[RudeBoy]

Added my first SPS today, a beautiful Acropora about 2 inches in height with a few small branches on it. Just wondering if anyone out there has any of these in their tanks and can tell me what to expect as far as groth is concerned with this SPS. Thanks in advance.

[Duncan]

Rude,
Of the above, I would say that for MYSELF, when I first began, I had the best luck with the capricornis. But, IMHO, I would not add any of the above mentioned sps corals in a BRAND NEW system that is just a little less than 6 months old. There are aquarists who have set up systems and in a short period of time have experienced some degree of luck keeping sps corals ALIVE. But I believe that the goal of anyone who keeps these critters, is to have them THRIVE. And as I have told many people on this board as well as many customers of mine, a tank that is less than a year old is simply not biologically ready for sps. I have heard this same statement from many german aquarists, who actually believe that a tank does not come into its own in less than 18 months. Believe me, I am just playing the devils advocate here. There are people who have been where you are right now and have tried to keep the more delicate corals, only to get totally discouraged. What usually happens at this point is they sell their systems and can be quoted as saying"saltwater aquariums are really hard to keep." I just dont want to see another fall into this trap.
You do have a leg up on these people because you are asking questions in a forum which holds a tremendous amount of experience and knowledge. So my advice, which most assuredly will differ from others is to slow down, relax, and let the system mature, you will be much better off, and probably have a few more dollars in your wallet in the long run. All the above is as usual IMHO. HTH.

Duncan.

[RudeBoy]

I respect your opinion and that's why I'm here. I need solid, HONEST opinons from everyone. My tank has really shown some serious growth in the 4 months it's been setup. So, if there's more growing to be done, I can definitely wait it out. Thanks again.

[Duncan]

Rude,
NP, thats what we are here for. By the way what additives are you using on the system ie calcium, buffer? And to you, how does your new addition look? Are the polyps out during the day/night, does the color seem to be holding, as well as the tissue etc etc etc ? Hope all is well.

Duncan.

[RudeBoy]

Right now I'm adding B-Ionic to my tank and it's doing wonders for it. When I wasn't adding anything to my tank, my calcium dropped to around 300ppm and my alkalinity dropped to around 2.2 But, my tank was brand new and I didn't have any corals to suck up most of my calcium. So now, I'm adding 10ml of each buffer per day and within a week my calcium was back to 400ppm and my alkalinity was at 2.8. I use Windows software to keep a weekly log of my levels. As far as my new addition, it's doing pretty good so far. The tips are white and I can see very small green polyps sticking out of it. They won't come out fully but I have it place in a great spot in my tank... around 4 inches from the water line and slightly out of the current of one of my powerheads. I have a bigger dilema. I have a new piece of LR and it has an Anemone attached to it.(Bubble-Tip) But, it hasn't fully expanded or opened since I've had it and it only seems to 'expand' when all of the lights are off. Now, in it's defense, I had my LFS hold it for me for about 9 days in a sand tank with very poor lighting, but, at the time I didn't know that the Anemone was attached to the rock. So, I've been told that it's trying to adjust to my Power Compacts. It will be a week tomorrow that I've had it. What's your theory on what's happening with my Anemone?

[PerryinCA]

is it a small(1/2-1") greenish anemone? If so it may be a colonial anemone much like aptaisia, and you'd probably be better off getting rid of it. Any way to get a pic up?

-Perry

[RudeBoy]

Nah, it's definitely a Bubble Tip Anemone. I went back to the store with it and my LFS identified it for me. Every day, it comes out more and more but never completely. I have never seen it open and it's seems to have planted itself on the side of a pice of LR near the top of my tank. I'll have pictures up sometime tomorrow with another post. I'm definitely not getting rid of this.

[dieselboy]

For a starter, I'd say the brown M. digitata. That thing is pretty hardy, and it's becoming somewhat of a weed in my tank...under good lighting it can change colors, mine turned yellow/green. That stuff doesn't die...even if I literally scrape it off the rock. I even had a small piece stuck under the sand for a day or two, it still wasn't dead....hardy stuff IMO. HTH

[RudeBoy]

Thanks a lot for the info. It seems like a lot of people are recommending that coral, even my LFS. I think I'll go with that one next but I'm gonna wait until my tank has matured a little more like Duncan suggested to me. Thanks again.