcium and alk move by even 1% over the course of a month then you are going to struggle.

The second most important thing is tank balance and maturity. This is really important if you have a tank under a year (at the bare minimum) or that tank isn't balancing you are going to struggle.

Doing a SPS tank is not something that can be learned from others bought from the internet or otherwise forced into existence. You need to be commited and you need to be patient. It isn't easy for a reason.

I wish you luck, it is fun journey but it is fraught with frustrations. Be aware of these dark times and cope through them and eventually you will be rewarded for effort. :)